RSP first met LinkedIn Candidate on Recruiter. In fact, that is how the Candidate came to have such an unusual name for a Candidate, for LinkedIn was the name of the software platform on which RSP and LinkedIn Candidate first met.

"Can we help you?" RSP asked.

"Oh, I should be okay," the Candidate replied politely. "I'm a lawyer, you know," the Candidate added.

"Yes, we can see that on your profile. But we can also see that you are not UK qualified."

"That's quite correct, I'm from Darkest Peru. My Aunt Lucy was a senior partner in the Peru branch of Clifford Chance, and it was she who encouraged me to become a lawyer. Unfortunately, Darkest Peru is not always the best place to find exciting commercial transactions. And that is what I would like to be, a top commercial lawyer."

"Is that why you left Peru?"

"Yes. Although I am not a UK qualified lawyer, I am still a Commonwealth lawyer, and Aunt Lucy said that I would easily get work in London whilst I study for my transfer qualification. I'm exempt from the SQE2, you know."

"We know that," RSP said, kindly. "You will get the SQE1 without too much difficulty, but that may take you 6 months due to the timetable. What will you be doing in that time?"

"I was hoping to get some work to see me through," LinkedIn said. "Unfortunately, I have been told that the market is difficult, and nobody has really helped me."

"Who have you spoken to?" RSP asked.

"Well law firms firstly,' LinkedIn replied. "But because I am not UK qualified just yet, I obviously cannot practise. I tried to get some in-house work and I have spoken to recruiters, but they all said that it is impossible. Apparently, even companies want their in-house advisers to be UK qualified," LinkedIn said sadly.

"How long have you been looking for work?" RSP asked.

"I arrived in the UK 3 months ago and I have just over 2 and a half years left on my visa."

"You've been trying for 3 months?" RSP asked, astonished.

"That's correct. I've been looking for work on LinkedIn for the last 3 months. But I shouldn't be surprised. As the recruitment agents said, it will be virtually impossible to find work until I am UK qualified."

"Can your Aunt Lucy not help you find a job?"

"No, Aunt Lucy has now retired and has gone into a home for retired lawyers in Darkest Peru."

"What are your plans?" RSP asked. "You can't stay on LinkedIn for the next 2 and a half years."

"I'm quite desperate, to be honest," LinkedIn said, miserably. "I'm probably going to have to get a menial job whilst working for the SQE1, just to see me through. But my concern is that I will lose valuable experience. Plus I am a lawyer, I am professionally trained and do not want to lose what I have achieved.'

"We can understand that," RSP said sympathetically.

"You do?" LinkedIn asked. "You will be first person I have spoken to since arriving that would. Aunt Lucy said that I should put the banner 'Open to Work' on my profile picture. That has been quite successful, but I have inundated with job offers wholly unsuited to my skill set. I have even put this line on my profile."

RSP looked down onto LinkedIn's profile page and read a most unusual line. It simply said, 'Please Look After This Candidate.' RSP looked back to LinkedIn and smiled. "We can help you," RSP said.

"You can?" LinkedIn eye's widened in excitement. "That would great. But how, all the recruiters I have already spoken to have all said that it is hopeless."

"That is because you have only spoken to recruitment agents," RSP explained. "Luckily for you, that is not what we do. We are consultants, and we would always try to help you."

"But I am not UK qualified," LinkedIn persisted.

"But you are a lawyer, from a Commonwealth country. You have so many transferable skills; negotiation, analytical, strategic, communication, advocacy. These are skills you will find in lawyers regardless of what jurisdiction they come from."

"Won't the employers be negative. I've been told they only want UK lawyers."

"Whoever told you that doesn't know what they're talking about and their own income is their sole priority The recruiters you have spoken to are only interested in the immediate and are too lazy to represent you properly. What you need is someone to help formulate a strategy for you."

"What sort of strategy?"

"One in which you will get work immediately whilst studying for your SQE1. The in-house employers are not going to be that interested in where you qualified. But rather what you qualified in and your experience. You will not be bound by SRA regulations. And there are so many opportunities out there for you and so many employers who are looking for your skillsets.

"All that is required is some initial effort on our part to represent you and to sell you as a solution to the employer's problems. Let's get you some contractual work in-house, which would last for anything between 3 to 6 months. That would enable you to maintain your experience, impress law firms for when you have qualified and you can join them as a senior associate. Afterall, you're international, so that's one extra thing you're going to score against with UK lawyers."

"And you'll do this for me?" LinkedIn asked.

"Of course," RSP said. "We may need to work on your CV, but we're all about forming long-term meaningful relationships with both our candidates and our clients. We'll be proactive. If an employer hasn't got an advertised opportunity for you, then we'll make one. Most importantly, we'll work out a strategy with you to give you the confidence to succeed, and I promise that we'll look beyond our own immediate benefit."

"Thank you so much for your help," LinkedIn said relieved. "As my Aunt Lucy always says, be patient and work hard enough, then eventually, the right opportunity will always come along."

"Indeed, it will LinkedIn," RSP replied, "but sometimes you need someone on your side to help you."

Now, my apologies. Firstly, to Michael Bond for destroying Paddington Bear, probably forever. Secondly, to everyone screaming "Peru is not in the Commonwealth!" I know that, but I wanted to discuss an important topic and Paddington Bear seemed like a good tool. Afterall, who doesn't like Paddington?

This conversation is typical of the type of conversation which we have every week (apart from the talking bear...); excellent commonwealth lawyers who have emigrated to the UK, but now find themselves, like Paddington, in need of help. The usual complaint has been that recruiters are not interested in them, until they gain their UK qualification, and resemble the busy commuters at Paddington Station, ignoring the poor bear.

As RSP has just explained to LinkedIn Candidate, there are solutions. Like Mr and Mrs Brown as they looked down to Paddington's battered suitcase and read 'Please Look After This Bear,' these Candidate's also need looking after.

If this sounds like you, then do not be like LinkedIn Candidate. Contact us. We are happy to talk, perhaps even over a marmalade sandwich...