Advanced Diploma of Legal Practice

This course will provide you with extensive training in the workings of today’s professional legal office.

You will gain essential skills for work as a legal paraprofessional, including how to:

provide advice on legal services to potential clients practise in a legal area of your interest manage legal practice operation resources interpret legislation produce complex legal documents.

You’ll also develop a basic understanding in the following areas:

family law property law contract law commercial law criminal law conveyancing.

Our experienced teachers will ensure you are job-ready by the time you graduate.

You could also go on to further study, as this course can be the first step towards becoming a lawyer (external link) .

To be awarded 22276VIC Advanced Diploma of Legal Practice, a student must successfully complete twenty-four (24) units of competency, comprising of:

• thirteen (13) core units, and;
• eleven (11) elective units, of which:
• four (4) units must be selected from Group A;
• seven (7) may be selected from Group A or Group B of which:
• two (2) elective units may be selected and substituted for Group B units, from any currently endorsed training package or accredited course first packaged at AQF Level 4, 5 or 6.

Course structure and units

Core units

• BSBWHS301A - Maintain workplace safety
• VU21631 - Investigate and apply legal process
• VU21632 - Research and evaluate legal research method
• VU21633 - Analyse and apply law of contract
• VU21634 - Analyse and apply law of torts
• VU21635 - Define and evaluate law of evidence
• VU21636 - Determine appropriate aspects of commercial law
• VU21637 - Employ property law principles and concepts
• VU21638 - Apply conveyancing process
• VU21639 - Explore and apply wills, probate and administration procedures
• VU21640 - Analyse and apply civil procedure
• VU21641 - Analyse and evaluate concepts and principles of criminal law
• VU21642 - Practise in a legal environment

Elective units

Group A

• VU21644 - Examine and apply land contract law
• VU21647 - Research the application of administrative law
• VU21649 - Define and research the application of corporations law
• VU21651 - Evaluate the concepts and principles of family law

Group B

• BSBCUS301B - Deliver and monitor a service to customers
• BSBITU303A - Design and produce text documents
• BSBITU304A - Produce spreadsheets
• BSBITU307A - Develop keyboarding speed and accuracy
• BSBLEG418A - Produce complex legal documents
• BSBWRT401A - Write complex documents

Imported

• BSBLEG403 - Maintain trust accounts

Recognition of Prior Learning and/or Credit Transfers

Previous completion of units at the Polytechnic or any other Registered Training Organisation and/or previous attainment of skills and knowledge may be credited towards this course. Units must satisfy the completion rules of the qualification and be assessed as appropriate by the Polytechnic.

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.

Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Entry requirements

Applicants are best placed to successfully undertake this qualification if they have language, literacy and numeracy skills that align to Level 4 of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF).Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.

Pathways from VU courses

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.

Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.

Pathways to further study

On completion of this course you will be guaranteed entry into the following degree and in some cases receive credit for your study:

You will be credited for up to 48 credit points of study.

You will be guaranteed entry only.

You will be guaranteed entry only.

You will be guaranteed entry only.

You will be credited for up to 72 credit points of study.

Find out more about our study pathways to VU

22276VIC Advanced Diploma of Legal Practice qualification learning outcomes are as follows:

Knowledge

Graduates of an Advanced Diploma will have specialised and integrated technical and theoretical knowledge with depth within one or more fields of work and learning, through a demonstrated in-depth understanding of specialised legal knowledge within a range of areas of legislation: including law of torts, contracts, property, civil and criminal procedures, evidence, privacy, and/or administration, cyber law, consumer protection, family, and employment, in order to work within the operational and/or assistant level of organisations in the legal practice environment.

Skills Graduates at this level will have a broad range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply methods and technologies to:

• demonstrate a command of wide-ranging, highly specialised technical, creative or conceptual skills in the application of legal research techniques to identify legal information from a range of sources;
• demonstrate accountability for personal outputs within broad parameters in developing own action/work plan according to own responsibilities and the legal project brief, and;
• demonstrate accountability for personal and group outcomes within broad parameters in coordinating and facilitating team work.

Application of knowledge and skills Graduates at this level will apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, judgment and defined responsibility to:

• analyse, diagnose, design and execute judgments across a broad range of technical or management functions in the application of relevant legislation in a legal practice environment, and;
• generate ideas through the analysis and review of information and concepts at an abstract level of a range of information sources to draft complex legal documents.