Legal Counsel
Provide clients with expert legal advice.
Job opportunities
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Jobs on SEEK right now
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Projected job growth in 5 years
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Typical salary
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What's it like to be a Legal Counsel?
Legal Counsel are Lawyers who work in–house at organisations, providing legal advice and guidance on matters of law. They review and draft legal documents, manage risk, conduct negotiations on behalf of the organisation and ensure the organisation’s legal compliance.
Tasks and duties
- Interviewing clients to determine issues and recommending appropriate course of legal action.
- Reviewing and drafting contracts, documents of sale, leases and other legal documents.
- Representing clients in court.
- Preparing cases for court by conducting research and investigations, preparing witnesses and filing legal documents.
- Preparing and executing wills on behalf of clients.
- Providing expert advice on matters of Law in a range of situations.
- Acting as a trustee on behalf of clients.
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Legal Counsel are degree–qualified experts in law. They are employed by organisations in a broad range of industries including professional services, property, finance, healthcare, public administration and insurance.
How to become a Legal Counsel
- Complete a Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor. The Bachelor of Law is usually a five–year course of full–time study, while the Juris Doctor can be completed in three years and requires a previous undergraduate qualification.
- Consider completing postgraduate study such as the Master of Laws. This is usually a two–year course of full–time study.
- Complete PLT work experience.
- Apply for admission to your state or territory’s Supreme court.
- Complete a National Police Check.
- Undergo the application process to obtain your Australian Practising Certificate.
- Become a member of the Law Council of Australia.
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Latest Legal Counsel jobs on SEEK
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Location
AustraliaSkills and experience employers are looking for
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Is Legal Counsel the right role for me?
Working hours for Legal Counsels
Overtime
Weekends
Shift work
Late nights
Often
Sometimes
Never
Job market trends for Legal Counsels
Location
AustraliaSource: SEEK job ads and SEEK role reviews
Latest Legal Counsel reviews
Latest reviews from 12 Legal Counsels surveyed on SEEK.
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Positive
Negative
May 2021
Senior Legal Counsel - Rewarding and Interesting but career profession can be difficult with limited opportunities
Reviewer's Qualification
Bachelor of Law
Experience
10+ years
Organisation size
Large (200+ employees)
Specialisation
Telecommunications
The good things
Senior legal counsel in an interesting business will be able to perform a wide variety of challenging work. As opposed to private practice, you feel like you are closer to the business and can see you...
The challenges
The in house legal life can face challenges like the business not accepting or understanding the advice they are receiving. Sometimes there is pushback on legal advice given and this can be difficult ...
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May 2021
Proud of my role of a Senior Legal Counsel
Reviewer's Qualification
Bachelor of Law
Experience
10+ years
Organisation size
I'm self-employed
Specialisation
Contracts
The good things
As a Senior Legal Counsel, I feel that I am an integral part of any organisation that I work for. Basis my advice, organisations act in a certain way and that makes me feel proud of my role.
The challenges
The role of a senior legal counsel is demanding and challenging at all times as one has to keep him/herself updated of the law of the land and advising accordingly.
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Source: SEEK role reviews
Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Profile data