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Law Clerk

Also known as Paralegal.

Law clerks perform a variety of legal tasks under the supervision of solicitors, barristers or clerks of court.

They may assist their employers in all areas of law, including probating (proving the validity of wills), conveyancing (dealings in land and property), criminal law, family law, wills and power of attorney, insurance law, environmental law, human rights law, company law and civil litigation.

TASKS

Law clerks may perform the following tasks:

search land titles to check details such as property boundaries and ownership
attend settlements for the purchase or sale of land
examine contracts and obtain relevant information so that solicitors can proceed with finalisation
fill out necessary forms and lodge them with government offices or the courts
undertake company, business name, bankruptcy and other searches
assist with maintenance of bookkeeping records
assist with the preparation of briefing papers for use by barristers when a solicitor's client has to go to court
assist clients by providing information about legal processes and statutory information
assist prosecution or defence lawyers in court and arrange for the attendance of witnesses at court
assist barristers and senior counsel with case management

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

interested in the law
good knowledge of the English language
able to work accurately with attention to detail
able to think logically and clearly

Interest Area

SPECIALISATIONS

Settlement Clerk - performs specialised administration work associated with real estate settlements.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

You can work as a law clerk without formal qualifications. You will probably get some informal training on the job.

Entry to this occupation may be improved if you have qualifications.

You may like to consider a VOC qualification in business administration (legal), legal services, legal practice or business (legal studies). As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information. You may be able to study through distance education.

You can also become a law clerk through a traineeship in Legal Services or Business Administration (Legal).

Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.

Additional Information

Students and people employed in this occupation may be eligible for enrolment with the Institute of Legal Executives (Victoria). After gaining experience in the field, graduates of approved courses may be eligible for membership as a Fellow of the Institute. Fellows of the Institute are recognised as 'Legal Executives'.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Law clerks are employed in a wide range of industries. They work for independent law firms, barristers, government departments and the legal departments of large organisations. Many law clerks begin their careers as legal secretaries or receptionists, learning about the law and legal language before taking on more responsibility.