business.gov.au

Practising Certificate - Victoria

Description

You will need this certificate to practise as a lawyer. A lawyer is a person who is qualified and approved for admittance to legal practice in an Australian jurisdiction. In Victoria the practice of law has two branches:

  • barristers who serve as specialist advocates and provide opinions and settle court documents.
  • solicitors who offer more general legal services that include the briefing and instructing of a barrister and organisation of a case for trial.

Local practising certificates can only be issued to an Australian lawyer. All new local legal practitioners must engage in supervised legal practice for a prescribed period of time.

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible to practise, you must:

  • possess a Bachelor of Law from an approved University and approved practical legal training
  • submit the required Fidelity Fund contribution
  • provide evidence of professional indemnity insurance
  • submit the required form
  • pay the prescribed fee.

If you are currently licensed or registered elsewhere in Australia or New Zealand you may be eligible to apply for this licence under mutual recognition arrangements. Foreign lawyers need to register, but are only allowed to practice law within their overseas jurisdiction. Holders of foreign qualifications need to contact the council of legal education for an assessment of their qualifications.

Ongoing eligibility requirements

It is an ongoing requirement of this certificate that you abide by all industry legislation and codes of practice, and provide relevant information as required by the authority. You must notify the Agency of any changes to your registration, and abide by any conditions imposed by the agency.

The legal services board will send out a renewal form in April of each year. The renewal form needs to be completed and includes:

  • a basic overview of the lawyers current work and experience including Continuing Professional Development
  • a payment for registration.

Duration

This certificate is in force from the date specified until the end of the financial year in which it was granted.

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Description
Apply Application All

Please see attached fee schedule. Fees for 2023-24

Forms

Other resources

Task Business Structure Resources
Comply All Current Practising Certificate Fees (Opens in new window)

Act(s) name

Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 Victoria

Regulation(s) name

Legal Profession (Practising Certificate Fees) Regulations 2018 Victoria

Administering agency

Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner

Contact details

Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.