Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

The Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice is a 36-unit program offered by the College of Business, Government and Law. The course is offered over two semesters full-time.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally:

• hold an approved Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution, which fulfils the academic requirements for admission in South Australia as set out in the Rules of the Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council 2004 (normally a Degree of Bachelor of Laws), or
• be in a final period of study, during which the successful completion of the topics in which they are enrolled will lead to the completion and award of an approved Bachelor degree which fulfils the academic requirements for admission in South Australia as set out in the Rules of the Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council 2004 (normally a Degree of Bachelor of Laws) and have successfully completed all core Law topics. The University will confirm the eligibility of students who have not yet completed their Bachelor of Laws degree with the other institution.

The requirements for applicants from the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia are set out below:

University of Adelaide - Bachelor of Laws Applicants

Applicants in a final period of study, during which the successful completion of the topics in which they are enrolled will lead to the completion of the Bachelor of Laws at the University of Adelaide will be eligible to commence the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice if they have successfully completed all of the compulsory Bachelor of Laws topics with the exception of Evidence and Proof in Theory and Practice and be undertaking that topic in the period of study in which they commence the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

University of Adelaide Bachelor of Laws degree applicants may also have their final year electives outstanding in addition to Evidence and Proof in Theory and Practice at the time they commence the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

University of South Australia - Bachelor of Laws Applicants

Applicants in a final period of study, during which the successful completion of the topics in which they are enrolled will lead to the completion of the Bachelor of Laws at the University of South Australia will be eligible to commence the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice if they have successfully completed all compulsory topics; and Civil Procedure, Evidence and Professional Conduct; and not less than 24 of the 32 topics required for the Bachelor of Laws.

NOTE

1. The degree of Bachelor of Laws of the University of Adelaide and the degrees of Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice of the Flinders University of South Australia and the degree of Bachelor of Laws of the University of South Australia fulfill the academic requirements for admission in South Australia. A student seeking to enrol on the basis of a degree from another university should apply to the South Australian Board of Examiners for an indication that the degree will fulfill the admission requirements.

2. A student permitted to enrol concurrently in the Graduate Diploma of Legal practice and the final period of study of an undergraduate degree will not be awarded the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice until the undergraduate degree is completed.

Course aims

The course will:

• satisfy the practical requirements for admission to the legal profession under the Rules of the Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council 2004;
• enable students to apply their theoretical understanding of the law to practical situations; and
• equip students with the skills required to practice as a legal practitioner.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of the course are expected to be able to:

• conduct civil litigation in first instance courts of general jurisdiction in a timely and cost-effective manner;
• conduct commercial transactions such as the sale or purchase of a small business, set up standard business structures, provide basic advice on finance and securities, and appreciate the type of advice needed to assess revenue implications of standard commercial transactions;
• advise criminal clients before arrest, seek bail, make pleas, participate in minor contested hearings and assist in preparing cases for trial;
• convey, lease and mortgage real property, and provide general advice on standard matters arising under legislation relating to land use;
• draft wills, administer deceased estates and take action to solve problems about wills and estates;
• maintain trust and general account records to the extent usually permitted and expected of an employed solicitor;
• demonstrate oral communication skills, legal interviewing skills, advocacy skills, negotiation and dispute resolution skills and letter writing and legal drafting skills;
• investigate and analyse facts and law, provide legal advice and solve legal problems;
• manage workload, work habits and work practices in a way that ensures that clients’
• matters are dealt with in a timely and cost-effective manner;
• act ethically and demonstrate professional responsibility and professional courtesy in all dealings with clients, the courts, the community and other lawyers.

Program of study

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, students must complete 36 units of coursework according to the following program of study:

Core - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

 LLAW8300  Professional Skills and Standards 1  (4.5 units)
 LLAW8301  Professional Skills and Standards 2  (9 units)
 LLAW8302  Professional Experience  (4.5 units)
 LLAW8303  Transactional Legal Practice GE  (9 units)
 LLAW8304  Criminal Practice and Advocacy GE  (4.5 units)
 LLAW8305  Civil Litigation Practice  (4.5 units)