The field of law is thriving in Australia despite the impact of the pandemic. From 2011 to 2020, the number of practising solicitors increased by 45%. Then, a slower increase in 2021 of 2.2%, followed by a more notable increase of 7.4%.
Despite tough times in the world and economically, the demand for law practitioners always increases.
It’s important to note that there is usually a surplus of law graduates each year as well, which means that even though the market is expanding, it’s also as competitive as ever.
To give yourself the best chance of breaking into the criminal law field, you’ll need to work hard and devote a lot of energy to your education and post-education experience.
Ready to learn about becoming a criminal lawyer?
What is a Criminal Lawyer?
A criminal lawyer is a fully practising lawyer who defends accused people in court.
Criminal lawyers also often become prosecution lawyers who represent the community (the ‘Crown’) and try to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that an accused person has committed a crime.
Having both of these parties in attendance as standard court proceedings means that Australia has an adversarial legal system, where arguments are presented from both sides.
A criminal lawyer will take on clients, investigate and interview people for evidence, build a case for their client, and present the findings in a legally-strategic manner in court.
If their client has committed a crime, their role is to ensure that appropriate legal sentencing is handed down and that the client is not unfairly punished. This might look like getting the time in prison reduced, lowering the fine, or advocating for community service.
Criminal lawyers can work in law firms, as part of a government entity, or in private practice.
How Much Do Criminal Lawyers Make?
While criminal law is no longer in the top 20 highest-paying positions in Australia, it is still a rather lucrative endeavour.
Entry-level positions can pay between $50,000 and $100,000 per year, with the typical salary being $92,000 annually. It depends on which city and state you’re practising in, which firm or organisation you work with, and your actual position within the company.
The law field is one place where seniority still matters quite a lot, so you can expect to receive regular raises and increases in pay as you collect years under your belt.
Senior criminal lawyers may make upwards of $110,000 per year. Some senior lawyers can charge about $10,000 per day for consulting and other work.
This high rate of pay is attractive even though the cost to complete your law education can be quite steep.
From undergraduate to completing SLP, the total cost of schooling and training is about $110,000 - $220,000 depending on your educational route. Then, factor in the cost of approval from the Admissions Authority each year to renew your license for practising law.
Remember you can also apply for scholarships and grants with your university and with other organisations to reduce the amount you need to pay. The government also offers HELP grants that you may be eligible for.
What Skills and Interests Do I Need to Be a Good Criminal Lawyer?
Since law is an intensive subject, one that practitioners spend their whole day in while working, it’s important that you harbour specific skills, talents, and interests to not only be an effective lawyer but enjoy your work as well.
Excellent Speaking and Listening Skills
When you are a criminal lawyer, you will spend much of your time representing your client. This means it’s crucial for you to be an effective communicator. You need to be able to listen to information, synthesize it, and respond appropriately every time you talk.
All the while, you need to be sure to convey the information you need to give and obtain the information you need to gather. Your client depends on you for representation.
You’ll not only be speaking to the judge and jury but also witnesses and your client. So your skills need to be versatile enough to speak in a wide range of situations.
Detail-Oriented and Observant
Criminal lawyers often investigate crime scenes, which means you will need to be able to spot important clues to have all the information about a case that you possibly can.
You’ll need to be able to put together information while applying the word of the law so you know exactly what your client’s rights are at any given moment.
Building a case is like making a puzzle and then solving it in a way you can present it to the court. It takes time, patience, and critical analytical skills to be able to keep track of all the information in a case.
Organised and Responsible
Of course, dealing with multiple clients, case details, files, contacts and connections, third parties, and law details can quickly become overwhelming for someone who has weaker organisational skills.
It’s imperative to be able to separate information physically and mentally.
You also need to be organised so you can apply for things like renewing your licensure, completing continuing education, filing on behalf of your clients, not double-booking appointments, and having enough time to do all of your work while balancing court dates.
It’s your job as a criminal lawyer to be a dependable source of guidance and information for your clients. After all, it takes you many years of education and practice to be qualified to help people, you can’t expect them to know anything about the legal process without experience!
Being a lawyer is not merely a vocation. It is a public trust, and each of us has an obligation to give back to our communities.
