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POSTGRADUATE

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Find your true calling, specialise in your passion
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Build your career 

Options to complete a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters and advance your career

Advance your expertise

Sharpen your expertise in specific practice areas with practical, real-world focused subjects designed to elevate your proficiency.

Customise your journey

Enjoy the freedom and flexibility to customise your postgraduate program by studying the subjects that appeal to you.

Four intakes per year

Plan your year and the subject you intend to study each intake - Feb, May, Aug, Nov.

A POSTGRADUATE QUALIFICATION GIVES YOU AN EDGE

The College of Law can help you expand on what you already know and acquire new knowledge while providing you with opportunities to hone your skills in a  practice area, so that you stand out from the competition. 

Open up new career pathways by studying a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master of Laws program. One that’s reality-based, balanced and world-renowned, so you can become the best version of yourself for your client, practice and community. 

This is your chance to build career prospects, earn industry recognition, and boost your earning potential. 

Curious about where your skills could take you next? Scroll down to explore the variety of practice areas, detailed course subjects, and potential awards waiting for you. Find your perfect fit and tailor your education to your career ambitions.

Intake 1, Starts 10 February 2025

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Select a practice area to explore relevant courses and subjects

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Business Law and Transactions

Canvass the current issues critical to the day-to-day life of practitioners in this area. Focus on skills necessary for providing legal services, advice, and consultancy on legal issues impacting businesses.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Commercial Litigation

Hone your skills in the complex and challenging world of commercial litigation under the guidance of senior practitioners. Prepare yourself with the tools needed to act in commercial disputes.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Dispute Resolution

Learn how to navigate the resolution of disputes more effectively through mediation and other dispute resolution methods.  Settling disputes can avoid costly litigation and lead to reduced costs and more tailored outcomes for your clients.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Family Dispute Resolution Practice

Assist families in navigating changes to relationships, parenting arrangements and living circumstances by becoming a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner .

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Family Law

Help resolve the legal aspects of family relationship issues including relationship breakdowns, property and parenting arrangements, as well as family violence, abuse and other complex issues affecting children and families

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Government and Public Sector Law

Advance your understanding of government and public sector practices, including contracting, procurement, and policy development, while addressing ethical considerations crucial for serving the public interest.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

In-house Practice

Develop and understand both the power and impact that good governance and compliance can have on an organisation. Learn how to communicate effectively all the way up to the board and its directors.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

International Arbitration

Acquire the skills necessary to help resolve cross-border disputes in an international context. Grow your confidence in drafting arbitration agreements and seeing out the process until a resolution is agreed upon.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Wills and Estates

Provide your clients with expert guidance on will drafting, estate management, litigation strategies, and elder law essentials.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Estate Planning

Equip your clients with comprehensive strategies in estate planning, focusing on financial structuring, tax optimisation, testamentary trusts and succession planning.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

ASEAN+6 Legal Practice

Expand your knowledge of cross-border practice and enhance your career opportunities with our first-of-its-kind subjects. Each is designed to give you in-depth knowledge on how to operate within the ASEAN region.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Property Law

Equip yourself with the ability to analyse and better manage property transactions of all types. This course has a focus on how to address and resolve the more complicated issues likely to be encountered by property law practitioners.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Legal Business Management

Learn the tools and real-world business skills necessary to understand legal operations, legal technology and how to be a more holistic and impactful leader.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Customise your program

Pick the subjects you want based on the practice areas you’d like to focus on. Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master of Laws without a major.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Double Major

Double down with a double major (completing eight subjects, four from each major subject area) to master two areas of law and stand out as a uniquely qualified legal expert.

OR START WITH A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE

Take control of your career

If you decide later to progress towards a Masters, you’ll receive credit towards that award.

PROPERTY LAW SUBJECTS

PROP00 - Capstone Project (Property Law)

Intake 2, 4

The Capstone Project is taken as the final subject, as a culmination of the knowledge and skills attained throughout the major. It will allow students to demonstrate their skills in a specialist practice area using real-life scenarios and case studies. Throughout the intake, students will receive individualised feedback from their lecturer and will also have access to a rich array of skills modules that include guides, samples, and practice exercises for honing their legal skills. The highlight of the Capstone Project is the final task, where students will prepare a Final Portfolio that demonstrates their legal writing, research, and oral skills. THE SUBJECT HAS 

TOPICS

FOUR COMPONENTS

  1. Four short answer questions
  2. Two legal writing samples
  3. Oral communication (e.g. client interview) assessment held through online conferencing
  4. Reflective analysis

PROP1 - Foundations of Property Law

Intake 1, 3

This subject covers titles to, and interests in, land in New South Wales or Queensland (QPROP1).

