Application for an assessment of your foreign qualifications
As a foreign graduate or lawyer wishing to practise Australian Law, you must first apply to the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB) for a skills assessment. VLAB is empowered by Rule 11 of the Legal Profession Uniform Admission Rules 2015 (External link) ("the Rules") to assess the qualifications of foreign persons and determine the requirements for applicants to be eligible for admission to practise in Victoria.
VLAB applies the Uniform Principles for Assessing Overseas Qualifications (“the Uniform Principles”) when assessing applications. Anyone seeking admission to the Legal Profession in Australia on the basis of qualifications obtained outside Australia, should study this document carefully.
Schedule 2 sets out the additional academic studies which applicants from different countries will usually be required to complete before applying for admission. Schedule 4 gives similar information about practical legal training requirements.
Once an assessment is made, you will receive an assessment letter outlining any additional academic and/or practical legal training that may be required to be undertaken prior to seeking admission in Victoria. All applications for an assessment are made using the online portal. Two categories of persons are eligible to apply to have their foreign qualifications assessed:
Fit and Proper Person
It is necessary for a person to satisfy the Board that they are of good fame and character and a fit and proper person.
An applicant for admission must disclose details of any matters which might be relevant to the Board's consideration of whether or not he or she is a fit and proper person to be admitted to the Australian legal profession.
An applicant must also disclose any matters which a reasonable applicant would consider that the Board might regard as not being favourable to them when considering whether or not the applicant is a fit and proper person to be admitted to the Australian legal profession.
In determining what matter should be disclosed you must read the LACC Disclosure Guidelines for Applicants for Admission to the Legal Profession.
Australia UK Free Trade Agreement
The agreement contains commitments to reform legal services provisions and drive collaboration between regulators with the aim of addressing remaining barriers to practise as a local lawyer in the other country's territory.
Frequently Asked Questions