Hi all

I hope you can help me with my two queries.

I'm currently living in the UK (dual citizen of South Africa and Portugal) and will be emigrating to Australia in the future. I will still be in London for at least the next 2-3 years due to personal circumstances and so am looking into the quickest (I'm 29) and most afforable way of fulfilling all the requirements of qualifying as an Australian lawyer. I am a non-law graduate.

Query 1

Which is best (in terms of time and money, and quality of education)?
1) Completing a UK GDL and LPC at College of Law/Univerity of London/BPP, and then finishing any outstanding Australian academic requirements, plus the PCL, from Sydney when I get there?
2) Completing the Australian JD or LLB off-campus/long distance through UNE, and then the PCL through the College of Law, all from london? Are there any other Australian universities or colleges that provide off-campus llbs/JDs?

Query 2

I hope to work in the international human rights field.Does anyone know if there are any qualifying LLBs (UK or Australian) that have a solid international law and human rights law element to it as well so that I could perhaps kill two birds with one stone?

Thank you for you time.

Hi, there.

LLBs nor JDs are for specialicing in a given field. They are general degrees. However, there is always a chance of choosing 3rd yr electives based on personal interests.

Or, taking an LLM in Human Rights/International Law, after graduation.

Personally, I think Switzerland has the best programs in this field.

I don't think there are any Australian Universities offering online LLB/JD programs. But, if you come across any, please share.

On the other hand, I would not advise you to go to Australia if you were born in Portugal and educated in UK, given you have birth rights to practice all across of Europe and good credentials for European market as well.

Why go elsewhere as a foreigner/alien, where you would have no rights at all, and where your credentials would be useless to practice?

Good luck with your plans!