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 and you should refer to the below table of Priestley 11 subjects to ensure you enrol in the correct subjects. 

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 not be awarded the Diploma in Law qualification. 

The Diploma in Law is not an online course, although it is possible for overseas trained lawyers to participate in the course from overseas for the purpose of completing subjects required for admission as a lawyer in Australia. The ideal is that even distant students attend in-person at key times during each semester. 

You will need to seek an exemption to Rule 29(1) of the NSW Admission Board Rules 2015 if you wish register as a student but reside outside of Australia.  

Please review the  Request for exemption to Rule 29(1) – Australian Residency Declaration Form. This form provides further information regarding attendance at course lectures, weekend schools and examinations. 

You will be required to sign and attach this document to your Student Registation case on STEMS. 

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 reference 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. 

If you have been granted exemptions for more than eight subjects, you may enrol in up to three subjects per semester, in accordance with the progression rules.

If you have been exempted from fewer than eight subjects, you will be required to begin with two subjects.

If you wish to take more subjects, you must submit a Student Course Application in STEMS. Your status as an overseas-trained lawyer will be considered when assessing the application. 

Please note, any more than four subjects is considered more than a full-time workload. The subjects are academically demanding and require significant preparation. 

While the system may allow you to enrol in up to five subjects, we strongly recommend limiting your enrolment to three to ensure you can manage the workload effectively.

As you approach the examination period, we encourage you to reflect on your preparedness. If you feel underprepared, it is better to defer an exam than to risk a fail.

Not sitting an exam will not negatively affect future applications for accelerated progression. However, failing an exam may impact such applications.

There is no formal English language requirement for enrolling in the Diploma of Law. 

However, all coursework is conducted entirely in English, and a high level of proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding academic English is essential for success. The subjects require the ability to engage with complex legal materials, write structured legal arguments, and participate in discussions at a professional level.

Please also note that an English language requirement may apply during the admission process. For details, refer to section eight of the Guide for Applicants for Admission as a Lawyer. 

Students studying the Diploma are not eligible for student visas.

The Board's Diploma course is not accredited or registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS), and therefore students studying the Diploma are not eligible for student visas.

A list of CRICOS approved providers and courses is available at www.cricos.deewr.gov.au- external sitelaunch. For further information regarding visas, please contact the Department of Home Affairs- external sitelaunch.

LPAB staff are unable to assist or provide advice regarding visas and it is a students responsibility to ensure they are complying with the conditions of their visa.