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Master of Law and Legal PracticeUTS course code: C04148 Graduate Diploma in LawUTS course code: C06055
Overview OverviewThe Faculty of Law at UTS has a strategic mission to prepare students for the practice of law. Faculty core business has always been to prepare motivated and capable students for professional practice. The Master of Law and Legal Practice is the first national example of a Master's-level entry path into the profession of law and is accredited by the Legal Practitioners Admission Board of the Supreme Court of NSW (LPAB) for the purpose of admission as a legal practitioner1. Historically in NSW there have been only two pathways into the profession of law, through the LPAB Diploma or the Bachelor of Laws program. The Master's is a third option for graduates of other disciplines who hope to practice law. The Master's combines the core law subjects found in the Bachelor's degree with Master of Laws electives, followed by a course in practical legal training – a compulsory requirement set by the LPAB for admission as a legal practitioner. Footnote: Admission requirements
Course durationThe Master of Law and Legal Practice can be completed in seven semesters (three-and-a-half years) of full-time attendance or 11 semesters (five-and-a-half years) of part-time attendance. The Graduate Diploma in Law can be completed in four semesters (two years) of full-time attendance or six semesters (three years) of part-time attendance. Course structureThe Master's requires completion of 168 credit points and combines the:
The Graduate Diploma requires completion of 96 credit points of core law subjects. Footnote: Core law subjects All of the core law subjects are offered in both the Autumn and Spring semesters. The full-time and part-time standard progression noted in the Course program is subject to candidates meeting subject prerequisites in each semester. Not all students follow the standard progression and consequently some candidates may not complete the program in the time outlined below. The University endeavours to timetable the core subjects at times that suit those who want to study in either the daytime or the evening. However, be aware that attendance may be required in both the day and the evening, subject to timetabling constraints. Electives Most elective subjects will be timetabled over a two-year period and consequently not all subjects listed will be offered in any one year (see the Electives table). Timetabled subjects are offered subject to sufficient student interest. The current timetable is on display on the noticeboard outside the Faculty of Law Information Office (CM05B.3.03) and online at: Majors Students may elect to specialise in a major area of study or study subjects across the major areas of specialisation. The Faculty's major postgraduate areas of study are:
Practical Legal Training (PLT) A course in practical legal training is a compulsory requirement of admission as a legal practitioner. The PLT is an integral component of the Master of Law and Legal Practice. The practical legal training component of the Master's is offered on either a part-time or full-time basis and is delivered either on-campus or by distance with limited on-campus attendance. Because of the skills-based nature of practical legal training, two compulsory Monday to Friday face-to-face schools are included in the distance course of study. Part of the practical legal training requires students to undertake 16 weeks of full-time or equivalent part-time practical experience placement (approved in advance by the Faculty) following completion of the academic component of the practical legal training program. It is possible, however, to undertake one-half of the practical experience placement (8 weeks) in the year prior to commencing the practical legal training. The practical legal training subjects are also concurrently taught within the Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice courses, and also partly within the Bachelor of Laws. For further details about the PLT component see: www.law.uts.edu.au/courses/plt Progression and acceleration policy The following policy will apply to progression and acceleration. Students will be permitted to enrol in core law subjects totalling up to 28 credit points per semester with the leave of the Director, Postgraduate Program or nominee, if:
The Faculty of Law is unable to guarantee that there will be no timetable clash or no final examination clashes where students do not progress normally. Subject exemption Exemption for core law subjects is only granted to students who have studied law in a recognised law school. Students who have studied law through the Law Extension Committee of the Supreme Court (LPAB) will not be granted exemptions. As a general rule, exemptions will not be given if the subject was studied more than six years ago. However, the Faculty Board shall always retain a discretion to waive the strict application of the rule in cases where there is additional evidence of work or study experience. Indeed, in subjects where there have been significant recent changes in the law, an exemption may not be granted even though the subject was successfully completed less than six years ago. The Faculty Board must be satisfied that the student has successfully completed a comparable subject elsewhere. To verify this, the student must produce a transcript of his or her academic record and a copy of the relevant institution's handbook containing a detailed description of the subject, together with the reading guide that was current at the time of study. Exemption from elective and practical legal training subjects available within the Faculty's courses is available subject to the approval of the Faculty Board in Law and to University policy regarding Advanced Standing. Students who are seeking exemptions should complete an Advanced Standing Application form, which is available from the Law Information Office or online at: www.sau.uts.edu.au/current/forms.html It is recommended that all students seeking an exemption should make an application at the point of application for admission into the course. Inquiries should be directed to the Law Information office: telephone (02) 9514 3444 Course programSee the Course program – Full-time or Course program – Part-time, and the Electives table. Articulation and progressionGraduate Diploma candidates who wish to transfer to the Master's program should complete an Internal Course Transfer Application form, which is available on request from the UTS Student Info & Admin Centre, the Law Information Office or online at: www.sau.uts.edu.au/current/forms.html Candidates do not take out the Graduate Diploma but transfer to the Master's with advanced standing. Transfer to the Bachelor of Laws Master's or Graduate Diploma students who wish to transfer into the Bachelor of Laws program should do so by submitting an application through the Universities Admission Centre. An Internal Course Transfer Application form is not accepted for transfer between the Master's or Graduate Diploma and the Bachelor's degree. Successful applicants receive exemption for the core law subjects they have successfully completed within the Master's or Graduate Diploma, subject to University Rules and Faculty Policy. Other informationFor information about application procedures, attendance, assessment, subject exemptions, concurrent study, internal course transfer, leave of absence, assignments and results, see the introductory information under Coursework programs – General information. See the Faculty information section for details of the Law Information Office, the class timetable, the Law Students' Society, prizes and scholarships, the Law Library Collection, and contact details for the Faculty's other academic program areas. The Faculty information section also contains information concerning computer access, studying as an international student, contact details for other units of the University, parking at UTS, University forms and the Rules of the University. Recommended reading prior to entry A Guide to Legal Problem Solving for Law Students, P Keyzer, Butterworths, or A Career in Law, edited by J F Corkery, Federation Press, may be purchased from the Co-op Bookshop, the Sydney Law Cooperative Bookshop, Butterworths or the Law Book Company. Contacts Director, Postgraduate Program or Law Information Office |
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2 December 2003 2:56 PM
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