C07075 Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice v2

Note(s)

Australian citizens who have completed a UTS Bachelor of Laws degree are eligible to access a Commonwealth supported place.

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) and an accredited course of practical legal training. The UTS practical legal training program is accredited by the Legal Practitioners Admission Board (LPAB) of the Supreme Court of NSW.

The Graduate Diploma satisfies the practical legal training requirements for admission as a legal practitioner by the Supreme Court of NSW.

Career options

Legal practitioner

Articulation

Additional admission requirements

Applicants require a Bachelor of Laws degree or the LPAB/SAB Diploma qualification. Applicants who hold a legal qualification obtained from an institution outside of NSW will be required to have the equivalency of their qualification assessed by the Legal Practitioners Admission Board prior to application (for further information see http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lpab).

Course duration and attendance

Students undertake an academic course which can be completed in one semester of full-time study or two semesters of part-time study, plus 16 weeks of full-time (or equivalent part-time) approved practical experience.

Full-time students cannot undertake their practical experience work placement in the semester in which they are undertaking the academic course. However, students may undertake half of their practical experience work placement (8 weeks) prior to commencing the Graduate Diploma.

Part-time students may undertake their practical experience work placement concurrently with enrolment in the Graduate Diploma.

Students who elect to study by distance are required to attend two on-campus intensive block classes. Both block classes take place at the close of semester.

The practical legal training subjects are more demanding, in terms of attendance, than regular law subjects, and involve interactive activities such as practice courts, simulated practice transactions and skills exercises.

Course structure

The course requires students to undertake an academic course of study (eight compulsory coursework subjects totalling 36 credit points), plus 16 weeks of approved full-time (or equivalent part-time) practical experience.

Course completion requirements

Industrial training/professional practice

A practical experience work placement is a compulsory and integral component of the course. Practical experience requires students to complete 16 weeks of full-time (or equivalent part-time) practical experience work placement.

Students must complete their practical experience work placement within five semesters of enrolling in 75411 Practical Experience. Failure to do so results in automatic withdrawal from the course under University rules concerning discontinuation of registration.

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

Course program

The standard programs of study for students undertaking the course on a full-time or a part-time attendance basis in either Autumn or Spring semesters are presented below.

All subjects are timetabled each semester. The current timetable can be found at:

Professional recognition

Supreme Court of NSW

Satisfies the practical legal training requirements for admission as a legal practitioner, provided students have also completed a recognised legal qualification.

Other information