lem

Hi @MrTea

I have spoken with the University of New England and was advised that the module costs for 2017 are $2,725.  There isn't any difference in cost if you undertake distance learning, as far as I am aware.  However, you may want to check out the website in respect to when you can study each module as some are only available in one trimester of the year.  From the research that I have done, it does not look as though the University of New England offers modules in the Practical Legal Training course so you would need to study elsewhere for these.  

I can't speak for anyone else, but I am only applying to NSW Legal Admissions Board as it is more lenient in comparison to other states.  You are also charged a fee to have your degree qualifications assessed and a separate fee again to have your PLT qualifications assessed.  I don't know about you, but I wouldn't really want to waste money applying to every state.  

Hi Maria

Well done on seeing it through.  I am at the beginning of the process, hoping to qualify in NSW from Scotland.  Did you do distance learning with UNE?  If so, how did you find it?  I am hoping to undertake two modules per semester/trimester, not sure if three would be too much!

Hi Everyone,

Just thought i would provide an update - I am applying to have my qualifications assessed by New South Wales Legal Admissions Board.  I am still working as a trainee solicitor at the moment, due to qualify in three months.  I am not sure if it would be more beneficial to apply for the assessment of my qualifications after I qualify as opposed to now as I might have to study more modules.  I have emailed the NSW Legal Admissions Board to query this.  

I am then hoping to undertake the additional modules at the University of New England distance learning.  My plan is to take two modules for the first semester and see how this goes.  

I will keep this thread updated along the way.

Thanks,

Lem

Hi Lem

I am usually very positive about people looking into relocation. However I suggest that you think v carefully before you spend all that money. Australia is swamped with lawyers. I work in government and half the people here are studying to become lawyers. Unless you have something that you will set you apart from the local graduates I think that you could struggle. Alternatively you may be just using your skills as a way to get the visa. If you want a long term career in law you are probably better staying put. I am also worried about you paying all tjis money and then you don't get your application in before it comes off the list.

If I can offer any more constructive advice do get in touch and don't want to stamp out your enthusiasm.

Hi Peachy, thanks for your response. I have sent you a PM.

http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/migration-issues/211160-solicitor-applying-visa-189-skills-assessment.html

 

have you read this thread, lots of info on here that should answer all your questions.

WA told me what universities offered the courses in WA but only 1 of them did online and the other was over 2 modules and was very expensive.

I asked the board if could study elsewhere and provided my reasons and they approved UNE which are very geared up to online study.

Yeah, I have read that thread and most of my questions have been answered now, thanks. I have looked at UNE and I think I will go there, I have sent them an email so hopefully they will get back to me shortly.

I have also looked at this thread:-

http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/jobs-careers/201510-trainee-solicitor-question-2.html

One of the posters was planning on moving back to the UK due to her partner not being able to secure work as a solicitor. Do you know what opportunities there might be for a family law/court solicitor like me? As I said previously, I will have completed my traineeship and have two years post qualification experience before emigrating. I also have 2 years experience work in a legal secretary role. I have completed legal work experience, volunteered for Witness Support Scotland and have worked as a precognition agent. I am looking to emigrate to Victoria, but open minded about location.

Hi Lem

I only looked into Victoria's requirements and they accept the two institutions I mentioned. The VLAB website has a list of the universities they accept credits from (suspect this is what you were sent): http://www.lawadmissions.vic.gov.au/home/admission+requirements/australian+approved+academic+institutions

 

Good luck with your research!

Yeah that was the same one that was sent to me. I have only just noticed UNE on there. Thanks for all your help!

Hi Lem - pasted below are a couple of links you may find useful in working out how many subjects you'd need to study to be eligible for admission in Victoria / other states. I've not been through the process myself, but did investigate the requirements for a solicitor qualified and admitted in Scotland...approx 5/6 subjects plus 2 practical skills subjects (all of which can be studied online via the University of New England & College of Law (Australian version, not the English one)). Cheapest option was through those institutions at approx $11/12,000 (whereas universities in Victoria were between $15-20k). Hope that helps.

 

http://www.lawadmissions.vic.gov.au/home/overseas+applicants/uniform+principles+for+assessing+overseas+qualifications+pdf

 

http://www.lawadmissions.vic.gov.au/home/overseas+applicants/information+for+qualified+overseas+applicants/

Hi Marlou, thanks for all the info and the links, that's really helpful. I have been on the Legal Admissions website for Victoria and read everything over during the weekend. I looked into Deakin University to undertake the additional units; however, it will costs $3,900 per unit. The Legal Admissions Board of Victoria forwarded on a PDF of the institutions that they will accept the units from. I thought I would have to undertake the units at a university within Victoria but the institutions they accept are across Australia. I have made enquiries to Queensland University of Technology and Maquire University about cost of units etc - just waiting to hear back.

