QLD Trainee Admission Program

QLD Trainee Admission Program

Trainee Admission Program brochure
Course Dates
Enrolment Form
FEE-HELP Information
Legal Practitioners Admission Board Requirements

Your Traineeship Path to Admission

Queensland has introduced new admission rules for legal practitioners, and Traineeships now replace the Articled Clerk scheme. There are now two paths to admission - (1) Practical Legal Training; or (2) Supervised Traineeships. Trainees must cover set competencies and complete a mandatory 90 hours of Approved Programmed Training. This is structured, supervised and assessed programmed training, including Ethics, undertaken independently of the workplace. Supervisors must provide a traineeship plan stating what training the Trainee will receive and confirming that all requisite competencies have been covered.

If a firm cannot provide training in a particular area, the Trainee will need to cover this area either by secondment to another firm or by undertaking Supplementary Training.

In collaboration with the Queensland Law Society, The College of Law now offers you another choice for your path to admission – the Trainee Admission Program – to meet the quality training needs of graduates and employers. The College of Law Trainee Admission Program is designed to satisfy the mandatory 90 hours of Approved Programmed Training and provide Supplementary Training if required.

Approved Programmed Training

The Trainee Admission Program allows you to undertake the mandatory Ethics component which we call Professional Responsibility in conjunction with your choice of optional subjects to accumulate at least a total of 90 hours of training. Please choose from subjects in the table below.

Supplementary Training

Through the development of a traineeship plan, your employer will identify those skills, practice areas and values not able to be satisfied through supervised training in the workplace. The Trainee Admission Program can provide supplementary training as required. Please choose from the subjects in the listed Table. Supplementary Training can also be counted as part of the 90 hours of Approved Programmed Training.

^These subjects require some attendance onsite (midcourse onsite and /or assessment onsite)
^^You may undertake all the five (5) skills workshops or choose individual workshops as required. Please list your preference on the TAP Enrolment Form.
Please note that some examinations may be conducted at external locations in regional areas at a student's or firm's expense, please contact Enrolments for further information.

Assessments are graded in the following ranges:

High Distinction 85 - 100
Distinction 75 - 84
Credit 65 - 74
Pass 50 – 64
Skills Workshops Not Satisfactory - Satisfactory

How the Program will be Taught

Teaching methods vary according to the subject, including online learning, face-to-face instruction, mentoring and individual tuition, practical exercises, skills development sessions, assignments and feedback sessions, problem-based research and student online discussion groups.

Online learning offers significant advantages for both Trainees and firms including:

• Quality instruction – as the program is centrally designed, you can feel secure that Trainees are receiving standardised, high quality and proven training.

• Individual tuition – the lecturer is able to focus on the needs of individual Trainees and becomes more a mentor than an instructor, with the online format allowing for more personalised and detailed feedback.

• Accessibility – the program can be undertaken wherever there is internet access with only short sessions undertaken face-to-face in Brisbane. Trainees and firms across Queensland, from the CBD to regional areas, will have equal access.

• Flexibility – access is available anywhere at any time, allowing Trainees and firms to plan around work and family commitments.
  

Additional Benefits

• Overall each training offering runs for a duration of 15 weeks.
• Trainees will have online access to the College's comprehensive ‘how-to' Practice Papers and also have the option of purchasing single volumes or a full set of Practice Papers at a discounted price.
• Trainees will be allocated lecturer/mentors.
• Trainees will have via the online timetable scheduled assessment and submission dates, but may otherwise work through the program at their own pace.

Computer Requirements

To undertake online subjects of the program you will need your own Internet Service Provider (ISP). During the program students are given a student e-mail account and a range of online legal publishing services. You will need general familiarity with word processing, web browsing and email usage. You will also need to ensure your hardware and software meet the minimum specifications for accessing the program.