Janet Reno
Critical Thinking and Analysing
To be an effective lawyer of any kind, you need to have the ability to think ahead, take initiative, be proactive, and make connections.
These skills tie into all the others. They allow you to mesh your communication skills, attention to detail, and organisational skills all together to be as effective as possible in all aspects of your job.
It’s not enough to just gather evidence and tell it to people; you also need to discern what the information you gather implies and see where that takes you.
Cooperation and Teamwork
Being a criminal lawyer is not a solo activity. You will be collaborating with other law partners including fellow lawyers, solicitors, barristers, and judges and magistrates regularly.
Being able to communicate and cooperate with people in a professional and amicable sense is important! You need to be able to connect with people on a personal level; it’s not always analytical, dry, cold, hard law and facts.
Being friendly and personable is important for building relationships and enjoying your time at work (and helping your coworkers enjoy their time, too).
Passion for Helping People and Working Hard
You will enjoy working as a criminal lawyer most if you really enjoy helping people and your community.
When you are a criminal lawyer, you become part of the system that is meant to help maintain safety and order in society. It’s up to you to ensure that justice is dealt with appropriately.
Innocent people are defended and cleared, and those who have committed a crime are handed a punishment that fits their actions.
What Education Do I Need to Become a Criminal Lawyer?
All layers need to obtain a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree and/or a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. When choosing a university, ensure that it is approved by the state or territory you intend to practise law.
After you receive your degree, you will then need to complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) and/or complete a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, depending on which state you want to practice in.
After your formal education, you need to apply to the Admissions Authority in your chosen state. After your approval, you can pursue more training in the form of a clerkship.
You can get a Practising Certificate from the Law Society and work for a time under a fully-practising lawyer until you have enough experience to work on your own with a firm or solo.
The education required and the additional training necessary to become a full lawyer takes many years and can be a hefty financial commitment, so it’s important to make sure you really want to enter the law field before you study!
Are There Different Requirements in Different Australian States?
Each state or territory may have different requirements for people who want to register as a practising lawyer.
Make sure your educational institution meets the requirements of the state you want to practise in. If you switch your decisions at any point, you might need to take additional training or educational courses to meet the requirements of your new chosen state.
The process of completing Supervised Practical Training and other post-graduate experience may also differ between states.
Check the requirements for each location to make sure you’re on the right path to be able to get your law practice certificate!
In seeking a lawyer, you are looking for an advocate, an expert advisor on the law and on your rights and responsibilities, a strategist, a negotiator, and a litigator. - Laura Wasser
What Career Advancement Opportunities Are There?
Once you become a criminal lawyer, you have a few choices about what to aim for next.
Within this section of the law field, you may work as part of a firm or government organisation and provide law services to clients, or you can go out on your own and work independently or even create your own firm.
Within this branch of the law, you may find these types of job titles:
- Family Lawyer
- Criminal Lawyer
- Client Support Case Worker
- Traffic Lawyer
- Civil Lawyer
- Criminal Law Research Administrator
- Policy Advisor
- Strategic Policy and Planning Manager
- Intelligence and Policy Analyst
- Correctional Services Officer
- Child Protection Officer
If you want to advance your career to the next level, you’ll want to look into becoming a barrister. Barristers don't work directly with clients and are instead hired by lawyers and solicitors for expert advice in certain matters.
This is another process that differs greatly between each state, so you’ll need to research the requirements once again.
Most states require a certain amount of experience working in the law field and some require you to pass the bar exam. Every state requires bar candidates to take a readers course or practice course where they work beneath a practising barrister and learn all about the job.
This is another time and money-heavy commitment, so be sure to research well before you decide to take the plunge!
While barrister is another career where the pay is dependent heavily on location, there is typically a big pay jump. Barristers are typically paid per hour and decide to some degree how many hours they work.
The average hourly pay is $250 to $1,000 per hour, and you can charge 8 - 10 times your hourly pay for a day in court. If you work a lot, you can easily make upwards of $180,000 per year.
A career in criminal law can be exciting and fulfilling, whether it’s your ultimate career goal or a stepping stone to your next milestone.
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