The Changing Landscape of Legal Jobs in Perth and WA

Author:Mark Read

High demand continues to be experienced for legal professionals to fill legal jobs in Perth as a result of the ongoing growth and success of both the resources and energy and construction industries. Talented energy & resources, corporate, banking, construction, property and insurance lawyers are all highly sought after right now and many firms are prepared to offer very appealing packages to attract and retain quality candidates to their practices.

Such is the need to fill these positions that many Perth based firms have increased their remuneration schedules for legal professionals and are offering salaries that now match or exceed Sydney and Melbourne based roles which traditionally have always offered more lucrative salary packages for members of the legal profession. In house positions for lawyers are also on the increase as companies respond to the growth and expansion they are experiencing off the back of the continued resources boom.

Legal Career Growth Areas

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Another area seeing significant growth is in the field of corporate law. With all manner of industries enjoying the upswing created by the success of the mining industry, the need for corporate lawyers to assist clients with commercial legal requirements is also increasing. Many of Australia’s leading corporations have operations based in WA and this is further adding to the rise in corporate legal positions in WA

International Law Firms Are Moving In

The third factor adding to the demand for legal professionals in Perth and around WA is the move by many international law firms to set up operations within Australia and specifically WA. The globalisation of these law firms is fast creating new opportunities for Australia’s local lawyers and legal support workers. The rise of international law firms in Australia is a trend that is being experienced in many countries around the world and in fact, several Australian firms have made the move towards a more global operation and have set up operations in Asia to respond to this global trend.

As a result of all three of these factors, legal jobs in Perth appear to be on the rise - but the trend isn’t restricted to lawyers. Opportunities for support roles within the legal arena also exist in great numbers. The need for good support staff has clearly escalated due to the requirement to support the growing number of lawyers entering into the WA based legal practices.

Entering The Legal Profession in WA

If legal jobs in Perth interest you, there are several ways you can enter the legal industry in WA. One way is of course to become a lawyer by completing a degree program and following the subsequent steps to becoming a legal practising lawyer. Those who don’t wish to become practicing lawyers but do want to work within the legal arena can aim to develop a career in a range of legal support roles from law clerk or paralegal to legal secretary.

For those wishing to become lawyers and undertake the relevant studies and post graduate requirements, the path is quite clear. Once qualified, or even whilst undertaking the practical legal experience requirements to become a lawyer, candidates are likely to find a number of legal jobs in Perth for which they can apply.

Entry level support staff positions exist within the structure of most law firms and these are usually referred to as law clerks. Legal secretarial positions are also highly sought after. Entry into the legal field via a support staff role does not require a formal degree course to be completed however, a relevant formal qualification such as the one offered by TAFE may assist aspiring law clerks and legal secretaries to gain entry to this highly competitive field. A career as a law clerk or legal secretary can be an exciting and rewarding one.

A relatively clear career path exists for an individual entering a law firm as a law clerk or a junior legal secretary. The same applies for a lawyer joining a law firm. Most law firms operate around a partner based structure. Partners may be equity or non equity partners with a managing partner being appointed to assume much of the managerial responsibilities of a law firm. Lawyers generally enter legal practices as associates with the aspiration of being invited to become a partner.

Senior partners within a law firm recognise the requirement to foster younger staff entering the profession and many firms have well established mentoring programs operating organically and formally within their practices.

Finding Legal Jobs in Perth

It is an exciting time to be embarking on a legal career in WA. With all of the growth being experienced in the mining and construction fields, coupled with the arrival of many international law firms, Perth is offering real opportunities for lawyers and related legal staff to enter the legal profession.

Legal jobs in Perth, and throughout WA, may offer incredible development opportunities for law industry professionals that may not exist as readily in other areas of Australia.

Many law firms based in WA also offer excellent prospects for career advancement with the added potential of perhaps working for one of the global law firms now based in Perth. So, if you are a legal secretary, or a corporate, construction, banking, energy and resources, property or insurance lawyer looking for legal jobs in Perth, there is probably no better time to be entering the job market. Take advantage of the current favourable conditions that exist for professional legal staff in the WA legal market to further your career.

Begin your search for Legal jobs in Perth and WA on WESTjobs. Search law firms in: Perth | WA

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