How to become Lawyer in Australia
Becoming a lawyer in Australia
Before you can practise law in Australia you must first be admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory and then you must hold a practising certificate issued in an Australian jurisdiction.
The Australian Bar Association is the national representative body for Australian barristers. It does not have any role in admission or practice matters.
Membership of the Australian Bar Association
Membership of the Australian Bar Association is only open to holders of Australian practising certificates who are also members of a State or Territory Bar Association.
The Australian Bar Association does not offer full or associate memberships to foreign legal practitioners.
Admission
Any queries regarding admission, including recognition of overseas qualifications, should be addressed to the admission authority in the State or Territory in which you wish to practise. The admission authorities are:
Australian Capital Territory: Legal Practitioners Admission Board
www.courts.act.gov.au/supreme/practitioners/admissions
New South Wales: Legal Profession Admission Board
Northern Territory: The Legal Practitioners’ Admission Board
www.supremecourt.nt.gov.au/lawyers/index.htm
Queensland: Legal Practitioners Admissions Board
www.qls.com.au/Knowledge_centre/Admission_Board
South Australia: South Australian Board of Examiners
www.lawsocietysa.asn.au/LSSA/Lawyers/Ethics_and_Practice/Admission_to_Practice.aspx
Tasmania: Legal Profession Board of Tasmania
Victoria: Victorian Legal Admissions Board
Western Australia: Legal Practice Board of Western Australia
New Zealand Practitioners
Separate requirements apply to New Zealand practitioners by virtue of the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 (Cth). Admission enquiries should be directed to the Supreme Court of the State or Territory in which you wish to practise.
Licence to Practice as a barrister or solicitor
Once admitted as a lawyer in Australia you must hold a practising certificate before you can practise law in any Australian jurisdiction. Different bodies issue practising certificates in different jurisdictions.
To obtain further information about applying for a practising certificate in a particular State or Territory please contact the relevant authority listed below.
- Australian Capital Territory Law Society (solicitors)
- Australian Capital Territory Bar Association (barristers)
- Law Society of New South Wales (solicitors)
- New South Wales Bar Association (barristers)
- Law Society Northern Territory (barristers and/or solicitors)
- Queensland Law Society (solicitors)
- Bar Association of Queensland (barristers)
- Law Society of South Australia (barristers and/or solicitors)
- Law Society of Tasmania (barristers and/or solicitors)
- Victorian Legal Services Board (barristers and/or solicitors)
- Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (barristers and/or solicitors)
