What subjects do you need to become a lawyer in Australia?
Asked by: Alison Klein | Last update: January 29, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (47 votes)
To become a lawyer in Australia, you must complete a law degree (LLB or JD) covering the "Priestley 11" core subjects, including Contracts, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Property Law, Torts, Equity & Trusts, Administrative Law, Civil Procedure, Evidence, Company Law, and Professional Conduct, followed by Practical Legal Training (PLT). While your undergraduate degree doesn't strictly require specific subjects, strong results in English, History, Politics, or Economics can build foundational skills.
What subjects help you become a lawyer?
Business, psychology, communication, criminal justice, legal studies, and history are some of the most common. In theory, as long as it's a bachelor's degree, the major isn't important.
How hard is it to study law in Australia?
Many students expect to become the next Elle Woods or Harvey Specter when studying law. While this could happen in the future, it takes a great deal of hard work and commitment to study. The rumours are true – there is a lot of reading and reading takes a lot of time!
How long does it take to qualify as a lawyer in Australia?
Legal education at Australian universities consists of a minimum of a three-year degree for those holding a prior undergraduate degree, or a four-year law degree if you don't have any prior university qualification.
Do lawyers get paid well in Australia?
Sydney remains Australia's largest legal hub, where lawyers earn around $112.5k, with higher earnings in top-tier firms and corporate roles. Other strong regional centres, such as Cairns and the Far North, average about $110.5k, offering good opportunities in family, employment, and property law.
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Is $130,000 a good salary in Australia?
Yes, $130k is a very good salary in Australia, placing you well above the median income and allowing for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle, especially for individuals or couples, though it can feel tighter in expensive cities with high rent or mortgages compared to lower-cost areas or for families. While it's a solid income for general living, affording prime city locations, large homes, or significant savings might require budgeting, especially with rising housing costs.
What is the highest paid type of lawyer?
The highest-paid lawyers are often in specialized fields like Patent Law, requiring science/engineering backgrounds, and Corporate Law, especially those advising major firms, plus Securities & Antitrust Lawyers, Medical Malpractice, and Intellectual Property (IP) Law, where high stakes and complex regulations drive huge incomes, particularly in BigLaw or in-house roles with bonuses.
Is law school harder than med school?
Medical school is generally considered harder due to its intense, fact-heavy curriculum requiring massive memorization and dealing with life-or-death stakes, while law school focuses more on reading, critical thinking, and analysis, though both are rigorous and demand significant commitment. Med school involves vast scientific knowledge and clinical rotations, whereas law school builds analytical "thinking like a lawyer" through heavy reading, writing, and case application, culminating in high-stakes final exams.
What happens if you fail the bar exam?
If you fail the bar exam, you can usually retake it, often with employer support for the first failure, but you're not a lawyer yet, so you'll likely work in a non-lawyer role (like a law clerk) until you pass, requiring a new study strategy, emotional resilience, and potential financial adjustments, with some states having limits on retakes.
What is the best age to become a lawyer?
To become a lawyer in India, you need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- You must have an LLB degree or equivalent law degree recognized by the Bar Council of India (BCI).
- Your minimum educational qualification should be:
- You must be a citizen of India.
- You must be at least 21 years of age.
What is the #1 law school in the world?
While rankings vary by source, Harvard Law School consistently ranks as the #1 law school globally in major rankings like QS and Research.com, often followed closely by universities such as Yale, Oxford, Stanford, and Cambridge, with US schools dominating the top spots. Harvard is known for its prestige, extensive resources like the world's largest academic law library, and influential alumni network.
What is the hardest degree in Australia?
- Aerospace Engineering. Aerospace engineering involves the study, manufacturing, design and testing of aircraft. ...
- Law. One of the primary reasons Law ranks as the hardest degree in Australia is its challenging admission process. ...
- Medicine. ...
- Architecture. ...
- Chemistry. ...
- Psychology. ...
- Physics. ...
