Frequently Asked Questions - Overseas Qualified Lawyers with Exemptions

Please note the below information is regarding admission as a lawyer in NSW specifically. Information on admission in other jurisdictions should be sought from the appropriate admitting authority.

The first step for any overseas qualified lawyer should be to apply for an assessment of overseas legal qualifications. This will identify any additional studies required. 

Details about applying for the assessment of qualifications can be found in the 'Guide for Applicants for Admission as a Lawyer' on the LPAB website here.

Once an outcome on the application has been received, you may register with LPAB as a Student-at-Law to complete subjects as required. For more information on the Diploma in Law Course please review the Handbook available on the LPAB website here.

When you have completed your studies you will be required to apply to be admitted. Comprehensive details on this process can also be found in the 'Guide for Applicants for Admission as a Lawyer'.

Yes, you can apply for study with exemptions issued by other state’s legal Admission Boards, but you will not be eligible for the Diploma in Law or for admission in NSW.

You will need to provide a copy of your assessment letter when registering. 

We recommend that applicants with exemptions from other states have their academic qualifications assessed by the LPAB if they will be completing more than 10 subjects and wish to be awarded the Diploma in Law. This does not mean that you will have to apply for admission in NSW. 

If you study and sit exams for ten or more subjects you will be awarded the Diploma in Law qualification.

If you complete fewer than ten subjects, you will need to order an academic transcript of your completed subjects. You may then use the transcript along with your assessment letter and overseas qualifications, to apply for admission as a lawyer.

Under the current NSW Admission Board Rules 2015 (the Course Rules) one of the eligibility criteria for registering in the Course is that the applicant intends to remain in Australia during the whole of his or her candidature for the Board’s examinations. However, exceptions to this rule may be made on request, and subject to the applicant acknowledging that they have read and understood the below information. 

If you are interested in registering as a student-at-law, please send through an enquiry on the student portal requesting an exception to the Australian residency requirement, outlining your reasons and circumstances, and acknowledging you have read and understood the information below about participating as a distant student.

Although it is possible to participate in the course as an overseas student, the ideal is that even distant students attend in-person at key times during each semester.  

Attendance at course lectures 

There is no distinction between metro, regional or overseas students in terms of course delivery. All students have the option to attend classes in person on Campus or via Zoom as the LEC live stream the lectures in real time. Lectures will be in Sydney Time 6pm-9pm (AEST). Additionally, all students will both have the same access to lecture recordings (the LEC post the recordings for all in batches are 4 points during the semester). 

Attendance at Weekend Schools 

All students are strongly encouraged to attend in-person the two Weekend Schools each semester in each subject in which they are enrolled. The Weekend Schools provide important opportunities for interaction with lecturers and other students, and for networking generally. Weekend School activities are not recorded and are not available online. Although in-person attendance at Weekend Schools is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended.  

Attendance at Exams   

All students are expected to attend exams in person. Online exams will only be available in exceptional circumstances, subject to prior approval and with strict eligibility criteria as outlined in the Online Examinations by Exception Policy. If approved for an online exam, a candidate will be required to download and test secure exam software and sit the exam under conditions which prevent access to any non-permitted materials.  

Distance students will be expected to make reasonable efforts to travel to an exam centre to sit their exams in-person.  We understand there may be exceptional circumstances that prevent students who are residing outside Australia from attending exams in person.  Application to sit exams online or at an unscheduled overseas venue would need to be made on a semester-by-semester basis.

The process to apply for an Application to sit Examinations Online by Exception is detailed in our Online Examinations by Exception Policy which incurs a $210 application fee (regardless of outcome).   

Applications should be made prior or on enrolment.

No guarantees can be made that students who reside overseas will be able to sit exams outside of Australia for the entirety of their participation in the Course. 

You can register as a student without the results of your application. 

Until you have received the outcome of your assessment you will only be able to enrol in courses as per the progression rules i.e. you will only be able to enrol in 01 Foundations of Law and 02 Criminal Law and Procedure in the first semester. 

You may make a 'Student Course Application' via your home page on STEMS to sit the subjects out of order prior to receiving your outcome. You will need to make refrence to the Uniform Principles for Assessing Qualifications of Overseas Applicants for Admission to the Australian Legal Profession which outlines the likely subjects you may be required to take based on the country you completed your qualification in.