Dear Everyone,

I am a lawyer with LLB and long time of practicing experience in American companies in China. I also have the intention to move to Australia starting with LLM and JD/LLB study there.

I have learned a lot from the posts above. But concerning to the legal practicing requirement in Australia, I am still confused. What does Priesly 11 mean, is that some sort of couse study, how long will it take? Could I regard that full education with JD/LLB, then certificate with Priesly 11 will be enough to be qualified to pracitice in Aus? How about the legal career prospect in Aus as a foreigner?

Or, if it is too complicated or hard to get the qualification to work as a lawyer in Aus, how about the transfer to US after the degree of LLM in Aus?

As to myself, I do appreciate the beaufitul scenery and mild weather of Aus, but working in US seems more feasible.

Hoping to see any soon reply and Have a nice day!
GHP

Dear Gregory Xu,

I am a lawyer with LLB and long time of practicing experience in American companies in China. I also have the intention to move to Australia starting with LLM and JD/LLB study there.

I have learned a lot from the posts above. But concerning to the legal practicing requirement in Australia, I am still confused. What does Priesly 11 mean, is that some sort of couse study, how long will it take? Could I regard that full education with JD/LLB, then certificate with Priesly 11 will be enough to be qualified to pracitice in Aus? How about the legal career prospect in Aus as a foreigner?

Or, if it is too complicated or hard to get the qualification to work as a lawyer in Aus, how about the transfer to US after the degree of LLM in Aus?

As to myself, I do appreciate the beaufitul scenery and mild weather of Aus, but working in US seems more feasible.

Many thanks for any reply and Have a nice day!
GHP

Hi GHP,

Thanks for the message.

I have tried my best to help you out but there are limitations to my reply as I am unsure which jurisdiction is your LLB from.

Basically, the 'Priestley 11' subjects are the fields required to fulfil the ACADEMIC requirements for legal practice in Australia. They include, Tort Law, contract law, criminal law, civil procedure, property law etc etc. Thus, ALL LLBs in Australia will have these 11 fields as compulsory courses within the degree and other subjects as electives. For example, international law, tax law etc are non-priestley 11 subjects.

Basically, if you were to take a full JD/LLB in Australia, you will meet the academic requirement. Thereafter, you will have to undertake practical legal training (or seek for exemption on the basis of your experience) to fully meet the requirement. Also, depending on your LLB, you might not have to complete a full JD/LLB in Australia. This has to be assessed on a case-by-case basis for individual candidates.

As for practise in the US, i think you will be able to take the bar exam in certain states if you complete an Australian LLB/JD. An Australian LLM itself does not entitle you to take the bar exam.

You might be better off doing a 2-year JD in US if are intention would be to practise in US.

I hope this helps, note that some of the information i have provided might be inaccurate.


regards
greg

Hi greg,

just one thing I'm not sure about. I'm getting my LLB from University of London (actually in London). If I want to practice in NSW, after taking whatever extra subjects I have to, and doing the PLT, do I have to have done the Legal Practice Course here in the UK, or is the degree good enough by itself?

cheers, Gavin

Hi Gavin,

If i am not wrong, you do not have to take the LPC in UK as the PLT in Australia will suffice. However, if you were to complete the LPC in UK, NSW might exempt you from some subjects within the Australian PLT. I am not sure how generous NSW is when it comes to granting exemptions but they do consider exemptions if you are able to demonstrate having prior PLT knowledge (in your case the LPC).

Hopet his helps!


Best Regards
Greg

Hi Gavin,

If i am not wrong, you do not have to take the LPC in UK as the PLT in Australia will suffice. However, if you were to complete the LPC in UK, NSW might exempt you from some subjects within the Australian PLT. I am not sure how generous NSW is when it comes to granting exemptions but they do consider exemptions if you are able to demonstrate having prior PLT knowledge (in your case the LPC).

Hopet his helps!


Best Regards
Greg

hi clint,
I read your post and have a couple of queries i'd like to clear out. I am in my 3rd year of the UK LLB and would like to apply for exemptions to the NSW BOard. Typically, how many more units would I have to be studying? Also, was your appeal successful and if you received any further exemptions? Thanks in advance!

Hi all,

I am admitted as a solicitor in the UK. Is this an advantage when attempting to get admitted in Australia?

Thanks
Shaun

Hi Shaun,

As far as I am aware, it would depend on which state you are applying to. I think the NSW Board may consider the experience you have obtained in your training contract towards some 'practical' components you might ordinarily have to satisfy as a UK Law Graduate (rather than Solicitor). It would definitely be advantageous. However, I suspect they will still require you to complete subjects like Australian Constitutional Law and Australian Administrative Law etc.

