Hi I was wondering if anyone could fill me in on some much needed info.
Basically I am 23 and I am in my second year at Uni in the UK and looking to move to Perth asap. My father and his Australian common law wife live in Perth and are willing to sponsor me and help me move to Perth peranently.
I just need to know what restrictions there are and what the requirements I will have to fulfill are. I don't necessarilly have to go into the legal profession but would like to use the education I have gained from my degree in my future career.
I also have a wonderful fiance that I would like to bring with me, who has also been living with me for nearly 4 years, (Defacto Partner???)
I also would like to earn a nice amount of money from my career too.
My partner has been a Team Leader in the distribution field for two years and an employee of the company he works for for 5 years, if that info helps. My dad has permanent residency also.

Can anybody help???
I'll check back later got to go to bed, it's 2am over here at the mo, absolutely shattered.

Hi legalgurl23,

I have attempted to assist you with your query, hope this helps (do verify the accuracy of what I have said).

If you have completed 2 years of your LLB in england, you can apply to a Perth Law School (e.g. University of Western Australia etc) to get your credits transferred. All the subjects you have completed would probably be recognised and mapped onto the Australian law subjects - those that can't be mapped would probably be accepted as electives. I am unsure if this will be done by the relevant legal authorities in Perth or the university. I would think the latter because you are technically a transfer student from a UK university to a Perth university. The scenario would be different if you were to finish your law degree in UK. Particularly most UK graduates would be required to complete Australian Constitutional law and Administrative Law. You will have to determine which pathway is more suitable for you. I would think the quicker route would be to complete your LLB in UK but this is assuming that you do not urgently want to relocate to Perth.

Upon completion of the LLB, you will meet the 'academic' requirements for admission as a lawyer. However, you will have to fulfill 'practical requirements'. In Perth, as far as I am aware, you will have to complete a 2-year articles of clerkship system - it is basically like a trainee solicitor scheme in the UK. I am unsure if this has been reduced to 1 year but i think it should still be 2 years. Alternatively, if you want the easy way out, you can attend a 6 month university course (face to face or online) and this can be used to substitute the 2 year scheme - however, you will have to be admitted into other states like Queensland or New South Wales and then get mutually recognised into Perth.

I hope that this helps? Let me know if I can help you further.


Cheers
Greg

Hey Greg
Thanks for that.

I have found the College of Law does the Australian Constitutional Law module in 14 weeks online over here based from London and it is affiliated with the college of law in Sydney for a not so expensive AUD 1350. And while taking that I was thinking of taking International Practice Diploma Programme, just to giveme more education in the leagal stuff while completing the Australian Constitution module. What do you think. They are all held in london or online or sydney with the College of Law affiliate program.

I hadn't thought about exchanging my degree to a Perth University at all actually. What would that route entail as you say the quicker route would be to complete my degree in the UK and I don't understand why that might be.

I've so far completed the modules here for Con and Ad UK, Criminal, Contract, Tort, Property, Company law and Banking. Plus in the first year we completed two half credit modules of Legal Process and Critical Introduction to Law. Do you know if these would transfer?

hello!

Although Australian constitutional law is somewhat the common module which UK graduates have to complete, I would suggest you contact the relevant state authorities to confirm it before embarking on them. there might be a possibility you will have to complete other courses as well.

also, as the LLB is a 'academc' course, you will have to look into meeting the 'practical' requirements. If you want direct admission into Perth / Western Australia then you will have to complete a 1-2 years articles of clerkship (somewhat like the trainee solicitor arrangements in UK). Alternatively, you can attempt to gain admission into another state like New South Wales or Queensland through a Practical Legal Training Course - the Australian National University offers a program which can be completed online from UK (www.anu.edu.au/legalworkshop). Upon gaining admission in the other State, you can then apply for a WA Practising Certificate.

Given that you have completed first year etc etc, I would not advise on transferring to a University over in Australia because most degrees are 3-4 years. There are internal rules within the University to require candidates to read for AT LEAST 50% of the degree within the university itself so there is a possibility that you might have exceeded the 50% mark already. If you have not, then you would have to transfer relatively soon in order to avoid this from happening!


Cheers
Greg

hello, I am in a similar situation as above.
i have completed my LLB degree in UK but in addition completed my LPC (legal prectice course) at the London College of Law. I am looking to move to perth and was wondering whether i would need to complete to 1-2yr scheme or is there any alternative routes for me to start working immediately?
Any guidance would be of great help.

Hi Andy,


You will need to complete some academic subjects at an Australian University before you would be eligible to meet the "academic" requirements for legal practice in Australia.

Thereafter, you will need to complete "practical" subjects/training (i.e. 1-2year scheme you are referring to) to meet the other requirement for admission. I think College of Law is trying to develop a PLT program for admission to Perth and they might be able to grant you exemptions to some subjects based on your LPC. You will need to check this out as I am unfamiliar with recent developments!


Cheers,
Greg

Hi Gregor2009,

Perhaps your could help me. I'm a student from the University of London External Programme. I have gone through the Requirements for Admission as a Lawyer (Applicants who have not been admitted anywhere before) from this site: http://www.agd.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/lpab/ll_lpab.nsf/pages/lpab_forms_fees#1

I'm not clear on the requirements for Character Reference, does this have to be from the Dean or Professors from Law School or if you have worked, a former boss, as long as it's someone who's not related to the applicant by blood or by marriage?

I'm asking this because I've completed my LLB under the External Programme, and if the letter is from the Dean of the School of Law in Uni of London, then I guess I would have to send a request before my application to the Legal Profession Admissions Board.

Hope you could help me on this. Thanks.


Mae

Hey Mae,


I am not too sure about the referee requirement. I got admitted in Queensland and all that was required was referee reports from my friends/colleagues/classmates etc who have known me for X number of years. I vaguely recall the need for these people to be based in Australia but the law society could waive this requirement for foreign educated candidates.

I think it would be best to seek clarification from the LPAB because they can at the same time tell you how many years must the person know you before they can fill up the form for you!


Cheers,
G

Thanks Gregor2009 for your response.

in a srilankan,im studying law in srilanka,there are english and roman dutch law,i would like to be a lawyer in australia,what should i do