Admission process

Admission as a lawyer in Western Australia

Events and deadlines January – December 2025

Admission dates

In Perth, Western Australia, Admission ceremonies will be held on:

• Friday, 7 February
• Friday, 7 March
• Friday, 4 April
• Friday, 2 May
• Friday, 6 June
• Friday, 4 July
• Friday, 1 August
• Friday, 5 September
• Friday, 17 October
• Friday, 14 November
• Friday, 12 December

Deadlines for lodging applications

The application deadlines are:

• simple admission applications (i.e. applications with no disclosure or a non-significant disclosure)
• complex admission applications(i.e. applications with significant disclosure or seeking dispensation from a requirement of the Uniform Admission Rules):
  1. note that complex admission applications may need to be determined at a meeting of the Board’s delegate, the Admissions and Registration Committee
  2. refer to the table below for the application deadline that applies to each meeting of the Board’s delegate, the Admissions and Registration Committee.

Significant disclosure

A ‘significant disclosure’ includes but is not limited to any one or more of the following circumstances.

1. Any conviction for any criminal offence at any time in the past, including any spent conviction.
   Information to provide typically includes but is not limited to:
   • a transcript of the court hearing
   • a transcript of the sentencing judgement
   • a copy of the statement of material facts
   • an explanation of the events from which the conviction or charge arose.
2. Any finding of guilt at any time in the past where no conviction was recorded and the offence involved dishonesty (including but not limited to stealing, larceny, embezzlement, theft, receiving, fraud, identity fraud, forgery, offences involving false and misleading statements, perjury, or perverting the course of justice), or any disclosure of such conduct even if no charge was laid.
   Information to provide includes but is not limited to the evidence listed above in relation to a criminal conviction.
3. Being currently subject to a Conditional Release Order, Community Correction Order, or Intensive Supervision Order (or their equivalents in another jurisdiction).
   Information to provide includes but is not limited to the evidence listed above in relation to a criminal conviction.
4. Being an undischarged bankrupt, or being discharged from bankruptcy.
   Information to provide includes but is not limited to:
   • if discharged, confirmation of discharge. For example, an extract report from the National Personal Insolvency Index issued by the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA)
   • a copy of the administrator’s report and minutes of the creditor’s meeting
   • an explanation of the events from which the bankruptcy arose.
5. Being currently subject to a debt agreement under Part IX or a personal insolvency agreement under Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth).
   Information to provide typically includes but is not limited to:
   • a copy of the agreement, or
   • other official evidence which outlines the circumstances, amounts involved and relevant dates.
6. Overpayment of any kind of Centrelink or social security entitlements at any time for any reason.
   Information to provide typically includes but is not limited to:
   • official documentation issued by Centrelink which evidences the cause(s) of the overpayment(s), the amounts involved and the relevant dates, and
   • if repaid, official documentation issued by Centrelink which evidences the amounts and dates of repayment
   • an explanation of the events from which the Centrelink debt arose.
7. Being or having been a company director or officer of a company which entered into voluntary administration, liquidation, receivership, winding up or external administration.
   Information to provide typically includes but is not limited to official documentation which evidences the cause(s), the amounts of debts and liabilities involved, the relevant dates and the outcomes (including the extent to which debts and liabilities were subsequently paid or fulfilled).
8. Being subjected to a penalty for academic misconduct during any academic study or PLT course.
   Information to provide typically includes but is not limited to:
   • a student conduct report (meaning a single comprehensive report from the institution or provider about your conduct as a student at the institution or provider i.e. a report which lists every misconduct matter ever recorded by the institution or provider about you). A report from the institution or provider which only relates to a specific incident or incidents of misconduct is insufficient on its own.
   • an explanation of the events from which the academic misconduct arose.
9. Being the subject of any disciplinary action, howsoever expressed, in any profession or occupation in Australia or in a foreign country, whether or not there were any adverse findings.
   Information to provide typically includes but is not limited to official documentation which evidences the disciplinary action, the reasons for the disciplinary action, the relevant dates and the outcomes.
10. Past or current acute mental health injury or mental illness (including but not limited to bipolar affective/mood disorder, severe personality disorder, dementia, psychiatric disorder, or any symptoms of delusions, hallucinations, serious disorder of thought, severe disturbance of mood, or sustained or repeated irrational behaviour), or any current substance use disorder.
    Information to provide typically includes but is not limited to a report from your treating practitioner which:
    • outlines diagnosis and prognosis of the condition or disability, including any relevant past or current treatment and the extent to which it is appropriately managed and stable; and
    • addresses your current ability to satisfactorily carry out the inherent requirements of practice as an Australian legal practitioner.

Please note you also have an obligation to disclose other types of matters not listed above, in accordance with the Disclosure Guidelines for Applicants for Admission to the Legal Profession. You must read those Disclosure Guidelines.

Admission information

(Refer also to sections 16 to 19 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (WA) and Parts 2 and 3 of the Legal Profession Uniform Admission Rules 2015.

1. Persons previously admitted in Australia may apply for a Western Australian practising certificate and are not required to apply for admission in this state. Persons previously admitted in New Zealand may qualify under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement. All other applicants are required to apply for admission as set out below.
2. Applicants must have completed the academic requirements for admission and have completed, or be close to completing, the practical legal training requirements for admission before lodging an application.
3. Applicants are required to file a motion paper with the Supreme Court at least 2 months prior to the proposed admission date. Further information, including the proforma motion paper, admission ceremony dates, and latest filing dates are published in the Admissions section under Practice and Procedure of the Supreme Court website. Please note that the Board cannot assist you in locating a legal practitioner to move your admission at the ceremony.
4. Within 2 days of filing the motion paper at the Supreme Court, the applicant must complete an Admission Application Form online. You can commence the application before you file your motion paper as it will assist you to identify the documentation you must provide as part of your application. Please refer to the Admission Application Notes for further information. Do not submit your Admission Application Form until after you have filed your motion paper at the Court.
   At the admission stage you must only login to the applicant portal. Until admission is complete you cannot log in to the main LPBWA website.
5. Following receipt of the notice of application, the Board will place the required notification of your admission on the Board’s website.
6. The Supreme Court will write directly to the applicant to confirm arrangements for the ceremony.
7. Applicants will be contacted if there are deficiencies in the application or if the Board requires further information to determine whether the applicant is eligible and suitable to be admitted. You may be required to defer your admission to a later ceremony by filing an amended motion paper with the Supreme Court if the Board requires more time to consider your eligibility or suitability to be admitted.
8. At least 7 days prior to the admission ceremony, the Board will file a compliance certificate with the Court. A copy of the compliance certificate will be provided to the applicant. In the event the Board is not satisfied that the applicant is eligible and suitable for admission, both the Court and the applicant will be issued with an information notice.
9. Subject to the provisions of Part 3.3 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (WA), an admitted lawyer is not entitled to engage in legal practice unless they hold a current practising certificate.
10. Following admission the restricted legal practice requirements of section 49 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (WA) apply to all Australian legal practitioners.

11. Direct further queries about the ceremony itself to the Supreme Court. Make other enquiries about your admission, applying for a practising certificate, or supervised legal practice requirements to enquiries@lpbwa.com, for the attention of the Admissions Officer.