Faculty of Law

Career Development

Admission to Legal Practice in Australia

The Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor degrees are, via mutual recognition, approved degrees for purposes of admission to practise as a legal practioner in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

Students should be aware that admission authorities now require disclosure of any instance of plagiarism, and may impose sanctions as a result.

The following information is a guide only and should not be relied upon. Students should confirm admission requirements with the appropriate body.

Practical Requirements

Bond University's Professional Legal Training course began in 1996. Completion of this course and its practical experience program will satisfy the requirements of the practical component for admission in Queensland and New South Wales. Mutual recognition provisions will enable students to gain admission in any other State or Territory in Australia.

Queensland

The Legal Profession Act (2004) made a significant change to the legal profession in Queensland.

In a move away from the traditional division of solicitors and barristers, a law graduate with an LLB or JD completes either a professional legal training course or a one year traineeship to be admitted as a Legal Practitioner.

Once a practitioner has been admitted onto the Roll of Legal Practitioners, they must apply for a practising certificate from the Queensland Law Society to practise as a solicitor, or undertake further qualifications through the Bar Association of Queensland to practise as a barrister.

For more information go to:

New South Wales

A law graduate must complete one of the practical training courses recognised by the Legal Practitioners Admission Board. Bond University offers a Practical Legal Training course which is recognised by the Board. The address of the Legal Practitioners Admission Board is:

GPO Box 3980
SYDNEY NSW 2001

Telephone: (02) 9392 0310

For more information go to:

Victoria

A law graduate must complete either a period of twelve months as a clerk under articles or a course of practical training. Further information is available on the Law Institute of Victoria site. The address of the Board of Examiners for Legal Practioners is:

Supreme Court of Victoria
210 William Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000

Telephone: (03) 9603 4388

For more information go to:

Western Australia

Law students intending to seek admission in WA should take Legal Drafting & Conveyancing as one of their electives. Law graduates must complete a period of twelve months as a clerk under articles before gaining admission. The address of the Secretary of the Legal Practice Board is:

533 Hay Street
PERTH WA 6000

Telephone: (08) 9325 1311

South Australia

A law graduate must complete the Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice and a practical legal training program to qualify for admission. The address of the Secretary of the Board of Examiners is:

Supreme Court of South Australia
301 King William Street
ADELAIDE SA 5000

Telephone: (08) 8204 0496

Tasmania

A law graduate must either complete the six month Legal Practice Course followed by twelve months articles of apprenticeship or complete two years articles of clerkship. The address of the Registrar is:

Supreme Court of Tasmania Salamanca Place
HOBART TAS 7000

Telephone: (03) 6233 3427

Australian Capital Territory

A law graduate must complete the five month Legal Workshop course to qualify for admission. The address of the Secretary of the Barristers and Solicitors Admission Board is:

GPO Box 1548 CANBERRA ACT 2601

Telephone: (02) 9267 2735

Northern Territory

A law graduate must complete a period of twelve months as a clerk under articles before gaining admission. The address of the Secretary of the Legal Practitioners' Admission Board is:

GPO Box 3946 DARWIN NT 0801

Telephone: (08) 8999 6570