How to apply for a practising certificate
If you intend to practise law in Victoria, you must have a practising certificate. You must hold a current practising certificate at all times that you're engaged in legal practise.
Your practising certificate is valid from the date that it's granted until the end of that financial year (30 June). You need to renew your practising certificate every year.
To apply for a practising certificate you need an organisation to be assigned to. If you are not currently employed or don’t have a job offer, you can’t apply for a practising certificate.
Application process and fees
To apply for a practising certificate, log into LSB Online and submit an application form. You can register for a new account if you don't have one yet.
View our ‘Applying for a Victorian practising certificate for the first time’ guide or watch the video below to help you with your application.
Your application must include:
- Your practising certificate fee. Your fees will be pro-rated on a quarterly basis. There is no fee for a volunteer/pro bono practising certificate;
- Your fidelity fund contribution, if the law practice where you work handles trust money;
- Evidence that you have or will have professional indemnity insurance, if required; and
- Your completed declaration.
Supervised legal practice
If you are a newly admitted lawyer, your first practising certificate will have a supervised legal practice condition. This means that you must be supervised while you engage in legal practice. Find out more about supervised legal practice.