Do you know what states will accept qualifications from the University of New England and College of Law? Have you decided not to emigrate?

From the research I have done so far, I thought as much re having to take 5/6 subjects and 2 practical modules. I heard that cross qualifying in England reduces the number of additional units you need to do; however I'm not sure how reliable this is. It costs £4,000 to do the conversion course for England so don't think I would be saving much.

For those of you who have undertaken the additional modules - what university did you decide to go with? Would you recommend them?

Thanks @Nemesis for the info, that's great.

Well the minimum subjects I mentioned above - the constitutional law ran from Feb to June and The other 2 you studied at your own time but they suggest 8 weeks each.

 

when you get skills assessed it takes about 2 months but I fear even f you apply with 2 years qualification you will have to do lots subjects. I have heard lots of stories of people doing 6/7 subjects. If you factor in the time and cost plus the risk that the occupation could be removed id be concerned. If you are working full time you will not be able to manage 3 modules a semester. I struggled with 1 subject, it was intense.

 

I I think you have 4 years from grant of visa to move to oz. Good luck anyway.

Thanks for the advice @Racmac. Have you emigrated to Australia now or are you still in the process?

I was having a looking at university costs of the single modules. I am looking to go to Victoria, but I am open minded to other areas. Deakin University details costs of around $3,293 per law module for foreign students which seems quite high, I am not sure if the price is different if you are studying long distance? Would you happen to know? Other threads on here from earlier this year suggest $2,300 per module, but I guess it probably differs from each state and university.

I know it's a complete uphill struggle, but I do feel very determined. It may come to nothing and I will have wasted time, money and effort but I know I would regret it if I didn't at least give it a try.

You need to apply to the law society in the state you wish to be admitted to, they will assess your skills and decide what modules you need to take to be the equivalent of a lawyer in Australia.

 

As as a trainee or NQ you will struggle. As a minimum you will have to study the following

professional responsibility

trusts and accounts

australian constitutional law

 

all of these can be studied

in line from uk.

 

As as a trainee you will not be able to rely on experience for some of the modules and if you got a grade of c or less then you will have to take the equivalent subject.

 

Once you you have done these subjects then you have to apply to be admitted and attend the ceremony in the state you applied to. Once you are admitted you can apply for a visa.

Thanks for the info Racmac.

My plan is to emigrate in December 2019 when I will be two years post qualified as opposed to going over freshly qualified. Due to the solicitor occupation being on the flagged list for removal I was thinking of applying for a skills assessment in the next few months, undertake the necessary modules and apply for admission. From the other threads I have read on here, some have had to undertake 6 additional modules which would take a year to complete as you can only study a maximum of 3 per semester. Therefore I estimate a year to complete the additional modules. Hopefully the solicitor occupation will remain on the list the next year or two so that I can apply for my visa say September - December 2017. I am not too how long the visa process takes - I have read around 12 months which would take me to September - December 2018 if this is granted. I would then hope to emigrate in December 2019.

I am not sure if there is a time limit between having your visa granted and moving out as I wouldn't be looking to move out for around 12 months after my visa is granted. I will need to look into this more to see if this is possible.

Solicitors will probably remain on the list at least for the remainder of this financial year - until 30 June 2017.

 

If an occupation is removed from the list before a visa application is lodged - bad luck - lodged applications are not affected.

 

If there is no other way of dealing with pesky applicants, the minister can always trot out Section 39 and deem that they have not made an application, in which case the visa application charge is refunded; eventually.

 

My advice to those to prospective applicants who have one of the 50 or so occupations currently 'flagged' is to apply ASAP.

Hi WRussel,

Thanks again for your detailed response.

I have read that in order to meet the work experience requirement, you need to have been employed in an occupation on the SOL list for 12 of the 24 months before you can actually apply for a visa. I have also read that the occupation can be a closely related occupation. Is this right? It would mean that I am eligible to apply for a visa now as I have been a trainee solicitor for nearly 13 months. However, I haven't yet had a skills assessment, undertaken additional modules and been admitted as a solicitor in Australia. I take it I need to do this first before applying for a visa?

Thanks.

No problem, thanks.

Hi,

I have had a look tonight. In respect to distance learning, I understand that this is possible and reference is made to sitting exams at the College of London. Does anyone know if it is possible to sit the exams at a university in Scotland?

I have also read that visas take around 12 months to process, but I am unsure if you can begin the process without having had two years post qualified experience. I couldn't find any information on the threads that I found. I would be grateful if anyone is able to advise.

I haven't seen much information on solicitors being on the flagged list. I see that they were on the 2015-2016 list and 2016-2017 list. Do people expect this occupation to be removed soon?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi,

Many thanks for your reply and the information you have provided. Are you able to comment on any of my other questions at all? Do you know anything about the flagged occupation list by any chance?

Thanks again.

Hi,

I am currently a trainee solicitor in Scotland due to qualify in August 2017.

