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 and who practises the law of that foreign country in Australia. To practise as a foreign lawyer in Victoria, you must apply to be registered. You should apply for a foreign registration certificate.

To apply for registration as a foreign lawyer, you must submit an application to us. The form 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. To apply, download an application form and submit this using the lawyer enquiry form, selecting ‘Registration – foreign’ as the category.

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. You can find out more about getting trust authorisation in our ‘Getting trust authorisation’ FAQ.

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.