C04320v1 Juris Doctor Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice
Award(s): Juris Doctor (JD)Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (GradCertProfLegalPrac)
CRICOS code: 092803C
Commonwealth supported place?: No
Load credit points: 162
Course EFTSL: 3.5
Location: City campus
Overview
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Inherent (essential) requirements
Recognition of prior learning
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course program
Levels of award
Articulation with UTS courses
Transfer between UTS courses
Professional recognition
Other information
Overview
This course, also known as the JD Accelerate, is the only integrated law and Practical Legal Training (PLT) degree in Sydney, and meets both the academic and practical requirements for admission to practise law in NSW. Like the standard Juris Doctor, this course is an Australian Qualifications Framework Level 9 master's degree that builds knowledge and experience in fundamental legal theory.
Students engage with industry-informed, academically rigorous and highly practical courses, choosing from flexible learning options that include day and evening classes (core subjects), block study (selected subjects) and online learning (electives), as well as selected recorded lectures and podcasts. In addition to standard part-time and full-time study modes, students can fast-track their progress by enrolling in Summer sessions to complete the degree in just three years.
Career options
Career options include, but are not limited to, lawyer within a private firm, corporation, government department or community law centre, regulatory affairs and policy adviser in the public or private sector or legal specialisation related to students' previous degree or enhanced career options within an existing professional sphere.
Course intended learning outcomes
| 1.0 | An advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of legal knowledge, including the Australian legal system, social justice, cultural and international contexts, the principles and values of ethical practice, and contemporary developments in law and its professional practice |
| 2.0 | An advanced and integrated capacity to value and promote honesty, integrity, accountability, public service and ethical standards, including an understanding of approaches to ethical decision-making, the rules of professional responsibility, an ability to reflect upon and respond to ethical challenges in practice, and a developing ability to engage in the profession of law and to exercise professional judgment |
| 3.0 | A capacity to think critically, strategically and creatively, including an ability to identify and articulate complex legal issues, apply reasoning and research to generate appropriate theoretical and practical responses, and demonstrate sophisticated cognitive and creative skills in approaching complex legal issues and generating appropriate responses |
| 4.0 | Well-developed cognitive and practical skills necessary to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues and demonstrate intellectual and practical skills necessary to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, legal methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions |
| 5.0 | Effective and appropriate professional communication skills, including highly effective use of the English language, an ability to inform, analyse, report and persuade using an appropriate medium and message and an ability to respond appropriately |
| 6.0 | A high level of autonomy, accountability and professionalism, the ability to implement appropriate self-management and lifelong learning strategies, including initiating self-directed work and learning, judgment and responsibility, self-assessment of skills, personal wellbeing and appropriate use of feedback, and a capacity to adapt to and embrace change |
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised bachelor's degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate studies.
For this course the equivalent qualification required is a bachelor's degree in a discipline other than law or a law qualification from an overseas jurisdiction.
If an applicant does not formally meet the selection criteria but the Faculty deems the applicant to be eligible based on evidence of prior learning and demonstrated capability, the Faculty reserves the right to make an offer to the appropriate course.
Applicants may be asked to provide additional information to assist in the assessment of their application for admission.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International students
Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Inherent (essential) requirements
Inherent (essential) requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course.
Prospective and current students should carefully read the Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement below and consider whether they might experience challenges in successfully completing this course. This Statement should be read in conjunction with the UTS Student Rules.
Prospective or current student concerned about their ability to meet these requirements should discuss their concerns with the Academic Liaison Officer in their faculty or school and/or UTS Accessibility Service on 9514 1177 or at accessibility@uts.edu.au.
UTS will make reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional experiences, course related work experience and other course activities to facilitate maximum participation by students with disabilities, carer responsibilities, and religious or cultural obligations in their courses.
For course specific information see the Faculty of Law Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.
Recognition of prior learning
General and course-specific recognition of prior learning information regarding the JD Accelerate (Juris Doctor Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice) is available in postgraduate course information.
Course duration and attendance
The standard course can be completed in three years of full-time or five years of part-time study. There are two intakes a year (in Autumn and Spring sessions).
Course structure
The course comprises a total of 162 credit points. The study components for course completion are as follows:
- 108 credit points of compulsory core law subjects (15 subjects)
- 30 credit points of law options (five subjects)
- a 6-credit-point legal theory option (one subject), and
- 18 credit points of professional legal training subjects.
Industrial training/professional practice
A practical experience work placement is a compulsory and integral component of the course. Practical experience requires students to complete 13 weeks of full-time (or equivalent part-time) practical experience work placement. Students must complete their practical experience work placement within one year of enrolling in 75411 Practical Experience.
International students must complete their Practical Experience placement and have results finalised on their academic record within 12 months from the commencement of the session that they are enrolled in subject (75411) Practical Experience (as per domestic students); OR, by the time their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) has finished (whichever comes first).