- Biomedical Engineering.
What is the easiest law degree to get?
The easiest law degree programs, such as the Master of Legal Studies (MLS), are typically less demanding than traditional law degrees like the Juris Doctor (JD). MLS programs are designed for professionals who want a foundational understanding of law without the need to become licensed attorneys.
Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?
Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
How old is the youngest lawyer?
The youngest lawyer is generally considered to be Sophia Park, who passed the California bar exam at 17 years and 8 months old in late 2024, breaking her brother Peter's previous record, though she'll be sworn in and licensed in March 2025 after turning 18, as most jurisdictions require lawyers to be 18. She accelerated her education, starting law school at 13 while in junior high and graduating early.
How hard is the bar exam?
Yes, the bar exam is widely considered a very difficult, mentally demanding test due to its massive scope of law, intense time pressure across multiple days, and the need to apply knowledge in different formats (multiple-choice, essays, performance tests). While first-time pass rates hover around 80% nationally, meaning many people pass, it's challenging because it tests minimum competency for an entire legal profession, not just one subject, and requires extensive, focused study, often 8-10 weeks full-time.
Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?
Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
Will I lose my job if I fail the bar?
Most employers are willing to give second chances to those who failed the Bar Exam. It is very rare that an employment offer is completely rescinded simply because someone failed the Bar Exam.
Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam?
No, Kim Kardashian did not pass the California Bar Exam in July 2025, a result she publicly shared in November 2025, vowing to keep studying despite the setback, but she has previously passed the "Baby Bar" exam after multiple attempts and plans to retake the main bar exam. She revealed her failed attempt on her show The Kardashians, showing emotional moments from her preparation and disappointment, and emphasized her determination to pass.
What's the hardest year of law school?
Most law students agree the first year (1L) is the hardest due to the steep learning curve, new teaching methods (Socratic/Case Method), intense reading/writing, and high-pressure environment designed to build foundational skills, though 2L brings different stressors like career planning and internships. 1L is a "bootcamp" for thinking like a lawyer with unfamiliar concepts and high stakes for grades, making the transition from undergraduate studies particularly challenging.
What is the 32 hour rule in medical school?
The "32-hour rule" in medical school admissions refers to a policy where some medical schools focus on an applicant's GPA from their most recent 32 credit hours of coursework (around the last one or two semesters), rather than their entire undergraduate transcript, which can help students with a poor start but strong recent performance. This rule allows for a fresh start, often benefiting those who excel in post-baccalaureate or graduate studies and demonstrating recent academic capability, with schools like Wayne State, Michigan State, Boston University, and LSU-New Orleans noted for using similar policies.
Is law school harder than nursing?
A law degree will take longer overall, including the required bachelors degree, which many might consider more difficult.
How to make $500,000 as a lawyer?
To earn $500k as a lawyer, specialize in high-value areas like corporate or high-stakes personal injury/class actions, become an equity partner at a successful firm, or build a niche solo practice by attracting affluent clients through targeted marketing, focusing on complex issues, and developing a strong referral network, potentially by creating your own high-value services like specialized online courses. Success hinges on mastering a lucrative specialty and effectively managing client acquisition and firm growth.
Can a lawyer make $1 million a year?
Yes, lawyers can absolutely make $1 million or more per year, especially partners in top "Big Law" firms, elite corporate lawyers, successful firm owners, and specialists in high-value fields like mergers & acquisitions, personal injury (contingency fees), or intellectual property. Reaching this level often requires treating the practice as a business, specializing in lucrative areas, generating high revenue, leveraging associate work, and sometimes handling large-scale deals or multi-million dollar settlements, rather than just typical hourly billing.
Which field of law is most in demand?
3. Specialized Legal Careers (High-Demand Fields)
- Cyber Law Expert.
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Lawyer.
- Taxation Lawyer.
- Environmental Lawyer.
- International Business Law Expert.
- Arbitration & Mediation Specialist.