This includes the law and practice for the various forms of title and interests and the practice dealing with those titles and interests. The subject aims to provide students with a strong understanding of property law and a good foundation for practising advanced property law in New South Wales and Queensland. It will also provide the base for the other subjects included in the Property Law curriculum, specifically: sale and purchase of land commercial leasing transactions shared titles, and financing property transactions.

TOPICS

  • Native title
  • The Torrens title system of land ownership
  • Leases
  • Easements
  • Covenants
  • Possessory title
  • Caveats and priority notices
  • Writs and the courts
  • Co-ownership - joint tenants and tenants in common

PROP2 - Buying and Selling Real Property QLD

Intake 2, 4

This subject takes a highly practical, step-by-step approach to the property transaction. It begins by discussing the scoping, structuring and due diligence steps and considerations at the beginning of the transaction. It then moves on to explore the formation, drafting and negotiation of the Contract for Houses and Residential Land, Fourteenth Edition, approved by the Real Estate Institute of Queensland and the Queensland Law Society, before explaining the process of closing the transaction. The critical elements of option agreements and the additional steps involved in rural transactions are also discussed. Ethical considerations in property transactions will be explored as will the technological developments currently impacting the way property law is practised. The subject aims to develop foundations for advanced and integrated understandings of this practice area.

On satisfactory completion of this subject, students will understand fundamental theories and practices in real property transactions practice, and have an understanding of how to apply this knowledge in professional practice. Students will be able to use and explain this knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences. Using practice-based analytical and critical thinking skills, students will be able to apply this knowledge to problem-solving and decision-making in practice.

TOPICS

  • Representing clients ethically and competently in real estate transactions
  • Electronic conveyancing and other technological developments
  • The formation of the standard contract
  • Understanding the standard Contract for Houses and Residential Land in Queensland
  • Contract formation, exchange to settlement, post settlement and rural transactions
  • Parties' default under the standard contract
  • Remedies
  • Options

PROP2 - Buying and Selling Real Property NSW

Intake 2, 4

This subject provides foundations to develop advanced and integrated understandings about real property transactions. It adopts a highly practical, step-by-step approach to the property transaction. It begins by discussing the ethical and competency requirements for practitioners advising in this area, as well as the due diligence steps and considerations at the beginning of the transaction.

It then moves on to explore the formation, drafting and negotiation of the Contract for the sale and purchase of land (standard contract) published by the Law Society of New South Wales and the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales, before explaining the process of closing the transaction. The critical elements of Option Agreements and the additional steps involved in rural transactions are also discussed. The impact of electronic conveyancing (e-conveyancing) will be explored in addition to other technological developments currently impacting the way property law is practised today.

TOPICS

  • Acting ethically in real property transactions
  • Electronic conveyancing and other technological advancements
  • The formation of the contract for sale and purchase of land
  • Contract for sale and purchase of land
  • From exchange of contracts to completion: post exchange and getting ready to settle
  • Default of contract and remedy
  • Duties and taxes in property transactions
  • Options: put and call

PROP3 - Commercial Leasing, Contracts and Transactions QLD

Intake 2, 4
Commercial leasing transactions can be major transactions to negotiate and to manage with multiple parties involved. They can also be small transactions with two parties only. At the end of this subject students will be familiar with all forms of commercial leasing transactions and the common avoidable errors inherent in leasing. By participating in practical activities and assessment, students will build and extend their existing drafting and negotiation skills and their expertise and value to clients in this area. Students will develop the foundations for advanced and integrated understandings of this practice area.

TOPICS

  • Leases – the type of interest in the land
  • Acting in commercial lease transactions
  • Acting in retail lease transactions
  • Effective use of preliminary agreements and agreements for lease, and the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth)
  • Drafting leases and deciphering complicated and unusual lease provisions
  • Negotiating and advising on lease
  • Assignment of leases, subleases, lease options and incentives
  • End of term and surrender of leases
  • Remedies in leasing

PROP3 - Commercial Leasing, Contracts and Transactions NSW

Intake 2, 4
Commercial leasing transactions can be major transactions to negotiate and to manage with multiple parties involved. They can also be small transactions with two parties only. At the end of this subject students will be familiar with all forms of commercial leasing transactions and the common avoidable errors inherent in leasing. By participating in practical activities and assessment, students will build and extend their existing drafting and negotiation skills and their expertise and value to clients in this area. Students will develop the foundations for advanced and integrated understandings of this practice area.

TOPICS

  • The foundations of leasing law
  • Effective use of preliminary agreements - Head of agreements, lease proposals and offers to lease and due diligence
  • Agreements for lease, incentive deeds and Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth)
  • Drafting, negotiating and advising on leases
  • Green leasing and assignment of leases and subleases
  • Acting in retail lease transactions
  • Acting in commercial lease transactions
  • Remedies in leasing, and locking out lessees and relief against forfeiture
  • Surrender of leases

PROP4 - Strata and Other Shared Title NSW

Intake 1

Strata subdivision enables an increasingly common form of land ownership and has been part of the driving force behind the property development boom in Australian capital cities. This subject has a strong focus on strata title and will begin by discussing the different types of title arrangements, the "landmark" recent reforms of strata legislation and the nature of strata and other subdivision methods, including community title, company title and stratum subdivision.

