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Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies)

Associate Degree

Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Course abbreviation

    AssocDegLaw (Paralegal)

  • Course code

    2206351

  • Credit points

    192

Overview

Paralegals are a highly-valued part of the legal sector and there is increasing demand for paralegal professionals who can think outside the box.

This course will get you working in law quickly and lays the foundation for career progression. As you explore the Australian legal system, you will gather skills in legal research and writing, and absorb foundational principles in key areas of the law. You can choose to undertake voluntary legal experience or a para-professional placement to become familiar with the issues facing working paralegals. An optional major in Conveyancing provides the academic pre-requisite for qualification as a conveyancer in NSW. 

Paralegals work with solicitors and barristers, in government legal departments, law enforcement agencies, legal aid offices, court administration, public prosecutions and in the community and corporate sectors in finance, banking, insurance and conveyancing.

Graduates may also consider roles as a para-professional within a range of industries. This degree is also a pathway to further studies to become a lawyer.

Course Learning Outcome

Apply critical judgement including analysis, reasoning, and appropriate directed research to legal issues and challenges in paralegal, professional and social contexts.

Apply legal reasoning and research to generate appropriate and creative responses to legal problems in paralegal, professional and social contexts.

Demonstrate an understanding and evaluate issues with reference to principles of social justice and legal ethical frameworks.

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.

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.

Communicate appropriately and effectively, both orally and in writing.

Collaborate effectively and constructively with others.

Apply an understanding of Australian Indigenous perspectives to all aspects of legal professional practice.

You may 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.

This course consists of compulsory law units and elective units. Students can choose to study a major in conveyancing.

Please note: Some elective units, when studied online, require students to attend on-campus workshops.

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Gold Coast Session 1 , Session 2 N/A N/A
Lismore Session 1 , Session 2 N/A N/A
Online Session 1 , Session 2 , Session 3 N/A N/A

Career Outcomes

When taken with the conveyancing major, the Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies), fulfils 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.

Requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies), students must complete 16 units (192 credit points), comprising:

  • 8 core units (96 credit points); and
  • the Conveyancing Major (96 credit points); or
  • 6 Law electives (72 credit points) and 2 Law or University-wide electives (24 credit points).

Course structure

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.

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
Year 1, Session 1
Part-time students should complete the first two units in Year 1, Session 1. The remaining two units should be completed in Year 2, Session 1.
LAW00051 -  Legal Research and Writing Introductory
LAW10157 -  Australian Legal System Introductory
LAW00050 -  Criminal Process Introductory
LAW00128 -  Interviewing, Negotiation and Ethics Introductory
Year 1, Session 2
Part-time students should complete the first two units in Year 1, Session 2. The remaining two units should be completed in Year 2, Session 2.
LAW10159 -  Principles of Contract Law Intermediate
LAW00052 -  Introduction to Land Law Introductory
LAW00053 -  Foundations of Torts Intermediate
LAW00054 -  Family Law Practice Intermediate
Year 2, Session 1
1st Law Electives Unit or Conveyancing major
2nd Law Electives Unit or Conveyancing major
3rd Law Electives Unit or Conveyancing major
4th Law Electives Unit or Conveyancing major
Year 2, Session 2
5th Law Electives Unit or Conveyancing major
6th Law Electives Unit or Conveyancing major
7th Law Electives Unit or Conveyancing major or University-wide Elective
8th Law Electives Unit or Conveyancing major or University-wide Elective

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
Year 1, Session 2
LAW00051 -  Legal Research and Writing Introductory
LAW10157 -  Australian Legal System Introductory
LAW00052 -  Introduction to Land Law Introductory
LAW10159 -  Principles of Contract Law Intermediate
Year 2, Session 1
LAW00050 -  Criminal Process Introductory
LAW00128 -  Interviewing, Negotiation and Ethics Introductory
1st Conveyancing major unit OR Law Electives
2nd Conveyancing major unit OR Law Electives
Year 2, Session 2
LAW00053 -  Foundations of Torts Intermediate
LAW00054 -  Family Law Practice Intermediate
3rd Conveyancing major unit OR Law Electives
4th Conveyancing major unit OR Law Electives
Year 3, Session 1
5th Conveyancing major unit OR Law Electives
6th Conveyancing major unit OR Law Electives
7th Conveyancing major unit OR Law Electives OR University-wide elective
8th Conveyancing major unit OR Law Electives OR University-wide elective

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Level of learning Notes
Year 1, Session 3
LAW00051 -  Legal Research and Writing Introductory
LAW10157 -  Australian Legal System Introductory
Year 2, Session 1 follow the course progression for Session 1 commencement excluding the completed units.

Note 1:

Unit requires attendance at a compulsory workshop.

Unit Code Unit Title Level of learning Notes

Core Units
LAW10157 Australian Legal System Introductory
LAW00050 Criminal Process Introductory
LAW00128 Interviewing, Negotiation and Ethics Introductory
LAW00051 Legal Research and Writing Introductory
LAW10159 Principles of Contract Law Intermediate
LAW00052 Introduction to Land Law Introductory
LAW00054 Family Law Practice Intermediate
LAW00053 Foundations of Torts Intermediate

Electives

Unit Code Unit Title Level of learning Notes
ACC00132 Taxation Advanced
ACC00134 Advanced Taxation Advanced
LAW00004 Company Law Intermediate
LAW00057 Conveyancing Law Intermediate Note 1
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 Note 1
LAW00216 Mediation Practice and Procedure Intermediate Note 1
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
LAW30004 Comparative Criminal Law Advanced
LAW72006 Climate Law and Policy Intermediate
LAW72008 Indigenous Jurisprudence Intermediate
LAW72011 Why the State Needs to Kill: law, violence and the production of political authority Intermediate
LAW72014 Struggles, Movements, and the Idea of Communism Intermediate
LAW72015 Law, Film and Ideology Intermediate
LAW71006 The Rhetoric of Law Introductory
LAW73004 Legal Fictions: Writing the Law Advanced
LAW72007 International Business Negotiations Intermediate
LAW73051 Global Legal Pluralism Advanced Note 1
LAW73049 Information Environmentalism Advanced Note 1
LAW72016 Crimen Exceptum: The English Witch Prosecution in Context Intermediate Note 1
LAW72013 Wisdom, Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property Intermediate Note 1
LAW72020 The Legalities of Artificial Intelligence Intermediate Note 1
LAW72021 Myths for the Future: Law and Climate Fiction in the 21st Century Intermediate
LAWS2027 Introduction to Chinese Business Law Intermediate
LAW72018 Performances and Power in Literature and the Law Intermediate
LAW72019 Justice Framed: Law in Films and in Graphic Novels/Comics Intermediate
JUST2006 Shifting Cultural Paradigms: Law & Literature After Postmodernism Intermediate
JUST2012 The Art of Advocacy: Mooting and Performance Rhetoric Intermediate

Unit Code Unit Title Level of learning Notes
LAW00108 Legal and Conveyancing Practice Introductory
LAW00057 Conveyancing Law Intermediate Note 1
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