Legal Officer or Contract Administrator? Pick the Right ANZSCO, Pass Faster

Vikrant Gungash
Aug 6
5 min read

By Vikrant Singh, August 06, 2025

For legal and administrative professionals looking to migrate to Australia, choosing the correct Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) code is the most critical step in the skills assessment process. Two codes that often cause confusion are 271299 - Judicial and Other Legal Professionals nec and 511111 - Contract Administrator. While they may seem similar, they represent distinct career paths with different requirements. This guide will break down the key differences between these two codes and provide a roadmap for securing a positive skills assessment outcome with VETASSESS.

The Core Differences: Law Professional vs. Contract Specialist

Understanding the fundamental distinctions between these two occupations is crucial. One is a broad, high-level legal role, while the other is a specialised role focused on the lifecycle of contracts.

Core Function and Scope

ANZSCO 271299 - Judicial and Other Legal Professionals nec: This occupation is for legal professionals who interpret, analyse, administer, and provide advice on the law. It is a 'not elsewhere classified' (nec) category, meaning it covers specialised legal roles that don't fit into other specific classifications like 'Solicitor' or 'Barrister'. The primary purpose of roles under this code is to research, draft, interpret, and advise on the law itself. Suitable occupations include

Legal Officer, Legal Researcher, and Parliamentary Counsel.
ANZSCO 511111 - Contract Administrator: This role is more focused and centres on the practical management of contracts. A Contract Administrator prepares, interprets, maintains, reviews, and negotiates variations to contracts on behalf of an organisation. Their main objective is managing these contract variations. The role is less about providing broad legal advice and more about the operational management of agreements within various contexts like commercial firms, government bodies, or construction companies.

Skill Level & Education Requirements

The educational and skill benchmarks set by VETASSESS for these two codes are significantly different.

Judicial and Other Legal Professionals nec (Group A): This is a VETASSESS Group A occupation, which requires a qualification comparable to an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher. The field of study must be highly relevant, such as Law or Legal Studies.
Contract Administrator (Group C): This is a VETASSESS Group C occupation, requiring a qualification assessed at an AQF Diploma level or higher. The highly relevant fields of study are broader and can include Law, Business, or Project Management. This code also offers more flexibility with four different assessment pathways.

Day-to-Day Tasks

The daily responsibilities for these roles highlight their different focuses.

271299 - Judicial and Other Legal Professionals nec	511111 - Contract Administrator
Researching statutes and previous court decisions.	Developing, reviewing, and negotiating variations to contracts.
Providing written opinions on points of law.	Responding to inquiries and resolving problems concerning contracts.
Monitoring and managing all legal affairs within an organisation.	Managing paperwork associated with contracts and renewing existing contracts.
Preparing legislation that is proposed to pass into law.	Analysing potential risks in contract terms and advising management.

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The 'nec' Factor: A Special Consideration for 271299

The 'not elsewhere classified' nature of 271299 is a critical distinction. To be assessed under this code, you must prove that your role is specialised and does not better fit another ANZSCO classification. For instance, a job with responsibilities like conducting internal compliance audits, managing GDPR reporting, and independently drafting a Power of Attorney might be too broad for a 'Solicitor' or 'Legal Executive' role but fits perfectly under the 'Legal Officer' title within the 271299 'nec' code. VETASSESS requires applicants for 'nec' codes to submit a cover letter justifying their choice.

A Guide to a Positive Skills Assessment Outcome

Once you've identified the correct code, you need to build a strong application. Here’s how to approach it for each occupation.

Pathway for ANZSCO 271299 (Judicial and Other Legal Professionals nec)

Meet the High Educational Bar: You must hold a qualification equivalent to an AQF Bachelor's degree or higher in Law or Legal Studies.
Demonstrate Highly Relevant Experience: You need at least one year of post-qualification employment in the last five years where your duties align with the tasks listed for this occupation. Your evidence should clearly show you were performing tasks like legal research, managing legal affairs, and providing legal opinions.
Craft a Strong 'nec' Justification: Your cover letter is crucial. Clearly articulate why your specialised role does not fit neatly into another category. Highlight the unique combination of your duties (e.g., corporate governance, high-level compliance, risk management, legislative drafting) to show why the 'Legal Officer' or a similar role under the 'nec' code is the most appropriate fit.
Provide Comprehensive Evidence: Submit detailed documentation supporting your identity, qualifications, and employment claims, as outlined by VETASSESS.

Pathway for ANZSCO 511111 (Contract Administrator)

Meet the Assessment Criteria: You need an AQF Diploma or higher and must meet one of the four assessment pathways outlined by VETASSESS for Group C occupations. This offers more flexibility than the single pathway for Group A.
Focus on Core Contract Management: Your application must prove that your primary role is the administration of contracts. Your employment evidence should be rich with examples of you negotiating contract terms, managing contract paperwork, analysing risks, and resolving contractual issues.
Showcase Your Authority and Risk Analysis: It's not enough to simply handle contracts. VETASSESS specifies that applicants must be a delegated authority for the organisation and be able to comprehend and manage the risks associated with contract terms. Roles that only involve executing standardised templates will not be considered suitable.
Provide Detailed Supporting Documents: Ensure all claims are backed by solid evidence, including reference letters that detail your contract-related duties, and if self-employed, evidence such as business registration, client invoices, and contracts.

By carefully analysing your own qualifications and career experience against the specific requirements of each ANZSCO code, you can confidently choose the right path and build a compelling case for a positive skills assessment.

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