State Legal Admission Authority (SLAA)
State Legal Admission Authority (SSLA) is an authorised authority for assessing the skill requirements of the legal occupations. The applicant must evaluate his/her assessing skills with regards to the relevant national assessment authority.
The Department of Justice for each state offers various services to the public. The services provided by this Department extend from assessing qualifications to implementing programs in order to reduce crime in the nation. Below is some of the services provided by The Department of Justice:
· Advising and providing services to the victim of a crime, such as counseling;
· Providing legal services;
· Monitoring adult offenders;
· Monitoring Juveniles on bail and their securities; and
· Supervising community Justice centers, courts and tribunals.
The Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) is a unit within the above mentioned department associated with the admission of lawyers and legal practitioners.
LPAB roles and responsbilities:
The Board and Committee members are required to undertake the following duties:
· Managing the enrollment and registration of lawyers and public notaries;
· Assessing migration skills;
· Administering the Law examinations, which take place at Law schools (Diploma in Law);
· Taking steps as to completion of applications for admission as a legal practitioner;
· evaluating the legal skill and experience of an overseas applicant;
· Accommodating law degree courses or legal practice training in the state;
· Supplying certificates, diplomas and academic records in legal field, and last but not least; and
· Providing information in relation to application forms and above mentioned services.
The list of occupations assessed by SLAA can be found below:
| Number | Occupation | ANZSCO Code | Assessing Authority |
| 1 | Barrister | 271111 | SLAA |
| 2 | Solicitor | 271311 | SLAA |
Skill Assessment Procedure for migration:
Overseas professionals that choose to pursue their career in Australia and migrate are needed to have their qualification and skills assessed with Australian standards. Applicants must meet the requirements and provide the required documents.
|
| YES | NO |
| Are you a registered professional in Australia? | You are qualified to practice in Australia. | You are not qualified to practice in Australia. |
| Have you received your qualification from an accredited University/College in Australia or New Zealand? | You are not required to be assessed. | You are required to have your qualification and skills assessed by the relevant authority. |
| Are you required to be submitted for assessment? | Documents required:
· Certificate or a degree, in original language and a certified copy of an official English translation, if applicable. · Certified copy of your identification. · Official transcript, in original language and a certified copy of an official English translation, if applicable. · Evidence of supervised teaching practice. · Evidence of membership, in the relevant association, if applicable. · Evidence of employment, from graduation to presernt. · Evidence of registration/ license, if applicable. · Assessment form, and · Evidence of English proficiency**. |
|
** English proficiency, applicant who has acquired his/her qualification from a non-English speaking country, is required to sit for IELTS examination. It is essential to achieve a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening).
The English proficiency test required for assessment is IELTs, however, other English examinations like TOFEL iBT may also be accepted by the relevant authority.
Below is the table of score comparison between English Proficiency examinations:
| Listening | Speaking | Reading | Writing | Total Score | |||||
| IELTS | TOFEL iBT | IELTS | TOFEL iBT | IELTS | TOFEL iBT | IELTS | TOFEL iBT | IELTS | TOFEL iBT |
| 9.0 | 30 | 9.0 | 30 | 9.0 | 30 | 9.0 | 30 | 9.0 | 118-120 |
| 8.5 | 29 | 8.5 | 28-29 | 8.5 | 29 | 8.5 | 30 | 8.5 | 115-117 |
| 8.0 | 28 | 8.0 | 26-27 | 8.0 | 29 | 8.0 | 30 | 8.0 | 110-114 |
| 7.5 | 27 | 7.5 | 24-25 | 7.5 | 27-28 | 7.5 | 29 | 7.5 | 102-109 |
| 7.0 | 24-26 | 7.0 | 23 | 7.0 | 24-26 | 7.0 | 27-28 | 7.0 | 94-101 |
| 6.5 | 20-23 | 6.5 | 20-22 | 6.5 | 19-23 | 6.5 | 24-26 | 6.5 | 79-93 |
| 6.0 | 12-19 | 6.0 | 18-19 | 6.0 | 13-18 | 6.0 | 21-23 | 6.0 | 60-78 |
| 5.5 | 7-11 | 5.5 | 16-17 | 5.5 | 8-12 | 5.5 | 18-20 | 5.5 | 46-59 |
| 5.0 | 4-6 | 5.0 | 14-15 | 5.0 | 4-7 | 5.0 | 14-17 | 5.0 | 35-45 |
| 4.5 | 3 | 4.5 | 12-13 | 4.5 | 3 | 4.5 | 12-13 | 4.5 | 32-34 |
| <=4 | 0-2 | <=4 | 0-11 | <=4 | 0-2 | <=4 | 0-11 | <=4 | 0-31 |
Assessment of overseas qualification is a complex and time consuming procedure. It may take up to 8 weeks for the process to take place. After completion of the assessment a Letter of Assessment is received by the applicant. The received qualification is useful to assist:
· Migration officers to determine the suitability of the applicant for migration under the General Skilled Migration Categories;
· Registration as a Lawyer with SSLA; and
· Eligibility for relevant jobs.
For further information as to fees and assessments please contact us.
Here is the list of links that may be useful:
New South Wales
New South Wales Legal Profession Admission Board
See: New South Wales Legal Profession Admission Board
Victoria
Supreme Court Victoria
See: Supreme Court Victoria
Queensland
Queensland Law Society
See: Queensland Law Society
South Australia
The Law Society of South Australia
See: Admission and Practice in SA
Western Australia
Western Australia Legal Practice Board
See: Western Australian Legal Practice Board
Tasmania
The Law Society of Tasmania
See: Tasmanian Board of Legal Education
Northern Territory
Law Society Northern Territory
See: Law Society Northern Territory Admissions Board
Australian Capital Territory
The Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory
See: The Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory