LEGAL INDUSTRY AND PATHWAYS 1.0

Completing a law degree at university is the first of many steps to becoming a fully qualified lawyer. This section introduces you to the steps you need to take to become a practicing lawyer.

University Degree

The first step to becoming qualified as a lawyer in Queensland is completing an LLB program that consists of a number of core subjects, often referred to as ‘black letter’ law subjects or ‘the Priestley 11’ (such as Torts, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law and Corporate Law). You also need to take some electives, where you can choose to follow any interests you may have in particular areas of law (e.g., Family Law) or subjects in different faculties and disciplines.

PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING (PLT)

Towards or at the end of your LLB degree, you are required to undertake a course called practical legal training, that aims to provide you with an opportunity to apply all the technical knowledge that you did over the course of your degree. Once you successfully complete your PLT, you will be ready to became admitted as a solicitor.

Admission

POST-ADMISSION EXPERIENCE (PAE)

When you begin your job search, you will see the acronym ‘PAE’ pop up from time to time. It stands for post-admission experience and describes how many years’ experience you should ideally have had after you officially became admitted as a practicing solicitor.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)

To be continually recognised as a solicitor, the Queensland Law Society requires that you clock up a minimum of 10 ‘CPD’ points a year. CPD means what it sounds like. CPD is a professional and ethical responsibility designed to keep lawyers up to date on their technical knowledge and practical skills so that they provide their clients with topnotch legal services.

Becoming A Barrister

Once you have completed your PLT, you will apply to become ‘admitted’ to the profession. This is a process of applying to the Supreme Court of Queensland to review your character against criteria set out in legislation. Upon a successful admission, you will be issued with what is called a ‘Solicitors Practising Certificate’. This qualifies you to practice as a solicitor. To practice as a barrister, you need a barristers practicing certificate.

Once you have completed your degree PLT and obtained a Solicitors Practising Certificate, you can embark on the following steps to become a barrister:

• Pass (3) Queensland Bar examinations.

• Pass the Bar Practical Course

• Apply for a barrister’s practising certificate

• Undertake the Readership program, where you will get more practical experience for at least 12 months under the supervision of two mentors (usually more senior membres of the Bar)