University of Technology Sydney

C07073v5 Graduate Diploma in Australian Law

Award(s): Graduate Diploma in Australian Law (GradDipAustLaw)
CRICOS code: 016613F
Commonwealth supported place?: No
Load credit points: 48
Course EFTSL: 1
Location: City campus

Notes

This course is not appropriate for applicants who are already admitted to practise as a lawyer in NSW.


Overview
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Inherent (essential) requirements
Applications
Assumed knowledge
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Professional recognition
Other information

Overview

This course is for qualified lawyers from jurisdictions outside Australia who are seeking admission to practise law in NSW. Based on an assessment by the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) of the Supreme Court of NSW, UTS builds a tailored program of study for each student. Upon successful completion, students meet the academic requirements for admission as a lawyer of the NSW Supreme Court.

The course requires a minimum of 48 credit points of study, but total credit point requirements and subjects studied vary depending on students' individual LPAB recommendations. All subjects in this degree relate to Australian law – including contract, tort, property, ethics, constitutional and property law. In addition to meeting academic requirements, some students may also be required to complete practical legal training to qualify for admission to practise law in NSW.

Career options

Career options include lawyer in NSW within a government or corporate department, private law firm or community law centre, providing students also undertake a course in practical legal training (PLT).

Course intended learning outcomes

1.1 An advanced understanding of a complex body of legal knowledge in relation to the Australian legal system, impacts of historical and ongoing Anglo-Australian laws, social justice, cultural and international contexts, the principles and values of ethical practice, and contemporary developments in law and its professional practice.
Demonstrate specialised legal and technical knowledge of Australian laws across specific and selected areas of knowledge to support innovation in a range of contexts.
2.1 An advanced capacity to value and promote honesty, integrity, cultural respect, 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 with professionals and to exercise professional judgment.
Recognise, reflect upon and respond with professional judgment to ethical and professional responsibility issues that arise in specific areas of practice.
3.1 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.
Identify, synthesise and articulate complex legal and technical issues and apply analytical skills to identify innovation and generate clear, succinct and novel responses.
4.1 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.
Research, identify and evaluate technical information, legal judgments and issues to interpret, justify, or critique propositions, conclusions and professional decisions that are underpinned by ethical research practices.
5.1 Professional and appropriate 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 respectfully.
Communicate accurately and appropriately with multidisciplinary audiences in a range of specialised formats, including productive collaboration with professional teams and clients.
6.1 Specialised collaboration skills, including effective team work to achieve a common goal in a group learning environment or the workplace.
Take responsibility to give feedback and to respond to feedback in a professional context, to work effectively with colleagues and other stakeholders and to resolve challenges through effective negotiation.
7.1 A well-developed understanding of Indigenous perspectives informed by a commitment to build Indigenous cultural capability, to work for and with Indigenous peoples.
Identify and challenge the deficit narratives and biases of Anglo-Australian laws towards Indigenous Australians, particularly in relation to intellectual property and cultural rights.
8.1 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.
Evaluate and implement their own professional development and incorporate personal skills in order to work with autonomy as a responsible and adaptable professional.

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.

Applicants' bachelor's degree in Law, or Juris Doctor, must be from outside Australia, or they must be admitted to practise as a legal practitioner in a common law jurisdiction outside Australia. Students who have graduated with a Shari'a law qualification are not eligible to apply for this course.

For overseas qualified lawyers, applicants must provide written advice, from the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board, outlining subjects required to be completed in order to be admitted to practise in NSW.

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.

Applications

Before lodging an application, applicants must contact the LPAB to determine the subjects they are required to complete to be eligible for admission to practise in NSW.

Notification from the LPAB, listing the subjects required, must accompany the application for admission into the course.

Assumed knowledge

Appropriately qualified knowledge of a legal system.

Course duration and attendance

Full-time students can complete this course in a minimum of one year. Part-time students can complete the course in a minimum of one-and-a-half years.

Course structure

The course requires completion of a minimum of 48 credit points. However, each candidate's course of study varies depending on the number of subjects they are required to take in order to be admitted to practice in NSW. Subjects other than those listed below may be substituted depending on what subjects the LPAB requires applicants to complete to be eligible for admission to practice.

Industrial training/professional practice

Applicants should note that in order to gain admission as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of NSW they may also be required to undertake a course in PLT, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).

Course completion requirements

CBK90942 Options 48cp
Total 48cp

Professional recognition

This course may satisfy the requirements for admission to the Supreme Court of NSW. The Legal Profession Admission Board may recognise subjects attempted within this course. Applicants are advised to obtain written confirmation of the LPAB in recognition of subjects attempted within this course prior to enrolling.

Other information

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