emperormoose

Thanks. I was admitted earlier this year so now just waiting for the visa to come through. Then it’s a frantic search for a job before moving over!

i assume you’re in Australia and working as a lawyer? 

I’m pleased to say I’ve finished the studying required for a solicitors skills assessment, now just waiting patiently for a visa.

For anyone else doing the solicitor studies, you may find the text books are very expensive. Ive attached a photo of the books I used which I now no longer need. If anyone would like them, send me a message and we can work something out. I’m UK based. 

I studied constitutional, equity, civil & criminal, ethics, administrative and companies, so these books may suit any of you doing similar.

Good luck all! 

29 minutes ago, loveaustralia said:

Does anyone know how you a get skills assessment? I’ve qualified in Australia but it asks for a reference number.

 

many thanks 

You need a letter from the legal admission board of whichever state you’re qualified in. You should be able to find further details on their website. There will be a fee (NSW fee is $85)

I’ll be doing the PTE English test soon. I’m obviously hoping for as high a score as possible and potentially the 20 points from that. If I get it I’ll have 80 points. As a solicitor anyone have any idea how long after submitting my EoI for a 189 visa I’d likely be waiting for an invite? 

And if I only score mid level of PTE and get 10 points, therefore applying with 70 in total, how long the wait might be for an invite?

Thanks to anyone who can help! 

1 minute ago, Smit0007 said:

5 minutes ago, emperormoose said:

Smit - I didn’t have to do an English language assessment for the LPAB. Proficieny was assumed from my English law degree. Worth checking the LPAB admission requirements for your specific situation. 

Ok. So did u study Law in NSW?

Yes. Got my English law degree qualifications assessed by LPAB, needed to do 6 subjects, which I did via distance learning at NSW universities. Uni of New England and Southern Cross uni. 

Smit - I didn’t have to do an English language assessment for the LPAB. Proficieny was assumed from my English law degree. Worth checking the LPAB admission requirements for your specific situation. 

Much obliged and you make a valid point about the English proficieny of some in and around the law! 

PTE does seem more popular as an option.

Thanks for your comments 

Just completed all the LPAB requirements for admission in NSW and will be heading over to Sydney for admission in either March or April.

So I’ve turned my attention to the visa process and it seems I may be 5 points shy of the 60 required. This is due to the English requirements. Having never done any IELTS tests it seems I can’t show anything other than competent English, despite having a law degree and having done the Australian study requirements. 

The vocational English points seem to have been removed. Can anyone tell me if this is correct? Does proof of an English law degree imply a higher level for the visa points requirements?

if not it looks like I’ll be doing an English test and hoping I do OK! 

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help 

They are all supposed to follow the uniform principles - it should be irrelevant which state it is.

 

How much detail did you put in your application?

It seems to have changed for NSW and VIC as of 1st July 2015. The application form was fairly basic, but my CV and cover letter tried to get across experience levels etc.

To be fair to them, with the exception of Legal Ethics, I can see why they wish for me to do the other subjects. I'd have thought 12 years of practice would be a good indication that I'm not too unethical!

I applied to be assessed in Western Australia and with my assessment certificate they sent me a list of unis in WA. However only one of them - Edith Cowan university accepts online students. They specify that you take the exam at somewhere in London called m2m. The problem for me is that constitutional law that I have to study is 2 units and will be a total cost of $6300 plus exams. I also live 3 hours from London and would have to do 2 exams

 

i therefore contacted UNiversity of New England and they do constitutional law as one unit at a cost of $2487 and it appears that I can take exams at any uni in UK I want to, if I can get them to agree.

 

i therefore have to go back to WA legal practice board and ask for permission to take the exam at UNE instead! Fingers crossed.

 

i have just applied to college of law for the practical training side, I can study online and I'm trying to find somewhere to take the two exams.

 

why 6 subject subjects? How long have you been practicing? Did you provide them with references?

I've been in practice for 12 years now, I understand the NSW entry requirements don't consider any subjects covered in the English LPC, whereas it seems WA does. I think this is why I've ended up with 6 subjects to study.

Problem now is establishing what institutions provide the required subjects on a distance learning basis and are accredited by the NSW LPAB. And then it will probably cost a small fortune!

They don't like making it easy!!

Good luck with your studies, keep this thread updated if you don't mind. I'd be interested to hear how you're doing.

Update for anyone that might be interested.

 

this morning I received my assessment certificate and I have to study the following:

constitutional law

trust and office accounting

ethics and professional responsibility

 

so now in process of finding out where can study but take exams in UK and costs etc

Any joy in finding out where you can study the subjects and do exams in UK etc? I've recently heard I have 6 subjects to take, would have rather had less, but it doesn't seem entirely obvious where I can do the required studying while still living in the UK!

So anyone who's been in this position and is able to help, I'd love to hear from you! I need to do the study for the NSW LPAB.