A lack of lawyers in regional Australian areas has prompted the Law Council of Australia to look overseas for recruits. The council is currently working on a proposal with the Law Society of Ireland to enable unemployed Irish law graduates to take up work placements in regional Australia.
Regional and metro law firm MacDonnells Law knows only too well the issues around recruiting for its Townsville and Cairns offices. “There is a far greater market of available lawyers in Brisbane than the regional centres where we have an office,” said chairman of partners, Michael Keir.
According to Keir the main challenge is in recruiting experienced lawyers, not junior lawyers. “Finding suitable lawyers at a junior level is much easier than finding suitable lawyers at the mid to high level, regardless of which city you are recruiting in. But for specialist areas the chances of securing a quality candidate are better in Brisbane,” he said. The firm has in the past targeted New Zealand for recruitment, but hasn’t done this recently. Keir said when recruiting from abroad firms had to be mindful of the ability of an overseas lawyer to transition into the local legal system.
The New Zealand Law Society is actively promoting opportunities in regional Australia to its members following discussions with the Law Council of Australia. New Zealand lawyers can be admitted to practice in all states and territories of Australia under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition regime. That regime makes admission in Australia very easy, just as it does for Australian practitioners seeking admission in New Zealand.
While an Irish law degree or legal practicing certificate will not immediately make a practitioner eligible to work as a solicitor in Australia they may still be considered for a range of research, paralegal and legal support positions in private law firms throughout regional Australia which are unable to attract Australian lawyers. Should holders of an Irish Law degree wish to practise in Australia as a legal practitioner, they will need to undertake further study at an Australian educational institution.
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