LAW INDUSTRY BASICS COMPLETING A LAW DEGREE AT UNIVERSITY IS THE FIRST OF A NUMBER OF STEPS TO BECOMING A FULLY QUALIFIED LAWYER. THIS SECTION WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE STEPS YOU WILL NEED TO TAKE TO BECOMING A PRACTICING LAWYER.
UNIVERSTIY DEGREE POST-ADMISSION EXPERIENCE (PAE) The rst step to becoming qualied as a lawyer When in you begin your job search, you will see the Queensland is completing an LLB program that consists acronym ‘PAE’ pop up from time to time. It stands for of a number of core subjects, often referred to as ‘black post-admission experience and describes how man letter’ law subjects or ‘the Priestley 11’ (such as Torts, years’ experience you should ideally have had after you Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Corporate Law). You became an admitted solicitor. So, any work you have also need to take some electives, where you can choose done as a paralegal or clerk while you were still at uni is to follow any interests you may have in particular areas excluded from this. oflaw(e.g.FamilyLaw)orsubjectsindierentfaculties and disciplines. CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) The learning does not stop upon becoming admitted. To PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINGING (PLT) be continually recognised as a solicitor, the Queensland Towards or at the end of your LLB degree, you are required Law Society requires that you clock up a minimum of 10 to undertake a course called practical legal training, that ‘CPD’ points a year. CPD means what it sounds like. CPD aims to provide you with an opportunity to apply all the is a professional and ethical responsibility designed to technical knowledge that you did over the course of keep lawyers up to date on their technical knowledge your degree. Once you successfully complete your PLT, and practical skills so that they provide their clients with you will be ready to become an admitted solicitor to the top-notchlegalservices. profession. BECOMING A BARRISTER ADMISSION Once you have completed your LLB, PLT and obtained Once you have completed your PLT, you will apply to yourSolicitorsPractisingCerticate,youcanembar become ‘admitted’ to the profession. This is a process of the following steps to become a barrister: applying to the Supreme Court of Queensland to review Pass three Queensland Bar examinations your character against criteria set out in legislation. Pass the Bar Practical Course Upon a successful admission, you will be issued with Applyforabarrister_spractisingcerticate what is called a ^Solicitors Practising CertiUndertake cate_. This the Readership program, where you will get qualies you to practice as a solicitor. To practice more practical as a experience for at least 12 months under barrister, you need a barristers practicing certi the supervision cate, of two mentors (usually more senior further discussed below. members of the Bar). 4
