I think I want to become a Lawyer in Australia. I'm fairly confident it's not a midlife crisis, because I have considered and reconsidered the idea for over a year now. And I'm now going to actively seek advice on how to begin the process. I've never been sure what direction I wanted to go in my life. But now I've determined that a Lawyer/Solicitor in Australia might be the career for which I'm best suited.

I seek any and all advice on my situation, and I appreciate external references so I can read more about the possibilities. I believe my largest obstacles will be financial, my wife, and my age, I'm currently 38, will turn 39 this summer. I'll breifly cover each, please let me know if something might be insurmountable.

First, my age, and the possible addition of another 2 years. I've lacked direction in the past, and changed majors about 8 times in college. The majority were science, biology, zoology, and chemistry. Due to my lack of direction, in 1999, at 30 years old, I finished my Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry (at a third tier US School). Although an established and accredited school, it was hardly Ive League. I attempted to compensate with solid publications and presentations, and secured a "good" job as an Analytical Chemist before I graduated.

Almost 10 years down that career track, I've worked for and with a number of scientific instrumentation companies in customer contact rolls, and become completely disillusioned with the career opportunities. Although respected, the opportunities are scarce (only a small handful of locations in the world I can find a job), and they range from $60k to $80k USD jobs, with almost no opportunities to break the six figure barrier in the foreseeable future. It's more an issue of location than money, there just aren't that many jobs, and in the last year I've had only 4 offers, 2 would require me to move to Europe. We would love to relocate to Australia, although the process is non-trivial, and I just don't think it's possible at this time.

Next comes financial and wife, which are somewhat tied together. I'm doing a small business start-up and consulting work in a location in the US where my wife can do 2 years of community college to become an Registered Nurse. It's a career she wants, with a decent future, flexibility in choices of where to live and raise a family, and the increased likelihood to be granted Australian Immigration Visa. That leaves us a bit financially strapped and stuck for about 2 years, unless I find a better option.

Initially I felt that environmental law, possibly policy, would leverage my environmental scientific background, and be something I could be passionate about. I could help make changes, rather than just testing and measuring the results or lack there of. I've discussed the career change with with colleagues, friends, and a few lawyers. They advised that due to my background, it would be more lucrative, and likely for me to find employment in patent law. I was told, take the LSAT, finance my way through the best Law School I can get into with student loans, and I'd be in a fairly safe position to pay them off without worries when I finished. Not as exciting, but more financially rewarding. But, this is based on a premise of an Attorney in the USA.

Alas, I'm here, hoping to find someone with advice on the Aussie law, schooling, and careers. Is there anything I can start to study now? Entrance exam prep? How long would I need to be in school? Is there any point in starting at a US Law School? What are the costs, and how does one without liquid assets finance the process? Where can I find more information?

Thanks, any help or advice greatly appreciated.

Hi Badlandz,

I have read through your post twice and I feel that I can help you out with some of your queries. However, they are merely my opinion and might be not be right :)

Based on the information you have provided, I would say go with the advice that your friends and colleagues have provided you. In particular, although studying law in Australia is relatively cheaper compared reading for one in US, the job prospects would be much higher. At the moment, the Australian legal profession is saturated with lawyers and even fresh graduates have difficulty getting a job.

There are many reasons why reading law in the US would be more beneficial to you:
1. Because in Australia, law is largely taught at an undergraduate level and only a small number of schools offer the JD program. As a JD graduate myself, I can honestly tell you that most employees would go for LLB graduates because they are younger, cheaper to hire and learn faster. Most of my colleagues in law school who were in their 30s to 40s had no intention of entering into private practice because they'd have to start from scratch. Most were reading for their JD degree to supplement their existing job.
2. The Australian legal profession does not pay junior lawyers very well. I am somewhat certain that you will have to take a pay cut from your existing $60k-$80k job opportunities when working in Australia. As a frseh law graduate, your hours would be extremely low as well.

With that said, I think you can still consider studying law in Australia. A law degree would take 3-4 years to complete on a full-time basis and given your experience, you might want to look at the Melbourne or ANU JD. Alternatively, you might want to look at completing your law studies in UK? I have heard that some universities have 1-year intensive programs for graduates (in non-law fields).

Sorry for keeping the advice slightly short but nonetheless I hope this helps! Feel free to drop a reply or private message me if you need additional information!


Cheers
Greg