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Course snapshot
Domestic snapshot
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Start Date
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Duration
2 years full-time; 4 years part-time
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Location
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Placements
Yes
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ATAR
55
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Inherent Requirements
No
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Language Requirements
IELTS Overall Score 6.0
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Entry Requirements
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Course abbreviation
AssocDegLaw (Paralegal)
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Course code
2206351
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Credit points
192
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Equivalent units
16
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Indicative Fee
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 |
|---|
GA1: Intellectual rigour Demonstrate the ability to apply a broad knowledge of the principles and concepts of law and the Australian legal system to generate responses to legal issues and challenges in paralegal, professional and social contexts. |
GA2: Creativity Recognise and reflect on how law, justice and the legal environment can contribute to sustainability and sustainable development and exercise ethical judgement in professional contexts |
GA3: Ethical practice Recognise and reflect on how law, justice and the legal environment can contribute to sustainability and sustainable development and exercise ethical judgement in professional contexts |
GA4: Knowledge of a discipline Demonstrate the ability to apply a broad knowledge of the principles and concepts of law and the Australian legal system to generate responses to legal issues and challenges in paralegal, professional and social contexts. |
GA5: Lifelong learning Develop interpersonal, reflective and self-management skills to work independently and as part of teams |
GA6: Communication and social skills Develop interpersonal, reflective and self-management skills to work independently and as part of teams |
GA7: Cultural competence Develop the ability to recognise and reflect on Australian indigenous perspectives in law, justice and the legal environment. |
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 | Term 1, Term 3 | N/A | N/A |
| Online | Term 1, Term 3, Term 5 | N/A | N/A |
Career Outcomes
The Associate Degree of Law (Conveyancing major) conducted by Southern Cross University is an approved educational qualification as provided for in Schedule 1 of the Conveyancers Licensing (Qualifications) Order 2006. 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.
The subject ‘LEGL2012 - Mediation Practice and Procedure’, meets the training and assessment threshold requirements as specified in the National Mediator Accreditation System. As such, Southern Cross University is recognised as an Education and Training Provider Member of the Mediation Standards Board. Upon successful completion of the unit, students may apply to a Registered Mediation Accreditation Body (RMAB) to finalise their accreditation.
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.
Entry requirements
Language requirements
English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Overall | 6.0 |
| Listening | minimum 5.5 |
| Reading | minimum 5.5 |
| Speaking | minimum 5.5 |
| Writing | minimum 5.5 |
Course requirements
To be eligible to receive the Associate Degree of Law (Paralegal Studies), students must complete the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points), comprising:
- 8 core units (96 credit points); and
- 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 | Notes | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Complete the following units to satisfy the Requirements of the Award |
||||||||||||||||||
First Year |
||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL1001 | Legal Research and Writing |
Term1,3,5
|
12 | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL1004 | Australian Legal System |
Term1,3,5
|
12 | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| LAWS2055 | Criminal Process |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL1002 | Interviewing, Negotiation and Ethics |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL2002 | Foundations of Torts |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL2001 | Introduction to Land Law |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| LAWS2056 | Family Law Practice |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL2007 | Principles of Contract Law |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Second Year |
||||||||||||||||||
| Law Elective | ||||||||||||||||||
| Law Elective | ||||||||||||||||||
| Law Elective | ||||||||||||||||||
| Law Elective | ||||||||||||||||||
| Law Elective | ||||||||||||||||||
| Law Elective | ||||||||||||||||||
| Law Elective OR University-wide Elective | ||||||||||||||||||
| Law Elective OR University-wide Elective | ||||||||||||||||||
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Available | Credit points | Notes | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Complete the following units to satisfy the Requirements of the Award |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
First Year |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL1001 | Legal Research and Writing |
Term1,3,5
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL1004 | Australian Legal System |
Term1,3,5
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAWS2055 | Criminal Process |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL1002 | Interviewing, Negotiation and Ethics |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL2002 | Foundations of Torts |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL2001 | Introduction to Land Law |
Term3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAWS2056 | Family Law Practice |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL2007 | Principles of Contract Law |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Second Year |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAWS2018 | Wills and Estates |
Summer Term
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAWS2014 | Local Government and Planning Law |
Term1,5
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAWS2024 | Commercial Law |
Term1
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAWS2022 | Competition and Consumer Law |
Term2
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL2008 | Conveyancing Law |
Term2
|
12 | Note 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL2005 | Legal and Conveyancing Practice |
Term1,3
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL2004 | Conveyancers Professional Practice |
Term4
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAWS2001 | Company Law |
Term4,5
|
12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note 1:
Unit requires attendance at a compulsory practicum/residential.
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Core Units |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL1004 | Australian Legal System | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAWS2055 | Criminal Process | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL1002 | Interviewing, Negotiation and Ethics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL1001 | Legal Research and Writing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL2007 | Principles of Contract Law | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL2001 | Introduction to Land Law | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LAWS2056 | Family Law Practice | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LEGL2002 | Foundations of Torts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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