University of Technology Sydney

C04320v2 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?: Yes
Load credit points: 162
Course EFTSL: 3.5
Location: City campus

Notes

Commonwealth Supported Places

There are a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available in this course, which are competitive and awarded based on merit. To be considered for a CSP, applicants must:

  • Indicate their interest in a CSP on their application.
  • Have attained a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.5 out of 7 in their previous studies (note that applicants with a GPA between 5.0 and 5.49 may be assessed for a CSP place depending on availability).
  • Apply on time in line with CSP deadlines (it is recommended applicants apply early as applications are assessed progressively).

Eligible applicants must accept their offer by the lapse date to retain their place. For application deadlines and information, please refer to Postgraduate courses with Commonwealth Supported Places.


Overview
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Inherent 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

To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.

Applicants must have one of the following:

  • Completed Australian doctorate, or overseas equivalent

OR

  • Completed Australian bachelor's degree or Australian master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 4.5/7

OR

  • Completed Australian graduate certificate or Australian graduate diploma, or overseas equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 5/7

OR

  • Completed Australian bachelor's degree or Australian master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 4.1/7 AND Capacity to study the course demonstrated through relevant professional experience

The qualification must be in a field of study other than law or, if the qualification is in a legal field of study, it shall not be an academic qualification for legal practice.

Applicants who have completed the UTS Master of Intellectual Property are not eligible for admission in this course.

Applicants who do not meet the criteria above should consider applying for C04264 Master of Legal Studies or C11264 Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies.

Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application

For applicants who need to demonstrate capacity to pursue this course:

  • Curriculum Vitae AND Statement of service in one of the following formats:
    • A 'Statement of Service' provided by the employer
    • A completed 'UTS statement of service’ signed by the employer
    • A statutory declaration confirming work experience (for Australian Residents only)
    • An official letter from the applicant’s accountant or solicitor on their company letterhead confirming the applicant’s work experience or engagement with the business, duration of operations, and the nature of the business
    • A business certificate of registration in original language and English (e.g. provision of ASIC documentation or ABN or similar documentation for Australian Businesses)
  • Personal statement outlining relevant professional experience and reasons to pursue this course
  • Relevant work-related references

For Applicants seeking credit recognition for core law subjects in overseas legal qualification

  • Written assessment from the NSW Legal Profession Admissions Board (LPAB) indicating which subjects need to be completed to meet the requirements for admission as a Legal Practitioner

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL iBT: 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 requirements

Inherent requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course. For more information about inherent requirements and where prospective and current students can get assistance and advice regarding these, see the UTS Inherent requirements page.

Prospective and current students should carefully read the Inherent Requirements Statement below and consider whether they might experience challenges in successfully completing this course.

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)
  • a 6-credit-point legal theory option (one subject), and
  • 48 credit points of professional legal training subjects and law electives, made up of either
    • 18 credit points of core practical legal training (PLT) subjects plus 30 credit points of electives, or
    • 18 credit points of core practical legal training (PLT) subjects plus 6 credit points of work integrated learning subject plus 24 credit points of electives.

Industrial training/professional practice

A practical experience work placement is a compulsory and integral component of the course. Practical experience requires students to complete either 13 weeks of full-time (or equivalent part-time) practical experience work placement or 4 weeks of full-time (or equivalent part-time) practical experience work placement and a work integrated learning subject, 75425 Lawyers in Practice. Domestic students have 12 months to complete their approved Practical Experience from the commencement of the session in which the subject Practical Experience appears as ‘enrolled’ on their study plan. Failure to do so, unless an extension has been sought, will result in a fail grade being recorded for the subject.

International students must complete their Practical Experience placement and have results finalised on their academic record before their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) expires; or within 12 months, whichever comes first. Failure to complete within this timeframe will result in a fail grade being recorded for the subject.

Course completion requirements

STM90831 Core subjects (JD) 108cp
CBK90921 Options (Legal Theory PG) 6cp
CBK92382 Options (JD and PLT) 48cp
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 Skills and Wills Practice   6cp
70107 Principles of Company Law   8cp
Spring session
Select 12 credit points of options   12cp
75422 Property and Commercial Practice   6cp
75423 Litigation Practice   6cp
75411 Practical Experience - 65 days   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 Skills and Wills Practice   6cp
75422 Property and Commercial Practice   6cp
Year 6
Summer session
75423 Litigation Practice   6cp
75411 Practical Experience - 65 days   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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