Lawyers in Australia

Junk95216

Hi all,

I would like to know the prospects of Chinese lawyers in Australia. How is it like? I am currently a student so if I would like to build up my CV, what can I do?

Thanks!

liz@aus

your chance of securing a job at a big law firm is next to none...most of the local law school students have their own network, either their parents are lawyers or their family members are woking in the legal field. And you are not local, your English is not good enough...but you can consider working at the Tax department of Big 4, they like comm law students and you can also try to find a job in a Chinese law firm...
Going back to China with a law degree in Australia? If your dad is ligang then you should be fine otherwise it will be really hard for you to get a job as well coz the legal systems in these two countries are totally different.

phoenix-gu

With respect, I cannot agree with everything that liz said above.

Most big law firms here are expanding their China practice (the managing partners of Mallies & Corrs joined Gillard's meeting with Chinese business leaders a couple of days ago -  they are not there for fun). Your Chinese legal background and experience can be a real advantage when it comes down to securing a position with international law firms in China. You will find after a quick browse of their career webpages - lawyers with dual qualifications are highly sought after.

That said,  liz is 100% right in saying securing a law job is extremely competitive. It's never too early to start working part time in a firm while you are a student.

[ 本帖最后由 phoenix-gu 于 2011-5-4 21:50 编辑 ]

liz@aus

I have a really good HK friend studying law in Sydney, he got good marks, good English, good extra-curriculars and he has Australian citizenship...yet he told me it's so hard to get a legal job here and it's hard in HK as well because HK law firms think Aussie students are stupid compared to those graduate from oxcam, harvard, yale...

Websites tell you nothing, you have to try and then you'll know how competitive it is in the legal services sector. And I am not trying to shatter louzhu's dream, Im just telling the hard truth of life...

Yeh it's possible to get a job in a big law firm, but you gotta be super outstanding (I mean DISTINCTION average at least, highly articulate, good extra-curriculars, internship at big law firms or legal departments at big companies whether in CN or AU) and have a bit of luck...ALWAYS remember marks are SOSOSO important for a law student, if you have a pass/ low credit average, then your life will be very miserable as a law grad

phoenix-gu

I empathise with your HK friend. It's generally extremely competitive to get a good law job. Yet, what you don't know is some of his friend made the cut. Big international firms recruit Australian students for internships every year.  According to many industry leaders, including the managing partner of Clifford Chance, Australian lawyers in general have a good reputation internationally - many foreign lawyers in China are originally Australian qualified. So don't ever underestimate yourself just because luck has not come around yet.

Lawyers with solid Chinese practice background are favoured by firms in recruiting process. I have seen many examples and I don't expect LZ to be an exception - that, of course, is not to say LZ can get a good law job upon graduation if his mark is miserable.

Junk95216

Thank you all for your valuable advice. Before putting up this thread I already had a basic idea of how difficult the situation is for chinese law students studying in Australia.

@phoenix: thanks for letting me know the importance of dual qualifications.

@liz@aus: I don't think your really good friend's story can tell the whole picture of HK law students studying in Australia, given that a high number of them can secure a spot in international law firms in HK each year; but I do agree with you, that at the end of the day, it all depends on your marks and more importantly, your personality.