i have an indian llb degree. and if i complete llm from any good australian universities, what shall be my job prospects ?

Hello,

I think your job prospects in Australia wouldn't really increase with an LLM from a good Australian university. Most Australian law firms only take Australian-qualified lawyers and a LLM wouldn't assist in terms of gaining admission into the Australian legal profsesion...

You should look at completing a LLB/JD if you are keen on obtaining employment. Do consider the visa implications as well :)


Cheers,
G

I am an American Attorney from a top 10% law school. I'll be taking AU courses next term and then satisfying requirements to practice law in AU.

For Australian Lawyers, does anyone know:

1. ) How many hours per week does the average Australian attorney work?

In the U.S., attorneys with private firms work from 60-80 hrs per week. Salaries are high. Attorneys with public agencies work 40 hours per week. Salaries are moderate.

2.) Does it differ based upon whether job is with a private firm or with a public Agency ? Does it differ based upon region of the Country ? In the US, East Coast attorneys work the longest hours. Same for AU?

Many thanks !

Hi G

Can you please advise job prospects if one does the JD?

Cheers
theexodus

Hey theexodus,

I think your chances of obtaining employment would increase significantly should you do a JD/LLB (compared to a LLM). This is provided 1. you are willing to start from the bottom of a food chain as a junior lawyer with a junior lawyer starting salary 2. you have the necessary visas to work in Australia. The latter is extremely important because employers are not too keen to get involved in the administrative hassles!

Drop me a pm if you want to discuss more! :)

Cheers,
Gregory

Hi Gregory

Thanks for your reply :) This is rather new to me so hence the vagueness with everything. I will likely be doing the JD at melb uni or monash uni with a CSP. I am a Singaporean with a PR here and have been here for 10 years. I am a finished artist by trade and have been in the advertising industry for awhile. I have a degree in multimedia.

I am exploring the path ahead of me in this new career change. Would the Melb JD (3 years full time) be equivalent to what you have said JD/LLB?

Thank you for your time again,

Jo :)

Sorry another question. Although I am already 34, I am willing to start from the bottom, it is not a problem. Short term gains are not my priority. Hopefully I can merge this with language in the future as that is my other passion. I currently speak English, Mandarin, Cantonese and some Japanese.

What are the job prospects like and how much (salary) does one start at and when does it get better?

Thank you so much once again. :)

Hi there again theexodus

Yes the JD at Monash or UniMelb would be a good choice - the JD is arguably most popular in Victoria (as compared to other States) so you can't go wrong studying at either university.

As for salary, it would depend on what tier the firm is. Top tier firms pay graduates between 55,000 to 70,000 yearly but this is pre-recession figures so it might be slightly lower now. This would rise up to about 85,000 to 115,000 when you have 3 years experience. On the other end of the spectrum would be small law firms which pay around 30,000 to 50,000 as a graduate and 45,000 - 90,000 with 3 years of experience. Again, this is my perception and based on market surveys so this may not be spot on. Nonetheless, I see that you have language skills and you would be in a better position to apply them should you consider working in Asia (e.g. Singapore and Hong Kong etc) where international firms are willing to pay significantly more (and where taxes are lower).

Hope that this helps!

Cheers,
G

Hi Gregory,

I don't have LLB degree, instead i have been offered LLM in Construction law at Unimelb.

You are saying that without LLB or JD degree it would be difficult to find a job in Australia law firm. However, I just wondering why there is still so many LLM is offered to non-law graduate students? What would be their job prospect for an LLM graduate student without LLB degree?

Is it possible to be a legal advisor/ consultant if I only have LLM degree without LLB or JD? Does legal advisor have the same meaning as lawyer?

Hi,

I think it is important to understand that whilst LLB is a professional qualification the LLM is an academic one. This means that LLM does not make you qualified you for the profession but it gives you an academic achievement. And that is it. It may be worth doing an LLM once you are established lawyer to move up or to enhance specialism or if you would like to practise it in an academic field such as working for an university or so. Otherwise it is the LLB or graduate diploma in law that provides the key to practise the legal profession.