You are classified as a ‘foreign lawyer’, which is a person who is registered and entitled to engage in legal practice in a foreign country. To practise the foreign law for that country in Victoria, you must submit an application for grant or renewal of registration as a foreign lawyer to us using the Lawyer enquiry form and selecting 'Registration - Foreign' as the category.

The application must include:

• the appropriate registration fee
• evidence that you’re currently registered to engage in legal practice in another country
• if applicable, evidence that you have appropriate professional indemnity insurance which covers you for practising foreign law in Victoria.

You can view the registration fees on the practising certificate fees page. 

If you’re applying for a registration certificate that authorises you to receive trust money, you must also show us that you have the necessary skills and expertise to operate a law practice trust account competently, diligently and honestly. Our Grant of Trust Authorisation Policy sets out the skills and expertise we expect for this, and what else we may consider when reviewing your application. You can meet these requirements if you complete an approved trust account course, like the one conducted by the Law Institute of Victoria. Visit the Law Institute of Victoria website for further information.

If you will be practising in Victoria you should apply for a practising certificate with us via LSB Online. Please:

• Ensure the entity where you will be practising is registered with us;
• Answer ‘yes’ to practising in this jurisdiction on your PC application form; and
• Provide us with evidence of your professional indemnity insurance.

If you will be practising in Victoria you should apply for a practising certificate with us via LSB Online. Please:

• Ensure the entity where you will be practising is registered with us;
• Answer ‘yes’ to practising in this jurisdiction on your PC application form; and
• Provide us with evidence of your professional indemnity insurance.

You should discuss your overseas licensing requirements with the regulator in that jurisdiction.

No, you only need to hold or be covered by approved PII if you are practising in Victoria.

Where you provide legal services outside Australia to a client based in Australia and those services are not covered by PII you must give written notice to the client of that fact.

No. You do not need to hold PII, however you must provide each client with a disclosure statement before, or as soon as practicable after, being retained to provide legal services in Victoria. It should contain information about whether you’re covered by PII, and if so what that coverage is.

You may have to pay a fidelity fund contribution if you and/or your law practice are or have been authorised to receive trust money here. More information about who has to pay a fidelity fund contribution can be found on our website.

If you have been admitted to the legal profession in Australia, once you have secured employment you can apply for a practising certificate in Victoria.

If you have not been admitted in Australia and want to practice Australian law you should contact the Victorian Legal Admissions Board to discuss your admission.