What is Lawyering? artwork
LAW2600 - Technology, ethics & law

What is Lawyering?

  • S1E1
  • 17:28
  • July 14th 2023

Topics Covered:

1. Introduction to the Australian Legal Profession

- Definition of an Australian lawyer in Victoria

- Uniform law in Western Australia and New South Wales

- Recognition of lawyers admitted in other jurisdictions


2. Roles within the Legal Profession

- Barristers, solicitors, and the term "lawyer"

- Barristers can also be solicitors and vice versa

- Career specializations in mergers and acquisitions, resources law, and technology companies


3. Perception of Lawyers in Media and Popular Culture

- Negative portrayals and idealized characters

- Importance of considering law as a profession or a business


4. Understanding Lawyering

- Definition of lawyering

- Providing legal advice and implementing solutions for clients

- Pro bono work and the importance of considering client's needs


5. Becoming a Lawyer

- Two stages of becoming a lawyer

- Supervision and admission requirements for barristers

- Protecting clients by ensuring legal work is done by qualified lawyers


6. Practice Regulations and Requirements

- Penalties for performing legal work without qualification

- Conditions for institutions and foreign lawyers practicing law in Australia

- Exceptions for specific activities and government employees


7. Uniform Law and Legal Profession Governance

- The uniform law and its application in different jurisdictions

- Local authorities and fee regulations

- Version variations in Victoria, Western Australia, and New South Wales


8. Self-Regulation in the Legal Profession

- Importance of self-regulation in professions

- Code of conduct and ethical rules

- Disciplinary bodies for enforcing ethical rules


9. Intersection of Law and Public Service

- Element of public service within the legal profession

- Variation in public service based on practice type


10. Future of the Legal Profession

- Possibility of the entire legal profession in Australia joining the uniform law

- Similarities and differences between solicitors and barristers


Please note that the provided information is a summary only and doesn't include all details.

Technology, ethics & law

Recordings made for Technology, ethics & law (LAW2600) RMIT LLB program.

Each 'season' is a week of Semester.

Your lecturer

Cathryn Nolan avatar
Cathryn Nolan
Lecturer

Cath Nolan is a lawyer, design thinker, founder and trusted advisor. Cath has taught various courses at RMIT University over the last 10 years in the Juris Doctor program and Master of Business Administration program - with experience in learning and teaching roles at other institutions. Cath is currently a Senior Knowledge Lawyer at Hall & Wilcox and has previously been a law firm partner, sole practitioner and in-house counsel. 

Cath will release lecture and class material at the end of the week before the week in which you will have your tutorials (so, the lecture and class materials for week 1 will become available at the end of O-week, week 2 materials will be released at the end of week 1 and so on.