Was - once again - looking up the requirements for gaining a VIC practice cert.
Was it because of C's email informing that his boutique law firm has been acquired by WP and that he will henceforth be with WP?
Was it because G suggested yesterday that I might not like law but I might be good at it?
Anyway, after looking up the Law in Vic website and comparing College of Law vs. Leo Cussens Institute vs. ANU, I came back to a suggestion hubby has made before - becoming a Migration Agent/Lawyer.
In AUS, one does not need to have a legal background to become a registered migration agent.
However, you do need to have a Grad Cert in Migration Law and Practice, which at the moment is offered by only two institutions: ANU and VU.
At ANU, the course is offered full-time (20 weeks) and/or part-time (40 weeks) and costs $9600.
The VU course costs $9226 and is offered off-campus and face-to-face. You can do the course full-time (4 subjects in one semester) or part-time (1 or 2 subjects per semester).
ANU also offers a Grad Dip in Legal Practice, which allows direct admission to the bar. The Grad Dip has three parts:
Becoming a Practitioner
Professional Practice Core
Elective Stream A/B
It's like re-doing the PLC. Not exactly an exciting prospect. :(
The course fee for the Grad Dip in Legal Practice is $6525.
I am inclined towards the Migration Law route because it's more focussed, which removes my anxiety about studying more than one subject at a time.
From a humanitarian point of view, it also gives me a way to do my bit about an issue of great relevance to AUS as a nation: how to deal in a humane and sustainable manner with refugees and asylum seekers such as the Christmas Island boat people.
The Grad Dip in Migration Law leads to two possible career options: becoming a migration agent or a Migration Lawyer.
The requirements for registration as a migration agent have been tightened though, so getting the Dip is not all there is.
There is a knowledge component (you have to be an Aus lawyer or Grad Dip in Migration Law diplomate) and a language component (IELTS/internet-based TOEFL/evidence of successful completion of 'A' levels AND Bachelor or higher degree).
What a lot of hoops just to forge a new legal-related career.
Still...it's exciting - after all this dithering - to finally be seeing some (possible) light!
PS. Since writing this post, I discovered through the VU website that there are other short courses I may want to explore:
- Cert IV in Training and Assessment (Justice and Legal Sector)
- Cert IV in Govt (Court Services)
- Grad Dip in Notarial Practice
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