Course summary
The Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) produces skilled graduates, ready for work in a legal environment with just two years of study. Combining intellectual rigour with practical legal skills, it gives students an exceptional foundation to a career as a paralegal professional in a broad range of settings. The Associate Degree in Law is offered on-campus and by distance education.
Paralegals perform substantive legal work in legal practices, banks, insurance companies, or other public and private organisations with in-house legal departments. A paralegal’s tasks may include legal research, drafting wills, preparing legal arguments, preparing agreements, compiling court documentation, legal record keeping, legal communication and client services.
Students who achieve the required grade point average during or on completion of this degree may apply for admission into the undergraduate entry Bachelor of Laws.
The Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) produces skilled graduates, ready for work in a legal environment with just two years of study. Combining intellectual rigour with practical legal skills, it gives students an exceptional foundation to a career as a paralegal professional in a broad range of settings. The Associate Degree in Law is offered on-campus and by distance education.
Paralegals perform substantive legal work in legal practices, banks, insurance companies, or other public and private organisations with in-house legal departments. A paralegal’s tasks may include legal research, drafting wills, preparing legal arguments, preparing agreements, compiling court documentation, legal record keeping, legal communication and client services.
Students who achieve the required grade point average during or on completion of this degree may apply for admission into the undergraduate entry Bachelor of Laws.
This course consists of compulsory law units and elective units. Students can choose to study a major in either Civil Practice or Conveyancing.
Civil Practice provides a platform for students to move into support roles in the fields of commercial and civil litigation practice within legal firms.
Conveyancing provides students with the academic requirements necessary to obtain a conveyancer’s licence in NSW, and is accredited by NSW Fair Trading. For licensing requirements, and details of mandatory additional work experience required to enable registration, enquiries should be made to NSW Fair Trading. Note that each Australian state or territory has its own legislation regulating conveyancing practice, except QLD where only qualified solicitors are legally permitted to engage in conveyancing.
Additional information: Some elective units, when studied by distance education, require students to attend on-campus workshops. Contact the University for more information.
| Graduate Attribute | Course Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| Intellectual rigour | Apply critical judgement including analysis, reasoning, and appropriate directed research to legal issues and challenges in paralegal, professional and social contexts. |
| Creativity | Apply legal reasoning and research to generate appropriate and creative responses to legal problems in paralegal, professional and social contexts. |
| Ethical practice | Demonstrate an understanding and evaluate issues with reference to principles of social justice and legal ethical frameworks. |
| Knowledge of a discipline | Demonstrate an understanding of a broad and coherent body of knowledge relating to the paralegal, professional and social contexts of the fundamental areas of law, the Australian legal system, and underlying principles and concepts. |
| Lifelong learning | Learn and work independently within broad parameters. Reflect on and assess their own capabilities and performance. Access, manage and evaluate sources of information relevant to legal research and practice. |
| Communication and social skills | Communicate appropriately and effectively, both orally and in writing. Collaborate effectively and constructively with others. |
| Cultural competence | Apply an understanding of Australian Indigenous perspectives to all aspects of legal professional practice. |
Students can undertake voluntary legal experience and para-professional placement with legal firms or offices to complement their practical legal skills and become familiar with the issues facing working paralegals.
The Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies), with a major in Conveyancing, is accredited by NSW Fair Trading. See Major areas of study (below) for more information.
Course overview
Course code
2206351
Course abbreviation
AssocDegLaw (Paralegal)
Credit points
192
Equivalent units
16
Duration
2 years full-time; 4 years part-time
Duration
2 years full-time
Availability details
Domestic
| Location | Teaching period | UAC code | QTAC code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Session 1 | 336361 | 056361 |
| Lismore | Session 1 | 336300 | 056061 |
| Online | Session 1 | N/A | N/A |
Fee information
International
| Location | Teaching period | Annual Fees | CRICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | Session 1 | $16,560 ($2,070 per unit) | 016182B |
| Lismore | Session 1 | $16,560 ($2,070 per unit) | 016182B |
Course requirements
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
-
To be eligible for the award of Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) a candidate shall successfully complete sixteen (16) units comprising:
- all units listed in Part A of the attached to these Rules;
- an eight (8) unit major from Part B, OR eight (8) elective units including at least six (6) units from Part B.
Schedule of units
Course progressions
Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.
Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment
Browse uni-wide elective units by selecting Uni-wide elective in the advanced filter of the Unit search.
