University of Technology Sydney

C11211v2 Graduate Certificate in Australian Law

Award(s): Graduate Certificate in Australian Law (GradCertAustLaw)
CRICOS code: 064381G
Commonwealth supported place?: No
Load credit points: 30
Course EFTSL: 0.625
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 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 common law jurisdictions outside Australia who are seeking admission to practise law in NSW. Students complete 30 credit points of core subjects spanning ethics, property, constitutional and administrative law.

Coupled with the successful completion of practical legal training (PLT), graduates of this course meet the academic requirements 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 such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).

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 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 professional 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

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

Applicants must have the following:

  • Completed Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor from outside Australia OR be admitted to practise as a legal practitioner in a common law jurisdiction outside Australia AND evidence from the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) of equivalency of the applicant’s legal qualification for the purpose of admission as a legal practitioner in NSW, and the list of subjects that the LPAB deems necessary for the applicant to complete to seek admission as a legal practitioner in NSW

Students who have graduated with a Shari'a law qualification are not eligible to apply for this course.

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.

Applications

Before lodging an application, applicants must contact the Legal Profession Admission Board of the NSW Supreme Court (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 the common law legal system.

Course duration and attendance

Full-time students can complete the course in a minimum of one session. Part-time students can complete the course in a minimum of one year. International students are unable to undertake part-time study.

Course structure

The course requires completion of 30 credit points of specified subjects. However, in some cases and subject to approval, students may substitute one subject.

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 practical legal training, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).

Course completion requirements

STM90841 Core subjects 30cp
Total 30cp

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 to the LPAB in recognition of subjects attempted within this course prior to enrolling.

Other information

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