The road to becoming a Lawyer

Lawyers, also known as solicitor, are licensed practitioners who practice law, offering legal advice and representing clients.  The legal profession has often been presented as glamorous in popular culture.  There are many series and movies depicting life as a lawyer, however there is much more to it. But exactly how does one become a lawyer?

The first step toward becoming a lawyer in Australia is to attend university and pursue a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree or, if you already have a degree, a Juris Doctor (JD) postgraduate degree.  Over the next three to four years, you will study a range of electives and the “Priestly 11” core subjects, which are the foundation of law, namely:-

• Law of Contracts
• Property Law
• Company law
• Federal and State Constitutional law
• Criminal Law and Procedural Laws
• Torts
• Administrative law
• Equity (including trusts)
• The Law of Evidence
• Civil Dispute Resolution
• Ethics and Professional Responsibility

Following graduation, the next step is to enroll in a Practical Legal Training program, to obtain a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.  This program is designed to introduce or improve the everyday practical skills that you will need as an entry-level lawyer.  This course consists of both academic and practical courses and can take anywhere from 6 months to a year to finish.

The next step is your legal admission, which I recently completed.  To be admitted as a lawyer in Queensland a person must apply to be admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland.  This process requires a person satisfy three requirements:-

1. Completed a law degree or equivalent;
2. Completed a Graduate Dipolar of Legal Practice; and
3. Be a ‘fit and proper’ person.

This mostly entails the time-consuming work of filling out forms, gathering supporting documentation, filing and serving papers, and, most crucially, paying application fees.

If your application for admission is successful, you must attend the admission ceremony.  When I arrived at court, I was ecstatic about the start of my professional career and the opportunities that were ahead.  Walking around the corridors of the Courthouse, you get a sense of those who came before you and those who will come after you.  At the ceremony you will take an oath of office or make an affirmation of office, sign the Supreme Court Roll, and receive your Certificate of Admission.  The ceremony marks the official start of your professional career in a field with centuries of tradition and an age-old occupation.

Lastly, before you can practice as a lawyer you will need to hold a practicing certificate.  This license allows a lawyer to provide legal services to clients.  Once again, you’ll need to fill out the forms, collecting your supporting documents and pay the fee.

Becoming a lawyer takes time, effort, and patience; the process takes 4 to 7 years to complete.  Throughout the process, you will need to determine your interests and get the necessary expertise to become the finest lawyer possible.  If you’re considering a career in law, the outlook for your future job prospects are bright.

For me, admission marked the end of a long road that began when I was 15, but also the start of a new chapter.  I am delighted to begin my career with Macrossan and Amiet Solicitors and hope that many others will join us in the future.