requalifying as a solicitor in australia

[toadsurfer]

Originally Posted by wmarionn

All-
Great posts. I am a US trained lawyer with 19 years in litigation and in-house litigation management, trying to determine what I would be qualified to do in Oz. I'm not wedded to doing the same old thing (and can't bake OR do hair), but figure what I do now is a good starting point. David, do you still monitor the forum, and how did it go for you? Everyone else, any thoughts about what a US lawyer might do in Sydney?? (I have my PR, valid for another several years)
Thanks!

US law is completley different to UK law, as I'm sure you're aware, so will be just as different to Oz law. Therefore I'm guessing it would be pretty hard to get work within the Oz legal system without completely retraining. Could you not work as a US lawyer in Oz - there any US law firms with offices in Australia? Or large US companies with inhouse legal depts who still need advice on US law?

On BBC news website today it said that Australia is planning on revamping its skilled visa category as, surprisingly, they have found themselves on the receiving end of an influx of baking hairdressers.
They have decided to change the jobs in demand list to reflect the fact that having a strong economy with skilled workers is, these days, more important than having a nation of stylish bouffants.
This is slightly disappointing as since my last post I have given up my job in a city law firm and enrolled in hairdressing college.

[davidpt]

Hi all, sorry I haven't checked in for a bit. I've found a job. I start with the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne on June 28th. It was a fortuitous confluence of need and experience that both terrifies and thrills me. But that's besides the point, and the key points I want to make for the readers of this thread are, first, don't think your skills don't translate. Do broad searches on sites like SEEK, include government and education. I had a number of Skype and phone interviews and expressions of interest from firms, govt. organizations, publishers, etc. well before I landed this position. There are lots of opportunities out there and the lack of an Australian practice certificate is not necessarily a bar. I will, obviously, be obtaining mine for Victoria ASAP, but it was not a condition of my employment. I'm hoping to obtain a waiver for Ethics since I've both taught it and worked within the attorney disciplinary system in D.C. Anyway, I digress, many government jobs that I saw require a tertiary qualification in law, not necesesarily a licence. NSW and VIC both have websites for government jobs.

Second, there's no denying it does help to have some experience under your belt. I've been practicing and teaching law for 15 years and I think that opened a lot of doors which unfortunately are not open to newer attorneys. But, Marion, I was still surprised to hear you say the US and Australian systems are so different. I've been doing a great deal of intensive study and reading in preparation for my new position, and yes, the systems are different, but they're not so foreign as to be incomprehensible and I've actually been quite comforted by how much is familiar. We are both common-law nations and our traditions and systems come from the same plant.

Third, be flexible with where you're willing to work. I thought I'd find work in Sydney, and I did have interviews there, but Melbourne, and Victoria as a whole, seem to have far more opportunities. And it is a great city, even without the spectacular harbour.

My biggest problem now is finding an apartment before I arrive (I don't think it's going to happen), or at least locating cheap but decent short term housing I can stay in while I look after arrival. Any suggestions?

I'll do better on weighing in and commenting from now on.

Cheers and press on!

David

[wmarionn]

David-

Congratulations! The position sounds excellent, and very exciting. It is encouraging to hear about the results of your search. I will look forward to hearing about how the job goes, and about the process for getting your license. My guess (incorrect, as it turns out) had been that positions with the Courts in Australia would be among the most difficult for an expat lawyer to secure. For my part, I'll be back in Sydney for a visit in July, and hope to visit with the NSW bar while I am there as well as try to find a recruiting firm that is a good fit. Best of luck with the new job, and don't forget to post...you have now acquired the status of "Shining Beacon of Hope" for the rest of us!

[wmarionn]

"They have decided to change the jobs in demand list to reflect the fact that having a strong economy with skilled workers is, these days, more important than having a nation of stylish bouffants.
This is slightly disappointing as since my last post I have given up my job in a city law firm and enrolled in hairdressing college."

And ToadSurfer, I neglected to thank you for this...it made me laugh out loud when I read it (and not a subtle laugh, either). Even now, three months later, I can't help but smile when I read it...

[davidpt]

Yes, that gave me a laugh too.

[toadsurfer]

How is everyone doing? Anymore managed to emigrate as a solicitor? How is the new job going David??
I have decided easiest wy to emigrate will be to try and find a job with a firm willing to sponsor for a 457 visa and then get to Aus and requalify over a few years.
Have had a bit of interest from some of the larger firms but no interviews as yet but the interest has encouraged me that it is possible to find a job!

