Topic:

• Why study Law in Australia?
• Career Outcomes
• Course Options
• Entry Requirements
• Courses Available
• School Recommendations
• How to become a lawyer in Australia?
• Pass Skills Assessments
• PR Pathway
• FAQs

• For the Bachelor course or equivalent, usually applicants are required to have completed Year 12 or a Diploma course with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7 (in any discipline) and attained IELTS 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0). However, some universities have specific English requirements that students need to obtain the score of 7.0 for writing and speaking skills.   
• For a Master’s course or higher, usually applicants are required to have completed a Bachelor’s degree, two years’ relevant work experience and attained IELTS 6.5-7.0 (with no individual band below 6.5).  

Don’t meet the entry requirements? Contact SOL Edu, one of the best education agencies in Brisbane, today! Our team will offer you free consultation and free application process.    

• Civil Law 
• Criminal Law 
• Business Law 
• Tax Law 
• Environmental Law 
• International Law 
• Intellectual Property Law 

Many universities in Australia offer the Laws courses for international students. Below are some examples. 

Undergraduate Level  

• University of Queensland 
• University of Wollongong 
• Macquarie University 
• UNSW 
• Griffith University 
• ANU 
• University of Technology Sydney 
• University of Adelaide 
• Monash University 
• Deakin University 
• Bond University 

Postgraduate Level 

• University of Queensland 
• UNSW 
• Macquarie University 
• ANU 
• University of Technology Sydney 
• Monash University 

Not sure which university you should apply for? Contact SOL Edu today for free consultations and free admission process! 

Becoming a lawyer in Australia involves following a specific educational and professional pathway. Here are the general steps to become a lawyer in Australia: 

Step 1: Obtain a Qualified Degree 

Start by completing an undergraduate degree in law (LLB or equivalent). This typically takes four years of full-time study.  

Step 2: Complete Practical Legal Training  

After obtaining your law degree, you’ll need to undertake a Practical Legal Training (PLT) program. PLT provides practical experience and skills necessary for legal practice. This training will be under the supervision of an experienced lawyer and can take up to 3 – 4 months.  

Step 3: Apply for Admission to Practice 

Once you’ve completed your PLT, you can apply to be admitted to practice law in your respective state or territory. Each state and territory in Australia has its own admission authority. You’ll need to submit an application and meet their specific requirements. 

Step 4: Serve a Supervised Legal Practice Period 

After admission, most jurisdictions in Australia require newly admitted lawyers to serve a supervised legal practice period, often referred to as a “practical legal training period” or “articles of clerkship”. During this period, you’ll work under the supervision of an experienced lawyer or law firm. 

Step 5: Obtain a Practicing Certificate 

To practice law independently, you’ll need to obtain a practicing certificate from the relevant legal authority in your jurisdiction. This certificate allows you to work as a solicitor or barrister. 

For immigration purposes, Laws degree holders need to pass a skill assessment assessed by one of approved authorities in Australia. To know which organisation/authority that you should submit your skills assessment for, you need to clarify what is your occupation. Below are two examples of skills assessment criteria.  

Skills assessment  

After completing the law degree in Australia, you do not need a skill assessment but an admission as a solicitor (ANZSCO Code 271311).  

Step 1: Apply for a 485 visa 

After completing a law related course, you are eligible to apply for visa 485 (Post-Higher Education Work stream). You are required to have at least IELTS overall 6.5 with no band score under 5.5 in the past 1 year before you lodge your visa application.

Under visa 485, you can stay in Australia for 2-5 years depending on your degree and nationality. However, if you undertook and completed at least  2 years of study in a ‘Regional Area’ such as the Gold Coast, Adelaide or Perth, you can be eligible for an additional 1 or 2 years of the 485 Visa Thus, you will have more time to prepare yourself for permanent residence (PR) or a temporary visa that can lead to a PR. 

Step 2: Apply for a PR or a visa that can lead to a PR 

Depending on your occupation, you may be eligible to one of the visa below:  

Skilled visas    

• 189 – Skilled Independent (subclass 189) – is a points-tested visa, allowing you to live and work permanently in any state or territory in Australia. The minimum score that you are required to be considered for a visa invitation is 65.  
• 190 – Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) – is a permanent residence visa but you need a nomination from one of Australian states or territories to apply for this visa. Each state may have its own occupation list and additional requirements, so you must investigate if you meet all the state’s eligibility criteria before asking for a nomination.   

• 491 – Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) is not permanent, but it can lead to a PR (visa 191). You must commit to stay and work in your nominating regional Australia for a minimal period of time and achieve at least 65 points to be apply for this visa.    

Employer Sponsored visas   

• 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) – allows you to work and stay indefinitely in Australia. To be eligible for this visa, you must be nominated by an approved employer and have at least 3 years of work experience. 
• 482 – Temporary Skilled Shortage (subclass 482) Medium Term Stream – allows you to stay and work in Australia for up to 4 years. To apply for this visa, you must have an employer who is willing to sponsor you. You will have a high chance of getting a PR after a 482 visa.   
• 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) is applicable for you if you have a regional employer who is willing to sponsor you. You must accumulate at least 3 years work experience.  

Contact SOL Edu today at [email protected] to know which visa option is best for you!