Course completion requirements
| STM90831 Core subjects (JD) | 108cp | |
| CBK90920 Options (JD) | 30cp | |
| CBK90921 Options (Legal Theory PG) | 6cp | |
| STM90792 Core subjects | 18cp | |
| Total | 162cp |
Course program
Students in the standard full-time program enrol in 22 to 26 credit points in Autumn and Spring sessions. Optional subjects are regularly timetabled but not all options are offered in any one session. Students may choose to study the option subject instead of the legal theory subject in the recommended sequence, provided that they complete the legal theory subject in a later session. The UTS Timetable Planner enables current and future UTS students to view subject timetables.
The standard full-time and part-time programs are shown below.
| Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70102 Foundations of Law | 8cp | |
| 70103 Ethics Law and Justice | 6cp | |
| 70114 Criminal Law and Procedure | 8cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70211 Contracts | 8cp | |
| 70311 Torts | 8cp | |
| 70616 Australian Constitutional Law | 8cp | |
| Summer session | ||
| 70327 Introduction to Property and Commercial Law | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70104 Civil Practice | 6cp | |
| 70109 Evidence | 6cp | |
| 70617 Administrative Law | 8cp | |
| 70106 Principles of Public International Law | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70317 Real Property | 8cp | |
| 70517 Equity and Trusts | 8cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| Summer session | ||
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 78210 Law and Literature | 6cp | |
| 78235 Justice | 6cp | |
| 78236 Environmental Ethics | 6cp | |
| 78238 History and Theory of Intellectual Property | 6cp | |
| 78239 Feminist Perspectives on Law and Justice | 6cp | |
| 78241 Reading the Law: Language, Power and Ideology | 6cp | |
| 78218 Animal Law and Policy in Australia | 6cp | |
| 78126 Corporate Governance | 6cp | |
| 78270 Crime, Victims and Criminal Justice | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 71116 Remedies | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| 75424 Legal and Professional Skills | 6cp | |
| 70107 Principles of Company Law | 8cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| Select 12 credit points of options | 12cp | |
| 75422 Transactional Practice | 6cp | |
| 75423 Litigation and Estate Practice | 6cp | |
| 75411 Practical Experience | 0cp | |
| Autumn commencing, part time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70102 Foundations of Law | 8cp | |
| 70103 Ethics Law and Justice | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70114 Criminal Law and Procedure | 8cp | |
| 70211 Contracts | 8cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70311 Torts | 8cp | |
| 70616 Australian Constitutional Law | 8cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70104 Civil Practice | 6cp | |
| 70109 Evidence | 6cp | |
| Summer session | ||
| 70327 Introduction to Property and Commercial Law | 6cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70617 Administrative Law | 8cp | |
| 70106 Principles of Public International Law | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 70317 Real Property | 8cp | |
| 70517 Equity and Trusts | 8cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 71116 Remedies | 6cp | |
| 70107 Principles of Company Law | 8cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| Select 6 credit points of options | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 78210 Law and Literature | 6cp | |
| 78235 Justice | 6cp | |
| 78236 Environmental Ethics | 6cp | |
| 78238 History and Theory of Intellectual Property | 6cp | |
| 78239 Feminist Perspectives on Law and Justice | 6cp | |
| 78241 Reading the Law: Language, Power and Ideology | 6cp | |
| 78218 Animal Law and Policy in Australia | 6cp | |
| 78126 Corporate Governance | 6cp | |
| 78270 Crime, Victims and Criminal Justice | 6cp | |
| Summer session | ||
| Select 12 credit points of options | 12cp | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| Select 12 credit points of options | 12cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 75424 Legal and Professional Skills | 6cp | |
| 75422 Transactional Practice | 6cp | |
| Year 6 | ||
| Summer session | ||
| 75423 Litigation and Estate Practice | 6cp | |
| 75411 Practical Experience | 0cp | |
Levels of award
The Juris Doctor component of this course may be awarded with distinction. An additional year of study is not required. To qualify for distinction, a student must complete 77740 Research Paper within CBK90920 Options (JD). The rules governing the Juris Doctor with distinction can be found in postgraduate course information. See the UTS Law website for information on how to apply.
Articulation with UTS courses
Students who successfully complete the JD Accelerate (Juris Doctor Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice) at UTS and have completed Master of Laws (C04143) equivalent subjects within the JD Accelerate (Juris Doctor Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice) may apply for these subjects to be credited towards the Master of Laws (C04143).
Transfer between UTS courses
Subjects undertaken within the Juris Doctor component of this course are recognised within the Master of Legal Studies (C04264) and the Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies (C07122). Students enrolled in the JD Accelerate (Juris Doctor Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice) may apply to internally transfer to the master's or graduate diploma. Candidates are not awarded the JD Accelerate (Juris Doctor Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice) but subjects undertaken are applied towards the master's or graduate diploma.
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) of the Supreme Court of NSW. The course satisfies both the academic and practical legal training requirements for admission as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of NSW.
Other information
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