You might consider becoming a lawyer.
The many benefits of practicing law include prestige and the chance to help others. It is not easy to become a lawyer, as you must go through law school and be licensed. It’s a rewarding career that offers many perks.
You’ve found the right place if you are interested in a career as a lawyer. This article will explain how to join Australia’s 84,000 lawyers.
Understanding the role of a lawyer
When you think of a lawyer, the first picture that comes to mind is a professionally-dressed person giving a series of arguments before a judge and jury. This is only a tiny part of the work lawyers do. The majority of lawyers do not go to court.
Lawyers are licensed professionals who understand abstract legal theories and use them to advocate for the clients’ best interests. The following are some of the most important duties and tasks of lawyers:
Interviewing clients to understand their problems
Interpreting laws and regulations for individuals and businesses.
Represent clients in court, mediation, or tribunals.
Assisting clients in negotiating on their behalf verbally.
Reviewing and analyzing contracts between two parties.
Preparing and reviewing wills for clients, and then acting as executors.
Drafting mortgage agreements, lease agreements, contrasts between sales and other property documents.
Conducting thorough research about a case, protecting witnesses and advising parties.
Your role and responsibilities will depend on your legal specialty.
How to become a lawyer in Australia
Step 1 – Complete an approved law degree.
To become a lawyer, you must first earn a law degree. A Bachelors of Law (LLB), which takes four years, is required if this is your first university experience. You can also complete a Juris Doctor (JD), postgraduate degree if you already have another degree. This takes three years.
No matter what college you attend, all law students must pass the Priestley 11 law subjects to be eligible for practice as lawyers. These areas of knowledge include:
Civil procedure
Administrative law
Company law
Procedure and criminal law
Contracts
Equity (including Trusts)
Evidence
Professional responsibility
Property
Federal, state and constitutional law
Torts
You may need to take additional elective or compulsory subjects, in addition to the fundamental courses. These subjects will help you become a lawyer.
Do your research before you decide on a school for your law degree. This will help you determine if the school’s culture and teaching style is right for you. These are the top law schools in Australia.
University of Melbourne
Australian National University
UNSW Sydney
University of Sydney
Monash University
You can even consider law to have two degrees. This allows you to simultaneously become a lawyer and learn other important skills in business, arts, and science.
Step 2 – Participate in the Practical Legal Training Program (PLT)
Have you completed your degree? Next, you can enroll in a PLT or Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP), to gain practical experience as an entry level lawyer.
Every territory and state in Australia has a Legal Admissions Board, which assesses applicants before they are admitted to the Australian legal profession. Students can get job placement through PLT providers. They must first get approval from the appropriate legal admissions board.
The majority of legal practice experience is overseen by a lawyer with three years or more experience in the field. The program can last up to 80 days. GDLP can be completed in six months. Some even offer completely online programs.
There are other ways to complete your PLT:
Clerkship: This is a great way to get practical experience in the legal field. The program typically lasts 12 months.
The certification is available through supervised workplace training and is only for aspiring lawyers in Queensland or Australia. It takes 1 year to complete.
Step 3: Apply for admission to the Legal Practice
The different Legal Admissions Boards that govern entry to the legal profession in Australia are listed below. Within five years of graduating, you must apply for admission to the appropriate admissions body. To be eligible, you must meet all requirements set forth by the admissions authority.
These requirements include the completion of a law degree and a PLT course, among others. You should check with your state’s admissions authority to ensure that you are able to assess whether you have met all requirements.
Step 4: Apply for a practising certification
A practising certificate is the final step to become a fully-fledged Australian lawyer. Before applying for a practising certification, you must have completed 18-24 months of supervised work. There are many career options after certification. Many people want to be Solicitors, while others seek to become barristers. Many layers complete an LLM degree to specialize in the law field.
Different bodies issue practising certificates depending on where they are located in Australia. The Australian Capital Territory Bar Association (barristers), and the Law Society of New South Wales (“solicitors”) are two examples.
Step 5: If required, conduct a nationally coordinated criminal background check (NCCHC).
Most Australian jurisdictions require lawyers to disclose any prior convictions. An individual can become a lawyer by default without a criminal record. This is dependent on the nature and severity of the offence.
You can get a national criminal history check from ANCC if you live in New South Wales. A background check will reveal the criminal history of an individual, including convictions and criminal proceedings.