Book Two · First Edition 2026
My Journey to Becoming a Lawyer
A Complete Guide to the Pathways into the Australian Legal Profession
About This Book
Becoming a lawyer in Australia can seem complex — whether you are a school student, a university graduate, an international student, an overseas-trained lawyer, or a new arrival starting a new chapter. In this practical and inspiring guide, Dr Mehdi Soodi shares a clear roadmap to the Australian legal profession, drawing on personal experience, professional insight, and careful research.
From school students and graduates to international students, overseas-trained lawyers and new arrivals — the roads differ; the destination is the same.
The road from that first year to this one was long. It was also, at every step, navigable — once I could see where the steps actually were.— From the Foreword
Look Inside
What the book covers
01 The Pathways: An Overview
Many roads, one destination — the universal architecture every entrant must complete, and a map to locate yourself before the detail begins.
02 From School to Law School
School subjects, the ATAR and the undergraduate route into law.
03 Australia's Law Schools
Choosing a law school — rankings, fees and what actually matters.
04 The Graduate Route: The Juris Doctor
For graduates of other fields, career-changers and mature-age entrants.
05 International Students
Studying law on a visa — and the immigration journey that runs alongside it.
06 Overseas-Trained Lawyers
Recognition of overseas qualifications and the bridging pathway.
07 Practical Legal Training and Admission
PLT, the admitting authorities, and the day you are admitted.
08 The Practising Certificate and Independent Practice
Supervised practice, CPD obligations, trust money and the path to your own practice.
09 Duties and Prohibitions
The professional duties — and the lines that must never be crossed.
10 What Lawyers Earn
Honest figures on salaries across settings, stages and states.
About the Author
Dr Mehdi Soodi is an Australian lawyer, migration specialist and NAATI-accredited translator. He is the founder of Ahura Lawyers and Falcon Visas, and he brings practical, legally grounded insight to migration, law and professional growth — drawn from decades of professional and lived experience in Australia.
Read his full story →