Shipping & Maritime Law Careers
Shipping and maritime law governs the carriage of goods by sea, vessels, ports and the disputes that arise across global trade.
Shipping and maritime law governs the business of moving goods by sea and everything around it: vessels and their ownership and finance, charterparties and bills of lading, cargo and marine claims, collisions and salvage, ports, and marine insurance. Because shipping is the backbone of world trade, the work is international by nature and concentrated around major ports and trading hubs.
It is a particularly relevant specialism for port economies - East Africa's gateway at Mombasa, Colombo in Sri Lanka, and other trading hubs. The work divides into "wet" (casualties such as collisions and salvage) and "dry" (commercial and trade disputes and contracts), and much of it is resolved by maritime arbitration. This guide covers the work, the roles, who hires, what it pays, qualifications and how to break in.
What shipping & maritime lawyers actually do
Commercial ("dry") work covers charterparties, bills of lading, ship sale and purchase, ship finance, and cargo and trade disputes. Casualty ("wet") work covers collisions, salvage, general average and marine casualties. Practitioners also handle marine insurance and P&I matters, ports and terminals, and the international conventions that govern carriage by sea. Much of the disputes work is resolved through maritime arbitration in the major centres.
The main roles (entry to senior)
- Shipping / Maritime Lawyer - charterparties, cargo and trade disputes
- Admiralty Lawyer - casualties, collisions and salvage
- Marine / Cargo Claims Handler - claims and recoveries
- Ship Finance / Sale & Purchase Lawyer - vessel transactions
- In-house Counsel (shipping line / ports authority / P&I club)
- Senior Associate / Partner - leading matters and clients
Who hires shipping & maritime lawyers
- Law firms - shipping, maritime and admiralty practices
- Shipping lines, owners and operators
- P&I clubs and marine insurers
- Ports and terminals authorities
- Commodity traders and in-house trade-and-shipping teams
What it pays
Shipping is a specialised, internationally-oriented field; pay is strong at the major shipping centres and for senior in-house roles at lines, P&I clubs and ports, and more variable in smaller markets. Bands vary by market and between wet and dry work. The live roles below show disclosed pay where the employer provides it.
Qualifications & certifications
A recognised law degree and qualification is the base. Employers value knowledge of the international maritime conventions and standard shipping contracts, an understanding of how shipping and trade actually work, and strong claims and drafting skills. Maritime-law qualifications and arbitration credentials strengthen the profile.
How to break in
Common routes are a shipping seat in a firm at a port or trading hub, an in-house role at a shipping line, ports authority or P&I club, or a marine-claims position. Build knowledge of charterparties, bills of lading and the maritime conventions, and choose a focus - commercial (dry) or casualty (wet) work. In port economies, the ports authority and shipping lines are direct entry points.
Live shipping, maritime & admiralty roles
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between "wet" and "dry" shipping law?
"Wet" shipping law deals with casualties - collisions, salvage, general average and marine accidents. "Dry" shipping law deals with the commercial side - charterparties, bills of lading, cargo claims and trade disputes. Many shipping lawyers specialise in one or the other.
Is maritime law relevant in port economies like Kenya and Sri Lanka?
Very. Major ports such as Mombasa (the gateway for East Africa) and Colombo make shipping and maritime law a genuinely local, in-demand specialism, with employers including the ports authorities, shipping lines and trading companies.
Is shipping law international?
Yes, inherently. Shipping is global trade, governed by international conventions and concentrated around major ports and arbitration centres, so the work and the skills are highly international and portable.
What do shipping and maritime roles pay?
Strong at the major shipping centres and for senior in-house roles at lines, P&I clubs and ports, and more variable in smaller markets. Bands vary by market and between wet and dry work; the listings here show disclosed pay where available.