Browse shared majors and their units at Shared majors
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1, Year 1 | |||
| Part-time students should complete the first two units for Session 1, Year 1 and the remaining two units for Session 1, Year 2 | |||
| LAW00051 - Legal Research and Writing | Introductory | ||
| LAW10157 - Australian Legal System | Introductory | ||
| LAW00050 - Criminal Process | Introductory | ||
| LAW00128 - Interviewing, Negotiation and Ethics | Introductory | ||
| Session 2, Year 1 | |||
| Part-time students should complete the first two units for Session 2, Year 1 and the remaining two units for Session 2, Year 2 | |||
| LAW10159 - Principles of Contract Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00052 - Introduction to Land Law | Introductory | ||
| LAW00053 - Foundations of Torts | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00054 - Family Law Practice | Intermediate | ||
| From year 2 complete either Civil Practice major or Conveyancing major or elective units (6 units must be Part B Electives) | |||
| Session 1, Year 2 | |||
| First Major unit or Elective | |||
| Second Major unit or Elective | |||
| Third Major unit or Elective | |||
| Fourth Major unit or Elective | |||
| Session 2, Year 2 | |||
| First Major unit or Elective | |||
| Second Major unit or Elective | |||
| Third Major unit or Elective | |||
| Fourth Major unit or Elective | |||
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students commencing their studies in session 2 are limited to part time, external study for their first session. It may be possible to study on campus and or full time in subsequent sessions. | |||
| Session 2, Year 1 | |||
| LAW00051 - Legal Research and Writing | Introductory | ||
| LAW10157 - Australian Legal System | Introductory | ||
| Session 1, Year 2 | |||
| LAW00050 - Criminal Process | Introductory | ||
| LAW00128 - Interviewing, Negotiation and Ethics | Introductory | ||
| Students may also complete units from Session 1, Year 3 if they wish to study full-time in this Session. | |||
| Session 2, Year 2 | |||
| LAW00052 - Introduction to Land Law | Introductory | ||
| LAW10159 - Principles of Contract Law | Intermediate | ||
| Students may also complete units from Session 2, Year 3 if they wish to study full-time in this Session. | |||
| Session 1, Year 3 | |||
| Major unit refers to your choice of Civil Practice major or Conveyancing major. Alternatively, you may choose elective units (6 units must be Part B Electives) | |||
| First Major unit or elective | |||
| Second Major unit or elective | |||
| Session 2, Year 3 | |||
| LAW00053 - Foundations of Torts | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00054 - Family Law Practice | Intermediate | ||
| Session 1, Year 4 | |||
| Third Major unit or elective | |||
| Fourth Major unit or elective | |||
| Session 2, Year 4 | |||
| Fifth Major unit or elective | |||
| Sixth Major unit or elective | |||
| Session 1, Year 5 | |||
| Seventh Major unit or elective | |||
| Eighth Major unit or elective | |||
Unit groups
Civil Practice major
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAW00058 - Litigation Practice | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00104 - Employment and Industrial Relations Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW00106 - EEO and OH&S Law and Practice | Advanced | ||
| LAW00119 - Local Government and Planning Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00124 - International Business Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00214 - Mediation and Dispute Resolution | Introductory | ||
| LAW00523 - Commercial Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10158 - Introduction to Evidence and Advocacy | Intermediate |
Conveyancing major
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAW00108 - Legal and Conveyancing Practice | Introductory | ||
| LAW00057 - Conveyancing Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00062 - Wills and Estates | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00107 - Conveyancers Professional Practice | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00523 - Commercial Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00004 - Company Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00119 - Local Government and Planning Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00126 - Competition and Consumer Law | Intermediate |
Part B Electives
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACC00132 - Taxation | Advanced | ||
| ACC00134 - Advanced Taxation | Advanced | ||
| LAW00004 - Company Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00057 - Conveyancing Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00058 - Litigation Practice | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00059 - Welfare Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00061 - Drugs, Crime and the Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00062 - Wills and Estates | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00104 - Employment and Industrial Relations Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW00106 - EEO and OH&S Law and Practice | Advanced | ||
| LAW00107 - Conveyancers Professional Practice | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00108 - Legal and Conveyancing Practice | Introductory | ||
| LAW00118 - Environmental Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00119 - Local Government and Planning Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00120 - Victimology | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00121 - Intellectual Property | Advanced | ||
| LAW00124 - International Business Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00125 - Information Technology and the Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW00126 - Competition and Consumer Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00214 - Mediation and Dispute Resolution | Introductory | ||
| LAW00216 - Mediation Practice and Procedure | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00514 - Criminology | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00521 - International Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00522 - Human Rights | Advanced | ||
| LAW00523 - Commercial Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00525 - Cyberlaw | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00526 - International Criminal Justice | Advanced | ||
| LAW00529 - Restorative Justice | Intermediate | ||
| LAW01125 - Stock Exchange and Finance Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10068 - Law and Government Decision Making | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10069 - Veterans Law I | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10070 - Veterans Law II | Advanced | ||
| LAW10158 - Introduction to Evidence and Advocacy | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10160 - Public Interest Advocacy | Advanced | ||
| LAW10166 - Entertainment Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW10171 - Mediating Across Cultures | Introductory | ||
| LAW10206 - The Holocaust, Genocide and the Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10288 - Mooting | Advanced | ||
| LAW10292 - Education and the Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10472 - International Human Rights Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10487 - Animal Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10489 - Australian Military and National Security Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10490 - Trials and Witnesses | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10491 - Sexual Orientation and the Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10527 - Comparative Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW10727 - Marine Animal Protection Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW20001 - Paralegal Placement | Intermediate |