[Weebie]

Originally Posted by davidpt

Hi all, sorry I haven't checked in for a bit. I've found a job. I start with the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne on June 28th. It was a fortuitous confluence of need and experience that both terrifies and thrills me. But that's besides the point, and the key points I want to make for the readers of this thread are, first, don't think your skills don't translate. Do broad searches on sites like SEEK, include government and education. I had a number of Skype and phone interviews and expressions of interest from firms, govt. organizations, publishers, etc. well before I landed this position. There are lots of opportunities out there and the lack of an Australian practice certificate is not necessarily a bar. I will, obviously, be obtaining mine for Victoria ASAP, but it was not a condition of my employment. I'm hoping to obtain a waiver for Ethics since I've both taught it and worked within the attorney disciplinary system in D.C. Anyway, I digress, many government jobs that I saw require a tertiary qualification in law, not necesesarily a licence. NSW and VIC both have websites for government jobs.

Second, there's no denying it does help to have some experience under your belt. I've been practicing and teaching law for 15 years and I think that opened a lot of doors which unfortunately are not open to newer attorneys. But, Marion, I was still surprised to hear you say the US and Australian systems are so different. I've been doing a great deal of intensive study and reading in preparation for my new position, and yes, the systems are different, but they're not so foreign as to be incomprehensible and I've actually been quite comforted by how much is familiar. We are both common-law nations and our traditions and systems come from the same plant.

Third, be flexible with where you're willing to work. I thought I'd find work in Sydney, and I did have interviews there, but Melbourne, and Victoria as a whole, seem to have far more opportunities. And it is a great city, even without the spectacular harbour.

My biggest problem now is finding an apartment before I arrive (I don't think it's going to happen), or at least locating cheap but decent short term housing I can stay in while I look after arrival. Any suggestions?

I'll do better on weighing in and commenting from now on.

Cheers and press on!

David

Your considered a slack uselesss scumbag if you work for the government in Australia. Kiss what ever private sector ambitions goodbye with that job.

[stormgal]

Originally Posted by Weebie

Your considered a slack uselesss scumbag if you work for the government in Australia. Kiss what ever private sector ambitions goodbye with that job.

**and the audience began to gasp**

[Nettle]

Hi Guys

I hope you don't mind me joining in. I'm a UK qualified Solicitor, I'll be 4 years qualified in September and my partner is Australian. He has just been given a transfer back to Queensland and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about requalifying or job opportunities in Brisbane.

We are in the process of applying for a Defacto Visa for me to be able to join him but I don't want to leave the legal profession which I love, never mind not wanting too much of a pay cut!

I'm from an in-house background so trained and have worked in-house since qualification (apart from a 3 month stint in a city firm during my training contract). I want to stay in-house but am not sure the market is very big in Australia esp in Brisbane.

Any advice or experience would be welcomed!!!

Thanks

Net x

[toadsurfer]

Hi Net!

Congratulations on finding an Australian partner! Very clever of you. Wish I had done the same but unfortunately my partner comes from the Old South Wales, just outside Cardiff. She is lovely but there is not an Australian visa for lovely people and their partners which is a shame.

Anyway, from the extensive research I have done with agents, Aus firms and the large amount of Aussie lawyers working at my current firm there certainly seems to be the opportunity to find work in Oz for UK lawyers with some provisos.

The first is clearly having a visa. Without one, a firm or employer would need to sponsor you and thus demonstrate that you have skills that could not be obtained from the local market. This usually means there is a shortage of your type of lawyer in Australia or you are experienced in a niche area of law. It seems the lawyers that are primaril sponsored and in demand are corporate or company commercial lawyers with Magic or silver circle experience.

However, you don't need sponsoring as you will have a visa. Therefore I suspect you will not have the restrictions of firms will only take on UK lawyers with specialist corporate experience. You don't say what kind of work you actually do but if you are in house in a commercial company I suspect you will fnid work easily enough in the cities. However, you will not be able to work as an Australian solicitor until you get readmiited in Aus. Whether in house employers will mind this I don't know. Private firms don't seem to as they will take UK lawyers on who then have to work as legal advisors until requalifed.

If you have corporate experience my guess is you would have more luck finding work in private practice, getting some Aus experience and requalifying and then trying to go in house again. The market for coroporate lawyers in Aus seems quite good at the moment.

Getting requalifed is a headache that involves going back to college and sitting several exams. Do a google search for the 'Uniform Principles' and you will find the doc that is used as guidance for assessing overseas qualifications. It gives examples of what you will need to do if you are UK qualifed depending on whether you have a law degree with the right modules or did the CPE/GDL.

Good luck and let us know how you get on! And if you and your partner want to adopt me and take me to Aus as well that would be acceptable.