Solicitor (ANZSCO 271311)
Updated
What a Solicitor does
Provides legal advice, prepares and drafts legal documents, and conducts negotiations on behalf of clients on matters associated with the law. Registration or licensing is required.
Key facts
- ANZSCO code
- 271311
- Skill level
- 1Bachelor degree or higher
- Assessing authority
- LegalAuthority
- National shortage
- Shortage
Visa options
Occupation eligibility is one requirement; each visa page links to the rest.
Points-tested
- Subclass 189 Skilled IndependentVia MLTSSLEligible
- Subclass 190 Skilled NominatedVia MLTSSLEligible
- Subclass 491, state or territory nominatedVia MLTSSLEligible
- Subclass 491, family sponsoredVia MLTSSLEligible
Employer-sponsored
Main tasks
- interviewing clients to determine the nature of problems, and recommending and undertaking appropriate legal action
- preparing cases for court by conducting investigations, undertaking research, arranging witness preparation and attendance, and giving notice of court actions
- representing clients in court
- managing conveyancing and other property matters by preparing contracts of sale, mortgage documents, lease documents and other documents relating to the transfer of land and buildings
- preparing and critically reviewing contracts between parties
- preparing wills
- providing advice on family law, company law, partnerships, commercial law and trusts
- may act as trustee or guardian
- may act as executor of clients' wills
Shortage by state
- NationalShortage
- ACTShortage
- NSWShortage
- NTShortage
- QLDShortage
- SAShortage
- TASShortage
- VICShortage
- WAShortage
State and territory nomination
For the 190 and 491, each state and territory also has its own occupation list.
Common questions
What does a Solicitor do?
Provides legal advice, prepares and drafts legal documents, and conducts negotiations on behalf of clients on matters associated with the law. Registration or licensing is required. (ABS ANZSCO description.)
Is Solicitor on the skilled occupation list?
Yes. Solicitor (ANZSCO 271311) is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) (lists in force from 14 December 2024). It is listed for the 186, 189, 190, 482, 491 and 494 visas.
What is the ANZSCO code for Solicitor?
271311. Home Affairs uses ANZSCO codes for skilled visas.
How can a Solicitor migrate to Australia?
The occupation lists Home Affairs publishes include Solicitor for the Subclass 186, Subclass 189, Subclass 190, Subclass 482, Subclass 491 and Subclass 494 visas. Being on a list is one requirement among several; each visa's page links to Home Affairs for the rest.
Who assesses Solicitor for an Australian visa?
LegalAuthority, the skills assessing authority listed for 271311.
Is Solicitor in demand in Australia?
Jobs and Skills Australia rated it "Shortage" nationally in its 2025 Occupation Shortage List, with ratings for each state and territory shown above.