Welcome to the Victorian Legal Admissions Board's short video answering frequently asked questions from foreign qualified applicants wishing to practice law in Victoria.
I am foreign qualified. What do I need to do to become a lawyer in Victoria? If you are a qualified lawyer in a foreign country, you need to apply for a foreign lawyer assessment.
If you have completed a law degree in a foreign country, but are not yet a qualified lawyer, you need to apply for a foreign graduate assessment.
What documents are required for a foreign assessment? We have a list of documents required for an assessment in our guide for applicants for foreign assessments, linked below.
Who can certify my documents? You will find a list of suitable witnesses in the link below.
What if I am outside Australia? Who can certify my documents? An eligible person to witness documents in your jurisdiction can certify your documents. A lawyer for example.
My documents are in another language. Do I need them translated? Yes. Documents in a foreign language require translation by an official translator.
Will there be a time frame to complete the prescribed assessment? Yes. You will be provided with an expiry date and you need to apply for admission before that date.
How long will it take to get the results of my assessment? In around four to six weeks time, you will receive a letter from the board with the results of your prescribed assessment.
Do I need to pass an IELTS or TOEFL test to apply for an assessment? No, this is not required at the assessment stage. This is assessed when you are ready for admission.
I've received my assessment, but I think I should be credited for more. What are my options? You can apply for a reassessment.
All applications must be made using the board's online portal. Send an email to overseas@justice.vic.gov.au (External link) and we will guide you in the next steps to the online application.
Can I commence my practical legal training whilst completing my academic subjects? No, you must complete all academics prior to commencing your practical legal training.
For more videos in this series, please click the link below.