Graduate Diploma in Australian Law

What you will study

The Graduate Diploma in Australian Law requires completion of a minimum of 48 credit points. Each student's study program is tailored to the subjects identified in their assessment by the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB). Total credit point requirements and subject selections may vary according to individual admission requirements.

Applicants must obtain an LPAB assessment before applying to UTS. This assessment identifies the Australian law subjects required for the applicant to meet the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in New South Wales.

Core subjects

The course identifies one core subject:

• Australian Constitutional Law

Additional subjects

Students complete further subjects according to their individual LPAB assessment. Depending on their previous qualifications and prescribed requirements, these may cover:

• Administrative Law
• Civil Practice
• Contracts
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Equity and Trusts
• Ethics Law and Justice
• Evidence
• Foundations of Law
• Principles of Company Law
• Real Property
• Torts

The exact subjects and credit points required are determined individually. Students must complete the subjects approved within their personalised study program.

Professional practice

Students may also need to complete practical legal training to satisfy the requirements for admission as a lawyer in NSW. The Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice at UTS provides a separate pathway to completing the practical training requirement, subject to eligibility and admission requirements.

Entry requirements

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Australian Law, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

Academic and professional qualifications

Applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Completed Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) from an institution outside Australia.
• Be admitted to practise as a legal practitioner in a common law jurisdiction outside Australia.

Legal Profession Admission Board assessment

All applicants must also provide written evidence from the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) confirming:

• Assessment of their overseas legal qualification for the purpose of admission as a legal practitioner in NSW.
• The subjects they are required to complete to satisfy the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in NSW.

Applicants must obtain this assessment before applying to UTS, as it determines their individual course requirements.

Additional eligibility conditions

• Applicants must have appropriately qualified knowledge of a legal system.
• Graduates with a Shari'a law qualification are not eligible for admission to this course under the published course-specific requirements.
• The qualification is not appropriate for applicants who are already admitted to practise as a lawyer in NSW.

Supporting documentation

Applicants must provide:

• Evidence of their relevant overseas legal qualification or professional admission.
• Written LPAB assessment outlining the subjects required for admission to legal practice in NSW.
• Any additional documentation requested by UTS to assess their application.

English language requirements

The English proficiency requirements for international students or domestic applicants with international qualifications are:

• IELTS Academic: Overall score of 6.5, with a minimum writing score of 6.0.
• TOEFL iBT (0–120 scale): Overall score of 79, with a minimum writing score of 21.
• TOEFL iBT (1–6 scale): Overall score of 4, with a minimum writing score of 4.5.
• UTS College Academic English Level 5 (AE5): Pass.
• Pearson PTE Academic: Overall score of 58, with a minimum writing score of 50.
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: Overall score of 176, with a minimum writing score of 169.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee an offer of a place.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of prior learning may be available to students who have completed equivalent legal studies at a recognised university, subject to UTS assessment and the requirements of the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB).

Assessment of overseas qualifications

All applicants must obtain an LPAB assessment of their overseas legal qualifications before applying. This assessment identifies the Australian law subjects required to satisfy the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in NSW.

The resulting study program is individually tailored to these requirements. Recognition of previous legal studies by the LPAB does not automatically establish eligibility for subject exemptions through UTS.

UTS recognition of prior learning

Applications for recognition of prior learning are assessed under the Faculty of Law's postgraduate guidelines.

• Previous subjects must generally have been completed at a recognised university and be equivalent to the relevant UTS subjects.
• A five-year time limit generally applies to previous law studies, subject to the university's published exceptions.
• Recognition of prior learning is subject to course requirements, applicable credit point limits and faculty approval.
• Recognition of prior learning generally cannot be granted for subjects completed solely to satisfy practical experience requirements.

Professional admission requirements

The LPAB determines whether previous legal qualifications and subjects satisfy the academic knowledge requirements for legal admission in NSW.

Students should obtain confirmation from the LPAB before seeking recognition of prior learning through UTS, ensuring that their study program meets their individual professional admission requirements.

Recognition of prior learning is not guaranteed and may not reduce the minimum study requirements of this qualification.

Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of a complex body of legal knowledge relating to the Australian legal system and laws and contemporary developments in law and its professional practice.
• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the principles and approaches to ethical decision-making and professional responsibility in legal practice including the ability to respond independently to ethical challenges, demonstrating professional judgment.
• Formulate appropriate responses to legal problems and questions, using advanced skills in legal research, critical analysis and evaluation.
• Reflect on Indigenous contexts to inform professional capabilities to work for and with Indigenous peoples across the legal sector.
• Generate solutions to complex legal issues through effective collaboration and communicate accurately and persuasively to a variety of audiences.

Career Outcomes

• Lawyer
• Property lawyer
• In-house lawyer
• Solicitor
• In-house counsel
• Mediator

Fees and FEE-HELP

Domestic full-fee paying prices

• Indicative tuition fee per 6-credit-point subject in 2027: $5,735
• Indicative annual tuition fee (48 credit points) in 2027: $45,880
• Indicative total course fee in 2027: $45,880

Eligible domestic students may access FEE-HELP to defer all or part of their tuition fees.

The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) may apply and is not included in the indicative tuition fees.

Tuition fees are subject to annual review and may change.

You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.