LEGAL PROFESSION ACT 2006 - SECT 21 Eligibility for admission

LEGAL PROFESSION ACT 2006 - SECT 21

    (1)     A person is eligible for admission to the legal profession under this Act only if the person is an individual aged 18 years or over and—

        (a)     the person has attained—

              (i)     approved academic qualifications; or

              (ii)     corresponding academic qualifications; and

        (b)     the person has satisfactorily completed—

              (i)     approved practical legal training requirements; or

              (ii)     corresponding practical legal training requirements.

    (2)     The admission rules must not require a person to satisfactorily complete before admission a period of supervised training that exceeds in length a period or periods equivalent to 1 full-time year (as decided in accordance with the admission rules).

    (3)     The Supreme Court may exempt a person from the requirements of subsection (1) (a) or (b) if satisfied that the person has, to an extent sufficient to be eligible for admission—

        (a)     academic qualifications; or

        (b)     relevant experience in legal practice or relevant service with a government agency.

    (4)     An exemption under subsection (3) may be made subject to a condition that the person is to obtain further qualifications or training.

    (5)     In this section:

"approved academic qualifications" means academic qualifications that are approved, under the admission rules, for admission to the legal profession in the ACT.

"approved practical legal training requirements" means legal training requirements that are approved, under the admission rules, for admission to the legal profession in the ACT.

"corresponding academic qualifications" means academic qualifications that would qualify the person for admission to the legal profession in another jurisdiction if the admissions board is satisfied that substantially the same minimum criteria apply for the approval of academic qualifications for admission in the other jurisdiction as apply in the ACT.

"corresponding practical legal training requirements" means legal training requirements that would qualify the person for admission to the legal profession in another jurisdiction if the admissions board is satisfied that substantially the same minimum criteria apply for the approval of legal training requirements for admission in the other jurisdiction as apply in the ACT.