How to become a Solicitor

Provides legal advice, prepares legal documents, conducts negotiations on behalf of clients on matters associated with the law, and pleads cases before civil, criminal and industrial courts and tribunals.

Main tasks

• Interviews clients to determine the nature of cases and recommends appropriate legal action
• Prepares cases by conducting investigations, undertaking research, arranging witness preparation and attendance, and giving notice of court actions
• Represents clients in civil, criminal and industrial courts and tribunals
• Prepares and critically reviews legal documents between parties
• Prepares wills
• Provides advice on family, company, commercial and property law, as well as partnerships and trusts
• May act as trustee or guardian
• May act as executor of clients' wills

Ways in

• University: Law & Justice degrees, Offered by 38 universities in Australia
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $107,640 a year
• About 100,200 people work in this job group now, and about 121,500 are projected by 2035. (+21.2%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Barrister
• Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner
• Intellectual Property Lawyer
• Judge
• Judge's Associate
• Magistrate

Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz

Questions people ask

How do I become a Solicitor?

Ways in include: Law & Justice degrees.

How much does a Solicitor earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $107,640 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Solicitor a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 21% by 2035, from about 100,200 to about 121,500 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Solicitor?

Usually. 98% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Solicitor?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04