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Provisional Licences

What is a Provisional Licence?

Between 1 July 2008 and 30 September 2008 if an individual had not completed the required academic qualifications but had the relevant conveyancing business and/or work experience they could apply for a provisional licence to allow them to continue to conduct conveyancing work in Victoria.

From 1 October 2008 only full/unrestricted licences are available. 

What can a Provisional Licensee do?

If you are the holder of a provisional licence, this licence allows you to continue to undertake conveyancing work as it was defined by Legal Profession Act 2004 immediately before 1 July 2008.

You have up to five years to complete the required qualifications for a full/ unrestricted licence.

There are restrictions on the type of conveyancing work a provisional licensee can perform. Until you have completed the required academic qualifications and been granted a full/ unrestricted licence you cannot perform any legal work by way of legal advice/preparation of any document that creates, varies, transfers, conveys or extinguishes a legal or equitable interest in any real or personal property.

For further information on what constitutes legal work under the Legal Profession Act 2004, contact the Legal Services Board.

If a company only has provisionally licensed directors then these provisional restrictions will also apply to the company’s licence. Should the provisional licensed director apply for and be granted a full/ unrestricted licence, the BLA will then consider removing these restrictions on the company licence.

Provisional licences are valid for up to five years unless suspended, cancelled or surrendered.

If you wish to apply for a full/ unrestricted licence, you will need to lodge a new application with the BLA.