The minimum specifications are:

• Adobe Acrobat Reader 5 or later
• CD-ROM drive
• Email program
• Internet access
• Internet Explorer 5 or later
• Microsoft Windows 98 or later
• Pentium III - 500 MHZ
• Sound card
• Up-to-date anti-virus program

The IT Department offers advice to students on computer requirements and a Help Desk operates during normal business hours (EST). Please note: Macintosh computers may be used to complete the online program, but computer problems can not be supported by the IT Help Desk.

For more information contact:
IT Help Desk
Ph: 1 300 856 112
support@collaw.edu.au

You will be able to access the Program site for your program for 12 months after completing the TAP. However, you should note that the content of the program in which you are enrolled will not be revised or updated after the conclusion of your program.

Course Dates

• Overall each offering runs for a 15 week duration
• Onsite and assessment session attendance required dependent on subjects undertaken
• Enrolment is open until one week before the program starting date. Every subject is offered during each offering.
  

* Includes a Saturday
For more information contact Student Services Ph: 1300 856 111 or enrolments@collaw.edu.au

Enrolment Form

QLD Trainee Admission Program Enrolment Form and Enrolment Guidelines.

FEE-HELP Information

TAP students are able to apply for Commonwealth assistance for the cost of their tuition fees through the Higher Education Loan Program now called FEE-HELP.

Eligibility
To be eligible for FEE-HELP, you must be:

• an Australian citizen
• holder of a permanent humanitarian visa who will reside in Australia for the duration of the Program
• an overseas trained professional who has obtained an assessment from the LPAB and is a holder of a Permanent Residency visa.

For more information on FEE-HELP, please visit the DEST web site for Fee HELP Information online booklet or phone DEST on Ph: 1 800 020 108. Alternatively contact the Enrolments Office or visit www.collaw.edu.au

How to Apply
If you are eligible to apply for FEE-HELP, send in to the Student Services Office your completed Request for FEE-HELP form together with your Enrolment Form. The Request for FEE-HELP Assistance Form is only available in hardcopy.
To obtain a copy contact the Enrolments Office on 1300 856 111 or enrolments@collaw.edu.au

Please note the Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL) and costings for your information. For eligible students undertaking the TAP after 20 January 2006, discrete subjects within the Program may be undertaken via Fee-HELP loans at the following Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL) and fees:

Student Services Office
Ph: 1300 856 111
email: enrolments@collaw.edu.au

Legal Practioners Admission Board Requirements

As a Trainee, you must have commenced your Traineeship before you can commence the College's Trainee Admission Program.

On satisfactory completion of the Trainee Admission Program and any of the supplementary training, The College of Law will issue you a Certificate of Completion required to be submitted when you apply for admission to the Legal Practitioners Admission Board.

For more information on Traineeships, firm's, supervisors and trainees responsibilities please visit the Queensland Court's website or contact:

Legal Practitioners Admission Board
Tel: (07) 3842 5985
Fax: (07) 07 3221 7193
Email: admissions@qls.com.au

Your Path to Admission in Queensland - Have you considered all the options?

There are two choices to satisfy requirements for admission as a lawyer in Queensland . As an employer or graduate, you need to consider the best option for yourself and ensure that the path you choose meets your needs for admission and beyond.

Supervised Traineeship
A minimum of 12 months of closely supervised, full time indenture at a law firm incorporating 90 hours of programmed training and, where required, supplementary training. The traineeship must cover all competencies.

Practical Legal Training
The College of Law 's Professional Program Online (QPPO) is an approved Practical Legal Training course for direct admission in Queensland . Employers and graduates can be satisfied that all the required competencies are covered by our PLT course.

The QPPO incorporates:

•  15 weeks full time or 30 weeks part time coursework
•  A total of 15 weeks work experience
•  10 hours of online Continuing Legal Education
•  All content and instruction written and delivered by leading Queensland practitioners
•  Full and part-time options with several intakes throughout the year
•  FEE-HELP assistance available for eligible students