UTS course codes: C11128
Testamur title: Graduate Certificate in
Legal Practice
Abbreviation: GradCertLegP
Course fees: HECS/$200 per cp (local)¹; $2,000 per semester (international)²
Total credit points: 12

Footnote:
1. Students can elect to pay by the HECS deferred method or by full fee.
2. Total cost is $4,000.

Overview
Admission requirements
Course duration
Course structure
Course program
Professional recognition
Other information

Overview

Admission by the Supreme Court of NSW to practise as a legal practitioner is based upon the successful completion of an undergraduate law degree (or similar qualification, e.g. LPAB) and an accredited course of practical legal training. The UTS course in practical legal training has been approved by the Legal Practitioners Admission Board of the Supreme Court of NSW.

Students receive written learning and reading guides and have access to the University's online conferencing system (UTSOnline).

The practical legal training program, like any clinically based education, requires a considerable commitment from students. The subjects are more demanding, in terms of attendance, than regular undergraduate or postgraduate law subjects. Apart from the clinical aspects, this is mainly due to the fact that many activities are interactive between teaching staff and students (e.g. practice courts, simulated practice transactions and skills exercises).

Admission requirements

Concurrent enrolment in the UTS Bachelor of Laws program.

Course duration

The course can be completed in one semester of full-time study or two semesters of part-time study.

Note: The practical experience work placement must be undertaken in the semester following completion of the course.

Course structure

The practical legal training course can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time¹ basis and is offered on-campus in traditional weekly face-to-face classes or by distance² in flexible learning mode.

Students who elect to study by distance are required to attend two compulsory Monday-to-Friday, face-to-face intensive block schools. Both schools take place at the close of semester.

The UTS Faculty of Law practical legal training program also requires students to undertake an 18-week academic course (or part-time equivalent) and to undertake 16weeks of approved practical experience.

Graduate Certificate students concurrently enrol in 24 credit points of the practical legal training subjects within the UTS Bachelors of Laws program.

Footnote:
1. Students who are neither permanent residents nor citizens of Australia cannot study on a part-time basis because of visa requirements.
2. Students studying by distance are expected to attend UTS for all final examinations.

Course program

Full-time program

Footnote:
1. 75415 Professional Conduct 1 (Legal Accounting) and 75416 Professional Conduct 2 (Legal Ethics) may be timetabled in Summer session also – check the timetable.
2. Distance students are required to attend two compulsory Monday-to-Friday, face-to-face intensive block schools in 75412 Legal Skills and Professional Awareness and 75413 Advocacy – check the timetable.

Part-time program

Spring semester
Bachelor of Laws enrolment
75401 Litigation 6cp
75415 Professional Conduct 1² 3cp
75416 Professional Conduct 2² 3cp
and
Graduate Certificate enrolment
75411 Practical Experience 0cp
75413 Advocacy¹ 6cp

Part-time program

Autumn semester
Bachelor of Laws enrolment
75402 Property Transactions 6cp
75403 Commercial and Estate Practice 6cp
75415 Professional Conduct 1² 3cp
75416 Professional Conduct 2² 3cp
and
Graduate Certificate enrolment
75411 Practical Experience 0cp

Footnote:
1. Distance students are required to attend two compulsory Monday-to-Friday, face-to-face intensive block schools in 75412 Legal Skills and Professional Awareness and 75413 Advocacy – check the timetable.
2. 75415 Professional Conduct 1 and 75416 Professional Conduct 2 may be timetabled in the Summer session also – check the timetable.

The current timetable is on display on the noticeboard outside the Law Information Office (CM05B.3.03) and online at:

http://timetable.uts.edu.au

Practical Experience

A faculty-approved practical experience placement is an essential requirement of the practical legal training course. Students undertake 16 weeks of full-time, or equivalent part-time, work placement.

The work placement for students studying on a full-time basis must follow completion of the academic requirements of the practical legal training course. However, students studying on a part-time basis may undertake one-half of this requirement (8 weeks of practical experience) concurrently with the practical legal training course. On completion of the faculty-approved practical experience placement a 'Pass' grade is recorded against enrolment in the subject 75411 Practical Experience. Students are not eligible to apply for admission to the LPAB before the completion of the 16 weeks work placement (or part-time equivalent).

For further details about the practical experience component of the course, see:

www.law.uts.edu.au/courses/plt/experience.html

Professional recognition

Completion of a course in practical legal training is a requirement of the NSW Legal Practitioners Admission Board before admission as a legal practitioner to the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Other information

For information about application procedures, attendance, assessment, subject exemptions, concurrent study, internal course transfer, leave of absence, assignments and results, see the introductory information under Practical Legal Training – 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.

Students who have completed the Graduate Certificate are eligible to apply for 12 credit points of exemptions towards a Master of Laws (by coursework) program at UTS.

Contacts

Director, Practical Legal Training Program
David Hipsley
telephone (02) 9514 3179
fax (02) 9514 3400

or

The Law Information Office
telephone (02) 9514 3444
email info@law.uts.edu.au

www.law.uts.edu.au/prospective/plt.html