GUIDE TO ADMISSION TO PRACTICE

Queensland

Being admitted to practice is the culmination of your investment in your undergraduate studies followed by your practical legal training. It is a very major achievement which means you become part of the legal profession, which today offers a multiplicity of career options across a broad range of sectors.

Requirements for admission to practice

Are you ready to seek admission to practise as a lawyer? To do so, you’ll need to:

• Have completed your Bachelor of Laws or equivalent course

• Have completed a Practical Legal Training (PLT) program

• Be a fit and proper person

Step 1. Proof of PLT Qualification – College of Law

To apply for admission you will require a Certificate of Completion from the College of Law for your Practical Legal Training (Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice).

You will receive certified digital copies of your College of Law graduation documents including the Certificate of Completion through the My eQuals portal.

To obtain your Certificate of Completion you will need to have completed all three components of your PLT Program.

1. Coursework completion

2. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) completion

3. Work experience or equivalent completion

Now you’re ready to apply to your admitting authority.

Step 2. Apply for Admission

The Admitting Authority in Queensland is the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board (LPAB). The LPAB assists persons seeking to obtain admission as a lawyer in Queensland, making recommendations to the Supreme Court for your application for admission. For more information about the application process, please visit the LPAB website via the Queensland Law Society website at qls.com.au/Legal-Practitioners-Admissions-Board

Under ‘Admission Kits’, download the Admission Kit for Practical Legal Training (PLT) students called the Guide for Applications seeking admission as a lawyer in Queensland (PLT Students). Read the Guide thoroughly. As the Guide is updated regularly, please make sure you are reading the most up-to-date version.

Important points to note

• We encourage you to start your admission application as early as possible – at least six weeks before your target admission date.

• To satisfy the LPAB that you are eligible for admission, there are a number of documents you will need to collate, including completing a number of forms – read the Guide carefully to make sure you know what is required

• You will need to advertise your intention to apply for admission in the Queensland Law Reporter

• You will need to ask a member of the profession who holds a current practising certificate to ‘move’ your admission.

• After your admission, you need to apply to the Queensland Law Society for a Practising Certificate, and this is what allows you to practise as a solicitor.

• Remember that you must be supervised for two years following admission.

The College will provide more information as well as a video during your coursework.