Britlaw

Thats great! Well done to you! Well we arrived in Melbourne in July and so far the "lawyer" job market seems pretty flat! I have spoken to the Institute of Victoria so am in the process of getting things ready for a skills assessment. Does a local admission up your chances of getting a job? apparently not, the recruiters all say the same thing, "it's not what you know over here it's who!!" Im living in Berwick and haven't met a single lawyer yet so it is disheartening to say the least. The search for work continues... Watch this space.... x

I will be interested to hear how you get on, we are moving from the midlands to Melbourne too. I was recommended Atlantis and PSS.

Hi boganbear welcome to my thread! Thanks for joining, please give me some pointers if you may of firms to join/avoid, feel free to PM me! Just awaiting a case officer then on to the medicals. I'm looking to move to Melbourne in 2013 but getting a little nervous about finding work and all of this "re-qualification" for a job I have done for 11 years! Would appreciate any help at all!

Hi loopylu, mine are 5 & 3! Just out of interest, did you use a recruitment agent to find a job? also, how is the job market for lawyers where you are in comparison to Melbourne? Many thanks!

Im not sure why, I think I read somewhere on PIO that the Irish check takes longer than the English one? But eitherway I'm sure it will be in plenty of time before the end of 28 days. Do you have E-health available on your medicals? Apparently medicals are uploaded to DIAC super quick and x-rays within days, so a great system! You must be very excited! Amazing how quick everyone is hearing from a CO! I don't think anyone was expecting this especially with all the new rules setting in. We are still waiting I'm afraid :-( hopefully this week will be our time for a CO. I have booked medicals but dates can be altered if we are delayed getting allocated. PCC's are filled in but reluctant to send off for the same reason. So which area will you be looking at moving to? Have you told your nearest and dearests yet?

Congrats Melanie79!!!! Wonderful news! You must be very pleased, keep us all updated so we can seem how you are getting on! All the best! :-)

Your last line of your first paragraph is hilarious! Like your humour! Oh wow that's a tricky process in, but worth it! How old are your ill ones? I'm really looking forward to a better outdoor lifestyle for my two, at least the weather is good enough to do things at the weekends, unlike here!

Very exciting indeed! Good for you guys! Where are you planning to move to? Have you told family friends? We are dreading that bit!!

Congratulations Jenniferoz! So when do you plan to make the move? Klm081, we are still waiting too, lodged the same date... Waiting...tick tock! Good luck!

Good for you heather, it's great that at least you are earning better than you would in London, even if not the position you wanted! I am sure something will come up for you! It seems quite unfair that you have to qualify and then re-qualify right? But it will be worth it, let me know how you get on with your subjects, I may need some help and advice with the same when we come over! All the very best!

Eitherway Abeer, if you apply to the police, you have experience and the money will sure help whilst you are studying the extra subjects. The alternative of course is to go to oz on a working visa and see how you find work, from what I have read, people are doing paralegal work and or solicitor assistant type work whilst they study. Nothing matches practice and studying, the perfect compliment. Hope this helps!

Hi there! Its interesting to hear that although we don't gain the title immediately, we still have a shot at the salary, with a bit of luck of luck of course! After the day I have had, agreed, hard workers! Haha! But seriously what is "daylight saving?" Also are you there on a working visa or a migrant?

Hi there! My other half is Head of IT Systems so he went down the ACS route for his skills assessment, which was also fun and games but not as long-winded as it would have been for me. He is looking for work too and understands that he may have to do some exams etc too! I may give shine lawyers a shout and see what they have or another firm in Melbourne, to be honest I would rather work and study as I always think practice is so different to the academics, I always tell my trainees this. What are the salary bands out there like out of interest. What would special counsel look to earn in comparison with an Australian solicitor? Also what is the work/life/family balance like? Cheers!

Good luck embassy hopefully you get your CO soon! I haven't heard of anyone getting a visa without a medical as yet? Unless anyone else has a story...?? I have read that a few PIO have front loaded meds and PCC's, on the basis that so many 175's have been allocated over the last 14 days, I would say take the risk, I may do the same too! Applied for a 175 last week of June! All the best!

Hi Ammosaph, that's great, will PM you, it's nice to see I'm not alone! I agree, the forms really are long and the stat decs maybe slightly tricky as you need a reference and details of all of the modules you have ever sat etc etc... It's complex, I had to contact my university for a full transcript as well as the LPC modules. The senior partner is unaware of my plans of emigration so I am treading carefully at the moment, I don't think he will be happy to give me a reference! Oops! We are looking to move o Melbourne, law institute of Victoria is pretty tough so I have heard, you will have to let me know how it compares to WA once you get started! Thanks for getting in touch!