International business travel doesn’t have to be 100% business, as discussed by Owen Wild in a recent Inc.com post. Taking the time to see some sites (even if you have to tack on a day at the beginning or end) can make any business trip less burdensome. When I practiced law, I tried to arrive at my destination in advance of my meetings–unless I attended a closing, in which case I tacked on a day at the end of the trip.
If you are traveling with colleagues and/or clients, use the trip to build rapport. Owen Wild notes, ”working in a strange city can be a real team-building experience.” Realize that although you are probably very comfortable spending time in another culture, the same may not be true of your colleagues and clients. Use your international savvy to make their trip more comfortable, “translating” and managing cultural differences for them. For example, prepare them in advance for any cultural nuances in negotiation styles that may occur during upcoming meetings.
Be sure to ease your clients’ and colleagues’ concerns with some cultural hand holding. After a day’s meetings, discuss the cultural differences over dinner. This will increase their comfort level, build rapport and again highlight your value as a culturally savvy attorney.
Did you prick up your ears this week when fellow lawyer Andrew Speaker was caught traveling internationally with drug resistant TB? (He was a personal injury lawyer; I like to think that an international lawyer wouldn’t have done that!) Speaker’s trip contravened the World Health Organization’s Guidelines for Prevention and Control: Tuberculosis and Air Travel.
Before you travel abroad, minimize your risk of infection. Check the World Health Organization’s website for the latest information on communicable diseases throughout the world, and tips for reducing your exposure risk.
International lawyers know the pros and cons of international travel. There’s not much glamour or comfort in flying all night on a full plane, even if you fly first class. However, savvy travelers sometimes opt to buy three or four adjoining economy class seats, enabling them to stretch out and sleep much better than the first or business class travelers. Yesterday’s Financial Times discusses this topic in “The ups and downs of flying lateral class”.
The internet can be deceptively effective. Many lawyers wanting new jobs, including international law jobs, rely on the internet (or remote head hunters) to find new positions.
However, if you’re having trouble finding a job abroad, or if you are interested in a non-traditional law job abroad, buy a plane ticket and get going. A Trip Abroad Can Help You Win a Job by The Wall Street Journal’s CareerJournal.com points out many advantages of job hunting in person in a foreign location including: the kindness of strangers, more powerful networking, understanding local markets (and acceptable salaries), and even “dumb luck”.
And, don’t give up easily. As the article points out, patience–and perhaps multiple trips abroad–are often required.
Time Magazine warns against using business equipment (laptops, cell phones etc…) for personal use in its article titled Snooping Bosses: Think your employer is checking your email, Web searches and voice mail? You’re probably right . Employers are investing in software like Xora to track employees’ whereabouts via cell phone, and SurfControl to check employees’ Web searches.
Why does this concern international lawyers? Because when they travel, most international lawyers just bring along one laptop and cell phone–and they’re usually employer owned. So, even when an international lawyer is off duty, he or she should be careful about Web searches, picture uploads, emails sent and calls made from company equipment. When posted abroad for a lengthy time period, an international lawyer should consider renting a local cell phone or bringing along a personal laptop for personal use.
The hard copy of this article also includes tips for staying out of trouble (which tips the online version doesn’t show.) Those tips include: knowing your firm or company policies in this area very well; searching the Web very sparingly on company equipment; and proofreading the content and style of any blog post or internet profiles that you post, even if you use your personal computer to so.
