I Passed! What Happens Now?
Updated: 4 days ago
Congratulations! Passing your competency-based examination is a significant achievement.
After all the studying, preparation, long hours and examination pressure, seeing that you have passed can feel like the finish line.
But passing your examination is not necessarily the final step. Depending on the legal career you are pursuing, there may still be important steps to complete before you can be admitted and enrolled to practise.
So, what happens next?
Passing the Examination Is a Milestone
Your examination is one part of the journey towards becoming a legal practitioner.
The next steps will depend on the professional capacity in which you intend to practise. This may include becoming an:
Attorney
Advocate
Conveyancer
Notary
It is therefore important to understand the requirements for the particular route you are pursuing.
Admission and Enrolment: What's the Difference?
You will often hear the words “admission” and “enrolment” used together, but they refer to different steps.
Generally, admission is dealt with by the High Court. The High Court considers an application for admission and, where the requirements are satisfied, admits the applicant and authorises their enrolment.
Enrolment is dealt with by the Legal Practice Council. A person who has been admitted by the High Court and authorised to be enrolled must apply to the Council for enrolment.
In other words, passing your examination does not by itself mean that you are already an admitted and enrolled legal practitioner.
If You Want to Become an Attorney
If your goal is to practise as an attorney, there are additional requirements to complete before applying for admission. These may include satisfying the applicable requirements relating to:
your legal qualifications;
Practical Vocational Training;
the competency-based examinations;
any applicable practical or training requirements; and
being a fit and proper person.
You will then need to follow the applicable admission and enrolment process.
The LPC publishes admission checklists and enrolment requirements, and these should always be checked before preparing your application because requirements and procedures can change.
If You Want to Become an Advocate
If you are pursuing a career as an advocate, your route is different from that of an attorney.
The LPC has separate requirements for advocates, including requirements relating to Practical Vocational Training and admission. The admission application is made to the High Court, with the relevant enrolment process being dealt with through the LPC.
If you are pursuing this route, make sure that you are following the requirements applicable specifically to advocates rather than assuming that the attorney admission process applies to you.
If You Want to Become a Conveyancer
Becoming a conveyancer involves an additional professional capacity beyond being an attorney.
If you are pursuing conveyancing, you will need to satisfy the applicable requirements for admission and enrolment as a conveyancer.
The LPC provides separate information and requirements for conveyancers, including a separate enrolment process and fee.
If conveyancing is your goal, make sure you understand the additional requirements rather than assuming that passing the attorney competency-based examinations automatically makes you a conveyancer.
If You Want to Become a Notary
Notarial practice is also a distinct professional capacity.
If you want to practise as a notary, you must satisfy the applicable requirements for admission and enrolment as a notary.
The LPC provides a separate enrolment process for notaries, including specific requirements and fees.
As with conveyancing, passing an examination does not by itself mean that you are automatically enrolled as a notary.
What Should You Do After Passing?
Once you receive your results, don't immediately assume that you know what to do next. Instead:
1. Confirm Your Result
Make sure you understand which examination or examinations you have passed and whether there are any further requirements applicable to you.
2. Identify Your Professional Route
Are you pursuing admission as an attorney, advocate, conveyancer or notary?
Your answer will determine which requirements and processes you need to follow.
3. Check the Latest LPC Requirements
The Legal Practice Council publishes information relating to examinations, admission, enrolment, Practical Vocational Training, fees and other requirements.
Always work from the latest LPC information.
4. Gather Your Documents
Admission applications can require a range of supporting documents. Depending on your route, these may include your identity documentation, qualifications, Practical Vocational Training documentation, examination results and other supporting documents.
Do not wait until the last minute to start gathering them.
5. Understand the Admission Process
Make sure you understand where your application needs to be made, what documents are required, what needs to be served on the LPC and what deadlines or procedural requirements apply.
The LPC publishes checklists for admission applications which can help you work through the requirements.
6. Budget for the Process
Admission and enrolment involve costs.
The LPC publishes its current fees, including fees relating to enrolment as a legal practitioner, notary or conveyancer. These fees can change, so check the current fee schedule rather than relying on information from previous years.
Don't Stop at the Congratulations
Passing your examination is something to celebrate.
But once the excitement settles, ask yourself:
What is my next step?
If admission is your goal, start preparing for the process. Make sure your documents are in order, understand the requirements applicable to your chosen route and keep track of the relevant LPC information.
Your examination result may be the end of one stage, but it can also be the beginning of another.
Your Journey Doesn't End With the Result
Whether you are working towards becoming an attorney, advocate, conveyancer or notary, the path from law graduate to legal practitioner involves several stages.
Take each one seriously.
Pass the exam. Complete the requirements. Apply for admission. Get enrolled. Then begin the next chapter of your legal career.
Useful Resources
For the most current information, requirements, forms, fees and notices, refer to the Legal Practice Council.
Passing the examination is a milestone. Admission and enrolment are the next steps. Know the process, prepare properly and keep moving forward.
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