For a Legal Officer Emigrating to Australia
Welcome to our guide on the Australian skills assessment process for a Legal Officer. Before we examine the skills required to be recognised as a Legal Officer it may be helpful to explain that the skills assessment is the first step of the emigration process. The skills Assessment of a Legal Officer determines their eligibility to emigrate and the visa options available. Ultimately, it will affect their employment opportunities once they are in Australia.
While we appreciate that each case is unique, we always strive to secure the best possible outcome from the Skills Assessing Authorities in Australia. Experience has proven that efforts and expertise in this area are often the keys to a successful case.
Ensuring Legal Officers Are In High Demand
Every skilled migrant wants to know they will be able to secure a job quickly and easily when they are in Australia. The Australian emigration system ensures that they can.
Each year, State Governments and the two territorial Governments report to the federal government on their local demand for Legal Officers and if they need to bring in Legal Officers from overseas to fill any potential shortage skills gaps. This report states the number of overseas a Legal Officers required in the coming year to fill the skills gap within each region.
The Skills in demand are then broken down into priority lists. These lists range from those skills in high demand across the country to those skills with only limited demand within rural areas.
Curently, Legal Officers are on the STSOL list. Being on this list means a Legal Officer may qualify for one of the following visa streams:
- 186, 189 (PT), 190, 407, 485 (GW),491 (F), 491 (S/T), TSS (M), 494
To read more about the shortage skills list, you can visit the government website here: STSOL
Skills and Experience Required To Be a Legal Officer
Before a person can be accepted in Australia as Legal Officer, their qualification, skills and experience must be independently verified via a rigorous accreditation. The process ensures all skilled migrants can do their jobs to the required Australian standards.
1. Defining the job title a Legal Officer:
The profession “a Legal Officer” can mean something slightly different in Australia to what is referred to overseas. In “official emigration terms”, this profession is aligned within the occupation category “Judicial and Other Legal Professionals nec” and is uniquely identified by the code 271299. This may seem weird to some people, but it is a registry system that has been in place since 2006.
2. Key Requirements for a Legal Officer:
For a Legal Officer to be deemed experienced down under, here are the essential skills, tasks, duties and responsibilities they must be familiar with:
General Duties:
Records
documentation
reports and research
Security and emergency services
Work activities preparation
Core Specialist Responsibilities:
Prepare legal proceedings and represent clients
Prepare and utilise legal documentation
Manage legal or regulatory materials
Analyse and evaluate documentation or technical information
Respond to legal
regulatory and compliance issues
Specific Tasks Associated with the Role:
Research relevant legal materials to aid decision making
Meet with individuals involved in legal processes to provide information and clarify issues
Prepare information or documentation related to legal or regulatory matters
Recommend legal actions
Advise others on legal or regulatory compliance matters
Obtain copyrights or other legal permissions
Update knowledge of legal or regulatory environments
Identify implications for cases from legal precedents or other legal information
Prepare legal documents
3. The Australian eligibility criteria for a Legal Officer:
Currently Legal Officer’s are listed on the . This reflects the demand for the profession within Australia.
4. Emigration options:
As the profession is currently listed on the , there are places available. However, demand is high, and Australia will stop inviting further applicants to emigrate once all the places are filled.
Navigating the Legal Admissions Authorities Skills Assessment Process
For Legal Officers, the skills assessing body is “Legal Admissions Authorities” they are often referred to as the LAA. To visit their site, follow the link: https://www.lawsocietysa.asn.au/
It is important to note that the primary purpose of the Legal Admissions Authorities is to make a profit and protect their current members from migrants entering Australia, taking their members’ jobs, and driving down standards or wages.
Therefore, the LAA will often look to delay, frustrate and reject cases, preventing accreditations wherever possible, with those aims in mind.
The result of a candidate’s skills assessment is often a key factor in their success. It is vital that we secure the highest possible skills accreditation.
Find out more
Emigration law is one of the most complex areas of legislation and is continuously being adapted. By definition, emigrating to Australia is a legal process where the individual must prove their case. It is not down to the government to assist in that process. In fact, in legal terms, it is the government against whom we must win our case.
To discover more, complete our assessment form for your complimentary guide and one of our friendly experts will assess your eligibility to live and work in Australia.
