How to Become a Solicitor

Introduction

A solicitor is a professional who gives legal advice and represents clients in court. They are usually employed by a law firm or corporate, although they can work as self-employed solicitors in Brisbane.

What does a solicitor do?

A lawyer who gives customers advice on various legal issues and acts as their legal representative in court is called a solicitor/barrister.

A conveyancer is a type of barrister specialising in the conveyancing aspect of property transactions. This includes purchasing and selling homes, lands, farms, businesses, and automobiles.

Requirements: To become a barrister, you must finish an undergraduate law degree from a recognised university. You can undertake a postgraduate conversion course if you already possess a degree in another subject, such as philosophy or business studies. Once you complete your training contract with an employer, you will be qualified to practice law and register with one of the two Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) approved bodies: The Law Society and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).

It is estimated that there are now 83,643 barristers throughout Australia, 26,066 more than there were in 2011. The majority of Australian barristers continue to work in private law firms.

Typical employers of barristers

Barristers typically work in a law firm, an insurance company, or a government department. However, some also work as in-house lawyers at a company, while others become consultants and work as independent contractors with multiple clients. To be licensed, you must have completed the Legal Practice Course (LPC), which is a two-year course that takes place over four semesters:

• First Semester — September–December
• Second Semester — January–April
• Third Semester — May–August (mid-year break)
• Fourth Semester — September–December

The Brisbane legal community is thriving. There are more than 2,000 practising barristers in Brisbane alone. This number includes barristers, who are essentially advocates for clients in courtrooms.

Qualifications

Solicitors in Brisbane must first complete at least five years of study, including an LLB degree. To become a lawyer, you must first practise as a barrister. A training contract is the first step and includes work placements in offices. In addition to these qualifications, you may need to complete further training or exams before being admitted as a member of one of the four Inns Of Court: Gray’s Inn, Lincoln’s Inn, Inner Temple, and Middle Temple.

Key skills for barristers

The skills required for becoming a barrister are:

• Good organisational skills
• Excellent communication skills
• An excellent problem-solving ability
• A good work ethic
• Good numeracy skills, including understanding and analysing data (often concerning your client’s finances)
• High levels of IT literacy and the ability to use complex software packages such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Suite tools (such as Photoshop) will be a great plus if you ever need to work on digital documents. However, it isn’t essential.

There are law firms in Brisbane that specialise in different areas of law, such as commercial law, intellectual property law, family law, and criminal defence.

FAQs

What is a solicitor?

A solicitor is an attorney representing clients in legal matters like property transactions and probate (the process of applying for binding authority over someone’s estate). They also advise clients on the best way to establish their businesses to ensure compliance with the local jurisdiction’s regulations. They might offer legal representation in certain situations in front of courts or tribunals, where more formal proceedings are observed.

Conclusion

Becoming a barrister is an exciting and challenging career. This guide will help you know where to start and how to find work in your chosen area.