Canadian lawyer considering move to Australia — NSW/Sydney vs Victoria/Melbourne admission process and job market?
I’m a licensed lawyer in Ontario, Canada, and I’m considering moving to Australia. I’m hoping to get some insight into the process for becoming admitted as a foreign-trained lawyer, particularly in either NSW/Sydney or Victoria/Melbourne.
For context, I have been practising law in Ontario for about two years, almost three. My focus is civil litigation, commercial and corporate law in Ontario. I understand that I may need to go through an assessment process and potentially complete some Australian law subjects or practical training requirements, but I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through this.
I’m also trying to get a sense of the legal job market in Sydney versus Melbourne. Is the move worthwhile for someone with a Canadian legal background and a few years of practice experience? Are there meaningful differences between the NSW and Victoria admission processes or legal markets that I should consider?
Any advice, experiences, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.