Hello all,

I´ve got a german LLB and over 2 years of work experience in a law firm. During my LLB I was one semester in Australia (study abroad in law). Now I will try to work in Australia and get the "bar exam" to work as a lawyer in Queensland, maybe dealing with european law and australien law.

What is an easy way and how long does it take to work in Australia? - Go back to an Australian Uni for 1 semester to get the basic subjects or how does it work? Thanks for the answer!

Hi Dstern,

I am an Australian qualified lawyer. As I understand it, those with an LLB from another jurisdiction can requalify in Australia by taking a number of units at an Australian university; i.e. those subjects that are common law or jurisidicationally specific, e.g. Property and Constitutional Law. I think that those with a civil law jurisdiction LLB may need to take more units than those with a common law jurisdiction LLB. I remember a number of civil law lawyers requalifying whilst I was doing my degree and it certainly took them longer than 1 semester. However, you may find that a law firm is willing to employ you while you are requalifying but that you would need to note on your correspondence that you are German qualified; although I think this is a more likely option though if you are common law qualified - I am aware of this happening fairly often in the case of English/Canadian lawyers but I have not heard of it happening in the case of civil law lawyers.

Note also that Australia has a federal system and legal practitioners are regulated by different bodies in each State; although the various States are in the process of passing or have passed legislation to harmonise the regulation of legal practitioners, if you want to practice in Queensland it is probably easier to requalify by taking units in a Queensland University.

Having said that, there is a process of reciprocal recognition so if you are admitted as a legal practitioner to the Supreme Court of one State it is relatively easy to be admitted in another State.

Those requalifying (and new Australian LLB graduates) also take a legal diploma through private training providers such as the College of Law. This is very easy - it covers topics such as ethics, client care, commercial practice etc and can be taken for the most part on-line. Most students will take this diploma whilst working.

Hope this helps and one disclaimer, I have not looked up the regulations - this is just from my understanding of others I have known who have requalified. You might wish to look at the Queensland Law Society and the College of Law websites for further information.