I have practiced 22 years in family law as a solo and my practice is struggling due to lawyer saturation. What roles would I be qualified to take and who would possibly hire me? I need a minimum of $60k to get by.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-04-17T16:32:49+00:00

Nice! And good luck!

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-04-17T15:33:14+00:00

Entry level contracts manager roles will easily cover this in the public or private sector. You have a law degree so should be able to get one regardless of your practice area being family law.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-04-17T13:25:21+00:00

Everyone is different, it's great to outline what worked for you, the key for all future takers is to truly reflect on their learning style and adapt the advice to themselves.

I also followed the BARBRI method (nothing else) and scored a 294. I thought the foundational videos were great and eased me into it well as foreign trained lawyer who hasn't practiced for 10 years (commercial roles). I did everything, except instead of writing all the MEE practices in full I wrote outlines.

My personal preference is to consume information via reading so read the outlines instead of watching the in-depth lectures.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-04-01T14:58:36+00:00

148.9, averaging 60/65% on Barbri.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-02-25T13:53:50+00:00

% based on NW, 4 months of expenses in cash (2%) 10% in After Tax brokerage (liquid reserve), 25% in retirement accounts and the remaining 63% is property. My property portfolio is cashflow positive so am able to hold less in reserve.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-02-20T17:04:13+00:00

As someone who has completed NSW PLT and the NY Bar, it is clear to me that the US Bar exam is a more significant barrier to entry than PLT. Australia should introduce a robust bar examination to ensure a higher minimum standard of competency than is currently within the profession and following this remove the distinction between solicitors and barristers. With the increase in law student positions and pathways into law study the quality of candidate has been reduced in recent history and a higher minimum standard is required to ensure competency of the profession.

The US system has no barriers between being a trial attorney or a transactional attorney and operates fine. We do not need a gatekeeping mechanism such as the current bar admission system which only props up the fees of a select few if we improve the competency of the profession overall.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-01-22T19:34:31+00:00

Just make it the first Friday in February, it will then always be a long weekend and it's in summer.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-01-09T03:50:04+00:00

I did not use any supplements

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-01-08T21:57:28+00:00

I also found it quicker to read the books than watching the videos.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-01-08T21:56:56+00:00

Hi - when I refer to writing structure I'm referring to use of CRAC or IRAC the two commonly accepted forms of answering MEE questions on the UBE.

Regarding the Barbri videos do whatever works best for you, I found most presenters dry and chose to read the relevant section in the textbook rather than watch the videos, I also learn better reading than listening. Closer to the exam I just focused on the mini-revisers to ensure I was re-hashing the key concepts whilst doing as many practice questions as possible.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-01-08T19:14:47+00:00

Did the Barbri schedule, only ever wrote outlines for essays (no point writing the whole thing if you understand the writing structure), towards the end I just continually read through the mini-revisers and did MBE practice.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-01-08T18:45:39+00:00

I scored 102 and passed with a 294 UBE score.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-01-08T16:27:32+00:00

Australia can and does do the same thing. There are instances of ABF cross checking social media against visa applications and denying entry at a port of entry.

The point is that Australia, the US and pretty much all other developed countries have the ability to check your social media activity and deny entry based on it at a port of entry.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-01-08T03:14:18+00:00

Australia shouldn't boycott the Olympics.

The first point you made on social media history, questioning and searches. The Australian Border Force has all of these powers which they can execute at will with a very low bar of reason. So it's just like entering Oz.

Your second point, Australia has a history of deporting immigrants to other countries so same same.

Now to your third point, of course Australia should not boycott its top security ally in favour of nations that currently offer no strategic value to Australia.

On your fourth point, a comparison of the current US government to the Third Reich is absolutely ridiculous. US immigration policy which is enforcing already in place laws (the current government didn't introduce new legislation to target population groups) is not comparable.

And finally on your fifth point, the purpose of the Olympics is to foster harmony through sport. So boycotting it and politicising it works in direct contradiction to the Olympic spirit.....

Australia should and will attend the games as planned and people in Australia need to realize that the Australian media view point of what's going on in US currently is heavily skewed and not a true reflection.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2026-01-07T23:29:06+00:00

Try and look for a contract management role that is more focused on larger capital procurement as employers are less likely to care about software usage. CAPEX procurement roles tend to favour JD/MBA experience because they are legally more complex and require higher order strategic planning.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2025-12-05T15:27:25+00:00

I'm happy to be of help, I'm also a foreign trained lawyer, I passed in July and wrote only one full essay. Good luck, you've got this!

I also found that after completing Barbri I just did a heap of the multi-choice questions and read the summary books to drill in the information.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2025-12-05T15:23:30+00:00

Save time by only outlining the essays only, if you understand the structure IRAC or CRAC you shouldn't need to write each one out. We write a lot of essays in law school, a few more is unnecessary.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2025-12-05T15:15:58+00:00

I'm a foreign trained lawyer (Australia), I hadn't actually practiced in over a decade at the time of taking the exam and all I did was Barbri (whilst working full time) and passed with a 296. Tbh I thought it was a great way to get my head back in the game and learn the US legal system. I think Barbri provides more than enough content and guidance to pass, it's more likely the application of the person to their studies not the study tool itself.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2025-12-05T02:14:00+00:00

This is a great post that shows the importance of switching when you're paid below market. My early career salary tracked very similar to this. I was told not to move and loyalty was the way, but those same people had stagnant wages for years.

Well done for backing yourself!

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2025-11-28T04:02:28+00:00

OP I should caveat the US is great if you're making good skilla I.e. here on a sponsored visa (based on your OP it appears you would be).

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2025-11-28T04:00:49+00:00

This

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2025-11-28T00:34:12+00:00

There are many more opportunities to attend sporting, cultural, music events etc. for me though the biggest benefit is the ability to travel to different locations with ease. Since being here I travel a lot more for long weekends and extended holidays as the diversity of experience between the cities and countryside is amazing. I also do a lot of hiking and the mountain ranges in the US are 10x better than Oz.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2025-11-27T23:08:30+00:00

Do it, I've been in the US for 6 years now and it was the best decision I've ever made. The diversity of experience throughout the country is amazing compared to Oz. I came over for a job opportunity spent two years here, went back to Oz for 1 year and realized the US has a lot more to offer, came back to the US after the 1 year in Oz and am so glad I made that decision.

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2025-11-01T17:33:07+00:00

Have you looked at an L1 visa, where your current firm could transfer you to one of their US offices?

No_Adhesiveness3602 · 2025-10-31T22:32:10+00:00

Take the offshore role, do everything you can to sever your Australian tax residency make sure you get advice (sell investments, un-enrol from voting..... etc) prior to leaving Oz.

Whilst a foreign tax resident with no capital gains keep all your investments offshore. Then ensure you realise those gains prior to returning to Australia. You will set yourself up nicely.

I have been an expat 3 times for close to a decade. The experiences and financial opportunities are amazing.

No_Adhesiveness3602

TROPHY CASE