I am hoping to emigrate in December 2019, but I see solicitors are on the flagged list to be removed which is slightly concerning.

I understand that I require to obtain a skills assessment at which point I will most likely require to undertake additional modules. I have a few questions re the skills assessment and visa:-

• As I am not looking to move until 2019, when should I apply for a skills assessment?
  
• Can these modules be done via distance learning and exams taken in the UK?
  
• In terms of applying for my visa, when should I begin the process?
  
• Do I need to be two years post qualified before I can apply for a visa?
  

As solicitors are on the flagged list, does this mean that it is likely to be taken off in the next year or 3 years?

Many thanks in advance for any advice.

I have absolutely no idea of your best strategy.

 

If you want a considered professional opinion, I suggest you consult a registered migration agent for a full analysis.

I spoke to four yesterday, three of whom advised they did not deal with those seeking to go on student visas, and the other directed me to SO. I will try again.

You jest, of course.

 

 

 

You are playing with fire. Did you get it writing?

Can you expand a little please - is a study visa not the best way to go?

I'm not too sure what the visa position is, but even if you were able to get a suitable visa, this sounds like a very expensive option.

 

Even if you took a masters degree (which as an overseas student would be very expensive), you would still need to undertake the requisite additional study that overseas lawyers need to do (i.e. certain units equivilent to those taken as part of an Australian law degree) plus a practical legal training course. The practical legal training course is about $12,000 on its own. Getting grad jobs here is just as competitive as it is to get a training contract at home. There has been quite a lot in the press recently about how many law students are coming out of uni compared to the number of jobs actually available. So even at the end of this there would be no guarantee you could find a job. Sorry if that sounds rather negative, but when there is such expense potentially involved, I think it is sensible to consider it from all angles.

 

On top of that, if you qualified in Australia and then decided to move back to the UK, you would then need to take further exams there in order to be able to get admitted as an English or Scottish law qualified solicitor.

 

If I were you, I would be focusing on qualifying in Scotland/England and then look at trying to make a move.

Hi thanks for replying.

There are a few options I am looking into at the moment, this being one. If I go over on a study visa for a Masters, I would most likely find employment afterwards as opposed to qualifying as a lawyer.

I am looking to go over with my boyfriend and so another option would be to go on his visa if he were to undertake a two year trade qualification, but I have not researched this thoroughly yet.

With regard to the market for solicitors - as it is still on the SOL, does that not mean there are plenty of jobs in this regard?

Ps thanks for advice on the rules changing, I didn't realise they could do this pretty much instantly. I will have a look into this too.

It seems from reading he info on the 485 visa that you can only get 18 months (unless I missed a bit).

 

Who is telling you that you can get two years, and which visa is it?

Also, remember rules change. Many people came expecting to do just that and they changed the rules so they no longer qualified for a 485 or for pr. Just prepare yourself as it changed drastically and quickly with no notice (well a week sometimes).

The man I spoke to was from Study Options who, he said, were employed by Australian universities and are free of charge, so no ulterior motive

Under the 485 Post-Study Work Visa it states these can be granted for up to four years depending on your qualification. The man I spoke to from SO stated I can get 2 years if I study an LLM/Masters.

The visa you would need is the 485. I 'think' there are different durations depending on what course you do. It uses to be that diplomas you could only get 18 months. Have a google of that visa number.

It turns out the Diploma in Law is for non-law graduates, so it wouldn't actually apply to me as I already a Bachelor of law, I didn't realise until I spoke to someone today! I will have a look into the visa number, thanks

I have spoken to someone early today who advised I can study a Masters and obtain a 2 year post study work visa on this.

If I do the Diploma at home it will only take a year however I would have to undertake a 2 year traineeship before I officially qualify as a solicitor. I would then need a couple of years post qualified experience to be able to apply for the skilled visa, and complete additional courses in Australian law before I am able to practice. By that time, my profession might not be on the SOL, so qualifying at home isn't really ideal.

Thanks to all those who have applied. I did not know about the graduate visas!

The graduate visas state you must have studied for two years in Australia but the Diploma in law is only 1 year. I'm not sure if I could qualify if I did the course part time or not.

I have spoken briefly to a registered migration agent however they were not of much help. I have details of another whom I am going to speak to later today. I am a British citizen from Scotland and the cost of the Diploma in law here is half the price than it is in Australia so in that regard it's a big risk if there is not much chance of extension afterwards.

I have looked into holiday visas but it's not ideal as my other half has already done one and could not come with.

I am looking to study my Diploma in law in Australia, however, wanted to know the chances of having your visa extended after it expires? I have read info on immi.gov which states I can extend/apply for a new visa to work if I do not have a restriction, but how likely are these to be accepted?

My aim is to qualify as a solicitor so eventually I will be on the SOL but need to undertake a 2 year traineeship after the diploma before I qualify.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.