Lawyer
What's it like to be a Lawyer?
A Lawyer provides legal advice to clients in one or more areas of law to individuals or businesses when they require advice or assistance with a legal issue. Lawyers manage the daily legal affairs of their clients, including preparing contracts, drawing up claims and negotiating settlements. Some Lawyers deal with disputes, and will appear in court on behalf of their clients if a Barrister is not required.
Lawyers specialise in different areas of the law such as family law, helping people resolve the legal aspects of family relationships, including divorce and parenting arrangements, or property law, providing expert legal advice on residential and commercial property settlements and disputes. An Employment Lawyer is concerned with the rights of employees and employers in the employee-employer relationship, or you may choose to work as an In-house Lawyer, where you may be responsible for drawing up contracts with third parties, mediating disputes, ensuring compliance obligations are met and handling all the other legal affairs for the organisation that employs you.
What can I earn as a Lawyer?
Find out the average salary for a Lawyer across Australia
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How to become a Lawyer
- Complete a Bachelor of Law that’s approved by the Law Society of the state or territory you want to practise in. This usually takes four years of full-time study. If you already have an undergraduate degree, you can study a Juris Doctor. This usually takes three years of full-time study.
- Complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) by undertaking workplace training under the supervision of an experienced lawyer. This usually takes up to 80 days. Alternatively, you can complete a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.
- Apply for admission with your state or territories’ Admissions Authority within 5 years of graduating from your degree.
- Complete an additional 18 to 24 months of supervised practice at a law firm to become eligible to apply for a Practising Certificate from your local Law Society.
Explore related qualifications
SEEK users who have worked as a Lawyer have studied these qualifications.
Bachelor of Law
Develop foundational legal knowledge and skills and prepare for a career in law with this qualification.
Juris Doctor
If you have already completed any undergraduate degree, this program will prepare you for a career in law.
Skills and experience employers are looking for
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