I hope this helps, perhaps someone else might be able to supplement my response!


Cheers,
Greg

hi clint,
I read your post and have a couple of queries i'd like to clear out. I am in my 3rd year of the UK LLB and would like to apply for exemptions to the NSW BOard. Typically, how many more units would I have to be studying? Also, was your appeal successful and if you received any further exemptions? Thanks in advance!

Hi Sh14,

Personally, i think your assessment outcome will somewhat be similar to that of Shaun (see earlier post) - i.e. you have to complete Australian Constitutional Law and Australian Administrative Law. However, as you have not had any practical experience, they would probably require you to undertake the entire Practical Legal Training Diploma or undertake a 1 year clerkship with a law firm before qualifying.

Hope that this assists.


Cheers,
Greg

hey thanks! well i guess i will have to try my luck:)

hi.. i'd really appreciate if anyone could tell me how long the process of evaluation by the Board of legal education takes to determine how many more units have to be undertaken in order to be elligible to do the bar in Australia?

It depends on the body you are applying to - different States have different assessment bodies. There is no fix time line really!!

Sorry if this isn't too helpful but it really depends on the body! Probably 2- 4 weeks I guess?


Cheers
G

Dear Greg,

I am a Taiwanese lawyer who did postgraduate law degrees in the US and China and have also been admitted to practice in China and New York. Could you shed some light into the best way to be admitted into Queensland or NSW bars? Given the age, redoing an LL.B. would not seem to be an option... Thank you very much!

ymw888

Hi ymw888,

I have had friends in law school you are practising lawyers in China (not Taiwan) and they were required to complete the entire LLB/JD degree less the elective component. In general, I would say that you would probably be required to complete at least 1.5 yrs of study to 2.5 years - depending on the State you apply to.

The postgraduate degree from US you have will probably exempt you from the elective component of the LLB/JD component so it would not be much assistance in terms of reducing your period of study. There might be a possibility if you indicate to the relevant authorities in Australia assessing your application that you completed some of the LLM (I am assuming) courses with US JD students. I am not sure if you did any of these. Courses in US that were completed in JD programs may assist you in reducing the number of compulsory LLB/JD courses you have to complete in Australia.

I hope that this helps? Best would be to decide on the Australian State and then send in your credentials for assessment!

Cheers,
G

Dear G,

Thanks much. In this case I am considering applying to JD directly to save time. Would you know which Aus Law Schools offer a JD program and whether or not they require LSAT (seems that only Melbourne requires LSAT score)?

If I do not go for formal degree programs, would there be any alternative institutions (say school of continuing education or online programs) that offer the same courses but are more flexible in terms of school hours and charge less?

Thanks again.

ymw888

Hello ymw888,

Sorry for the slight delay in replying.

1. Yes, you are right - the Melbourne JD is the only one which requires LSAT scores.

2. You can always enrol in LLB/JD courses on a non-award basis (bridging). There is no need to complete an entire degree if your exemption/credit towards an Australian LLB/JD is excessive and there is no point in completing an entire Australian LLB/JD (or even 50%). Most UK qualified lawyers who attend Australian law schools complete subjects in a non-award basis/manner because they are only required to complete 3-4 courses and its pointless to complete a LLB which requires 24-32 courses!

3. RMIT has an online JD program - recognition is of course much lower. USQ also has an online JD program. These institutions generally charge same rates as on-campus studies. Most JD programs are usually pricey given the accelerated nature and the prestige attached to it. I am afraid there are no cheap JD courses out there! Might want to look at Scholarships offered by Australian Government.


Cheers,
G

hi, i have completed my LLB from University of London ( External Program), i need to know .......

1. what are the requirement to do "Bar at Law" Course in Australia?
2. is IELTS is mandatory ?
3. is there is any requirement in results of LLB?

My situation is also similar to the captioned case, furthering questions in this regard, I have read the program manuel provided by the College of Law in Australia, discovering that they have stipulated the requirement for admission includes knowledge bases on substantive laws such as revenue law, corporate law, trade practice law etc. Since i did not take any of these subjects during my LLb degree, my concern would be am i required to study these subjects as additional to my LLb degree in order to be a validate candidate for application to the PLT program in the College of Law?

Thank you for your assistance

LINK to the stipulated Program Manuel :
http://www.collaw.edu.au/Documents/PDF%20Downloads/PLT/PLT%20Handbooks%20and%20Manuals/PLT_Program_Manual_0910.pdf

hi, i have completed my LLB from University of London ( External Program), i need to know .......

1. what are the requirement to do "Bar at Law" Course in Australia?
2. is IELTS is mandatory ?
3. is there is any requirement in results of LLB?