So, you want to be a lawyer? Great! But there’s more to it than just passing exams.
To get admitted as a lawyer in Australia, you need to complete three key steps:
- Obtain a law degree
- Complete practical legal training (PLT)
- Demonstrate your suitability for admission as a lawyer
And to practice law, you must hold a practising certificate issued in an Australian jurisdiction after admission and when you are employed.
But did you know that before you can be admitted, you need to show that you’re a “fit and proper person”?
This means you must show that you understand and uphold the essential qualities of a lawyer including honesty, candor and an understanding of your duties to the court, your clients and other lawyers.
Always do the right thing
Lawyers handle some serious matters. They deal with people’s lives, money, and in some cases their freedom. So, it’s important that they’re honest, reliable and always do the right thing. That’s why, to become a lawyer, you need to disclose any matters which may impact on your suitability to be admitted as a lawyer.
If you have a criminal record, or have faced an academic conduct investigation, or even if you have a collection of fines you’ll need to disclose these and your past conduct when you apply for admission. It’s important to accurately disclose these matters and your reflection on them, so you can demonstrate that you are now a fit and proper person to be admitted as an Australian Lawyer.
Your application
The considerations for admitting authorities are very broad and can be very confusing. Getting your application for admission right the first time is critical and part of your duty to the court when you apply for admission as a lawyer.
As a PLT student at Leo Cussen, you’ll get access our expert support team, who’ll assist you throughout the admission process. They’ll guide you through each step, with specialised one-on-one support for your application. And, if you need us, our lawyer mentors would be delighted to appear in court with you and move your admission!
Learn more
Watch the recording of our latest event Let’s Talk Getting Admitted. We dive deeper into this process and give you insights and the information you need to be prepared.
