Practising lawyers may eventually specialise in a particular area of the law, for example commercial law or civil and social law. Specialisation may indeed extend to a more defined area.
Every lawyer must develop certain skills and resources: an ability to use and interpret words, particularly the specialised terminology essential to many legal concepts; a capacity to deduce legal principles from a mass of legal materials; and powers of criticism and analysis which are valuable in understanding and solving problems.
The course is designed to enable students to develop such skills, and also to equip them for careers outside traditional legal practice.
The admission of barristers and solicitors in Victoria is regulated by the rules of the Council of Legal Education administered by the Board of Examiners for Barristers and Solicitors.
There are two avenues of admission available to a Monash LLB graduate. The graduate may either spend a year in articles with a firm of solicitors, upon completion of which the graduate is entitled to a full practising certificate; or seven months at the Leo Cussen Institute practical training course, upon completion of which the graduate is entitled to a limited practising certificate which permits him or her to practise only as an employee solicitor. On completion of a period of six months as an employee solicitor he or she is then entitled to a full practising certificate.
In addition to the foregoing, an applicant for admission must complete certain subjects either as part of the course for the degree or otherwise. These subjects comprise the compulsory subjects for the LLB degree and the elective subjects LAW4201 (Equity and trusts), LAW5204 (Evidence), or LAW5214 (Corporations and business associations law), LAW5125 (The lawyer) and LAW5104 (Civil procedure B).
A graduate, whether he or she has completed a year in articles or the Leo Cussen Institute practical training course, may practise as a barrister without further restriction, other than compliance with the reading rules imposed by the Victorian Bar.
There are similar requirements for admission in other Australian States and Territories. Graduates seeking admission in other Australian States and Territories should make inquiries with the relevant admitting authority in the State or Territory concerned.
In addition to preparing the graduate for traditional legal practice, completion of the combined degree program opens up other career opportunities in government, politics, the media, parliament and business.
Typical career opportunities include commercial law, international banking, international finance, investments management, treasury management, money market operations, lease finance, consumer finance, business finance, project finance and financial modelling and forecasting.
Graduates should be equipped to embark on a career in corporate law or to establish a career track towards employment as company secretaries or management executives.
In addition to preparing the graduate for traditional legal practice, completion of the commerce/economics and law combined degree program opens up many career opportunities in business, finance and commerce. Career opportunities in government, politics, the media and parliament are also possibilities.
In addition to career opportunities in legal practice and engineering, the graduate in engineering/law has specialist career opportunities to explore which often combine expertise in the two areas.
Much of the work of engineers is concerned with design and implementation, particularly in the areas of civil, mechanical and chemical engineering. Environmental considerations in terms of the law are increasingly significant in project development. With both the private and public sectors involved in engineering projects, the role for graduates with legal training is increasing in significance.
In addition to preparing the graduate for traditional legal practice, completion of the combined degree program opens up other career opportunities in scientific research, the manufacturing industry and government.
Opportunities arise for lawyers with a science degree in the fields of intellectual property, mining exploration and environmental protection and development. Students with a strength in mathematics might also pursue careers in merchant banking, financial management and the actuarial profession.
For further careers information contact the Course and Careers Centre, Clayton campus, telephone (03) 9905 3150.
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