Solicitor
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Snapshot
Median salary
A$119,500
Full-time annual
Shortage signal
Shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Provides legal advice, prepares legal documents, conducts negotiations on behalf of clients on matters associated with the law, and pleads cases before civil, criminal and industrial courts and tribunals.
Specialisations
Skills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Interviews clients to determine the nature of cases and recommends appropriate legal action
- Prepares cases by conducting investigations, undertaking research, arranging witness preparation and attendance, and giving notice of court actions
- Represents clients in civil, criminal and industrial courts and tribunals
- Prepares and critically reviews legal documents between parties
- Prepares wills
- Provides advice on family, company, commercial and property law, as well as partnerships and trusts
- May act as trustee or guardian
- May act as executor of clients' wills
Credentials & Pathway
OSCA skill level 1
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Registration or licensing
Registration or licensing is required.
Related study options
Bachelor
Compare university ROIReal jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
QLD · May 2026
421
ACT · May 2026
55
VIC · May 2026
473
NT · May 2026
20
SA · May 2026
72
NSW · May 2026
628
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+12%
11,703 projected jobs
to 2035
+21%
21,298 projected jobs
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Solicitor.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Melbourne - Inner
9,898 estimated employed
- 1
Melbourne - Inner
9,898 employed
VIC
-3.55%
year on year
- 2
Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby
6,830 employed
NSW
+14.06%
year on year
- 3
Sydney - City and Inner South
5,125 employed
NSW
+17.22%
year on year
- 4
Sydney - Eastern Suburbs
4,499 employed
NSW
+9.54%
year on year
- 5
Sydney - Inner West
4,171 employed
NSW
+28.5%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
60,320
Moved in from another occupation
7,050
Moved to another occupation
2,780
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
4
points
- 2
3
points
- 3
3
points
- 4
3
points
- 5
3
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 281331
- Last updated
- Refresh pending
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2024 — Jobs and Skills Australia
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
Data confidence: estimate.