Living & working in the Channel Islands

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Living & working in the Channel Islands

Location, location, location

Overview

The Channel Islands are located in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They comprise two separate Bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey; both are dependent on the British Crown. Jersey is the larger of the two islands, with a total area of some 45 square miles, whilst Guernsey comes in at nearer 30 square miles.

Working in the region

The legal markets in Jersey and Guernsey are dominated by a select number of firms, the key ones being:

They tend to focus on the financial services industry insofar as international common law lawyers are concerned.They do provide legal services for the local market, but for UK or other qualified lawyers looking to relocate for the mid to long term, the key specialisations are corporate and finance law.The firms will generally hire good quality lawyers at all levels, although certain issues in relation to re-qualification must be taken into consideration for more senior lawyers.

The quality of work on offer and calibre of your potential peers is excellent. Most of the lawyers practising there have spent significant time abroad with leading City or international firms.The work will be of an international nature, and will stem from a world-wide client base. Channel Islands firms tend to be involved in first rate financial and corporate matters, equivalent to the type of work available in London based firms.

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Appleby Bedell Cristin Carey Olsen Collas Crill

Mourant Ozannes Ogier Ozannes Walkers

Living & working in the Channel Islands

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Remuneration and benefits

Salaries in the Channel Islands at the junior level tend to be slightly lower than in London in comparison to, say, the Magic Circle rates although the salaries are regularly commensurate with London City rates and sometimes higher for exceptional lawyers. At the more senior end (i.e. from 3 years PQE), you can expect to receive a very competitive level of remuneration.The following are approximate salaries for corporate or finance lawyers:

3 PQE around 60,0004/5 PQE 65,000 to 80,0006 PQE 80,000 to 90,0007 PQE 100,000+

Tax is significantly lower than in the UK and is capped at 20%, with National Insurance contributions

capped at well below the 10% in the UK.This low tax rate means that a position in the Channel Islands will usually be at least as financially favourable as a London-based role, and will generally involve a significantly better work/life balance.

Work permits

Work permits for employment in the Channel Islands are generally not required for UK, European or Commonwealth citizens (if the Commonwealth citizen is subject to the UK ancestry exemption). Otherwise, lawyers will need a Skilled Worker permit (firms will normally arrange for any necessary work permits to be put in place). The ease with which firms are able to do this depends on the economy at any given time.

Living & working in the Channel Islands

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Housing

Both locations have a local and open property market system. In Jersey, only locals or those who have been on the island for a significant number of years are eligible to buy in the open market (which includes the majority of the read estate on the island). Those with the J-Cat licences (described below) can purchase from a limited housing stock. All others will rent. Some firms will provide access to the local property market for their lawyers by applying for a J Category licence.This entitles you to rent/buy property which is otherwise reserved for the local market. Such properties tend to be greater in number and therefore better priced.

On the open market, the rent is usually slightly higher. The more senior the lawyer, the more likely it is that the firm will apply for and succeed in obtaining a J-Cat (around 2 years PQE is the minimum).

If you would be happy with a nice apartment with harbour views, due to the vast expansion of such developments, a JCat will not be required.

Accommodation in Guernsey is slightly different to that in Jersey. Non-locals will require a housing licence, which their employer obtains, to become eligible to buy and rent property on the local market. Otherwise, you can buy and rent on the open market, although there are few suitable properties to rent on the open market due to the limited housing stock available on the island. Housing licences are usually easily obtained by the law firms on the island.

In terms of buying costs, you should expect to pay London rates for apartments and free-standing houses (whether on the local or open market) in both locations. If you intend to buy real estate in Jersey, but would otherwise be ineligible to do so, it is possible to have a corporate trust structure put in place which purchases the legal interest in the property, leaving the equitable interest yours.

Living & working in the Channel Islands

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Lifestyle

With around 90,000 people in Jersey and 65,000 in Guernsey, both islands have a serenity that cannot be found in bustling cities. Each has a good number of bars and restaurants, usually focused on the shorefront areas (which have been, and continue to be, redeveloped and expanded). Activities on the island are numerous, but tend to centre on outdoor pursuits and, in particular, watersports.

It is perhaps fair to say that both islands are catered more towards couples and young families rather than singles, although the bar scene has certainly become more vibrant in the last few years.The schooling on both islands is of the highest quality, with both private and state-funded options available. One of the main selling points for working in the Channel Islands is the excellent work/life balance on offer.

The working day is generally from 9am to 6pm, and most commutes to work will involve a simple beach-front stroll or bike ride. Billable targets also tend to be a lot less than in the City, and the firms try to generate a real sense of family in the working environment.

Getting there

Daily flights connect the islands with London and most other mainland airports. There are also regular car ferry links to the UK and France.

London 95 Queen Victoria StreetLondon EC4V 4HN T: +44 (0)20 7415 2828

Dubai Suite 614, Liberty House DIFC PO Box 506739 T: +9714 448 7770

Hong Kong 1918 Hutchinson House 10 Harcourt Road , Central, Hong Kong T: +852 2973 6333

Singapore Level 21 Prudential Tower30 Cecil Street Singapore 049712T: +656 420 0500

Melbourne Level 2, Rialto North Tower, 525 Collins StreetMelbourne, VIC 3000T: +61 (0)3 8610 8400

Sydney Level 12, 25 Bligh Street SydneyNSW 2000T: +61 (0)2 9236 9000

Taylor Root is a member of The SR Group

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Contact For more information on living and working in the Channel Islands or if you are interested in relocation to the region please contact:

Emily RaeT: +44 (0)20 7415 2828E: emilyrae@taylorroot.com

Established in the 1980s, Taylor Root is now widely recognised as being one of the worlds leading legal recruiters. Operating out of offices in London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney and Melbourne, we are ideally placed to assist law firms, banks and companies with their legal recruitment on an international basis. Taylor Root has a strong track record in the recruitment of: Heads of Legal and legal counsel; law firm associates and partners; contract/locum lawyers; paralegals; company secretaries and compliance professionals.

Taylor Root is a member of The SR Group. The SR Group is a specialist recruitment consultancy dedicated to raising standards in the business environments that we serve. The sectors we cover include tax, legal, human resources, marketing, professional support and executive search, dealing with a substantial number of the worlds leading professional partnerships, multi-national corporations and international banking groups as well as small to medium sized developing organisations.