The subject is segmented into two distinct parts of strata title – the development aspects involved in achieving strata plan registration and the on-going management aspects after the strata scheme has been established, including dispute resolution in strata schemes.

Two perspectives of a property development project are then considered from the point of view of the advisor – the considerations when acting on behalf of a developer of a new strata scheme and the purchaser’s perspective when buying off-the-plan will also be analysed. Each module has been revised and based on the current legislation that applies.

TOPICS

  • Foundations and origins of strata schemes
  • Advising on title structures
  • Development of a strata scheme
  • Management of a strata scheme
  • By-laws in a strata scheme
  • Developing and constituting a community scheme
  • Resolving conflict in strata schemes and the strata renewal process
  • Acting for a developer on a strata development project
  • Advising a purchaser in an off-the-plan purchase

PROP4 - Body Corporate and Community Title Law QLD

Intake 1

Community title in Queensland continues to grow. It is part of the driving force behind the property development boom in many parts of Australia, and especially in south east Queensland. Body corporate law is fragmented and is created through planning and titling laws and specific legislation dealing with community ownership. It has also developed from decisions of courts, tribunals and adjudications. This subject is divided into various parts. First part covers the development aspects – plan registration and the creation of a community management scheme. The second part covers on-going management, including dispute resolution. Furthermore, two perspectives of a property development project are considered: legal advice student should give to a developer of a new scheme as well as legal advice which should be given to a buyer of an "off the plan" unit or apartment.

TOPICS

  • Foundations and origins of community titles schemes
  • Community title – essential features for advising clients
  • Development of a scheme
  • Governance – structure, management and roles
  • Governance – By-laws
  • Dispute resolution
  • Acting for a developer on a community title development project
  • Advising a buyer in an “off-the-plan” purchase

PROP5 - Financing Property Transactions

Intake 3
Virtually every property transaction involves a financing element. The ability to advise a client on the suitability of loan and security documentation, on guarantees and on financing structures is an essential skill for a lawyer wishing to provide a complete service to a client in a property transaction. The focus of this subject is residential loans and small scale residential developments, from the perspective of the borrower.

TOPICS

  • Deciphering finance and security products
  • Consumer
  • Lending
  • Legislation and National Consumer Protection Act
  • Land as security: Mortgages Guarantees 
  • Structuring transactions
  • The loan documentation suite
  • Satisfying conditions precedent 
  • Completion and default remedies

START DATES

Nov Intake 4 Feb Intake 1 May Intake 2
START DATE 11 Nov 2024 10 Feb 2025 12 May 2025
CENSUS 04 Dec 2024 26 Feb 2025 28 May 2025
END DATE 07 Feb 2025 02 May 2025 02 Aug 2025
Subject Start Date Census End Date Workshop Date
DRP3 - Advocacy 21 Sep 2025 30 Sep 2024 30 Oct 2025
DRP4 - Mediation 05 Oct 2025 01 Jan 0001 13 Nov 2024
EPP2 - Superannuation 01 Jul 2024 10 Jul 2024 09 Aug 2024
FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation 10 Feb 2025 17 Feb 2025 21 Mar 2025

3 - 5 March 2025 NSW & VIC
6 - 8 March 2025 QLD & WA

FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 24 Mar 2025 01 Jan 0001 20 Apr 2025

10 - 12 April 2025 NSW & VIC 
14 - 16 April 2025 QLD & WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 04 Nov 2024 13 Nov 2024 13 Dec 2024

25-27 Nov 2024 NSW & VIC 
28-30 Nov 2024 QLD & WA

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 05 May 2025 01 Jan 0001 13 Jun 2025

25-27 Nov 2024 NSW & VIC 
28-30 Nov 2024 QLD & WA

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 27 Jan 2025 05 Feb 2025 07 Mar 2025

20-22 Feb 2025 NSW & VIC 
17-19 Feb 2025 QLD & WA

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 16 Jun 2025 01 Jan 0001 25 Jul 2025

20-22 Feb 2025 NSW & VIC 
17-19 Feb 2025 QLD & WA

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 07 Apr 2025 01 Jan 0001 30 May 2025

Day 1 – 24 April 2025
Days 2 to 4:  29 April - 1 May 2025

LB3 - Business Strategy: Planning for Success 05 May 2025 01 Jan 0001 13 Jun 2025
Subject Start Date Census End Date Workshop Date
FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation 10 Feb 2025 17 Feb 2025 21 Mar 2025

3 - 5 March 2025 NSW & VIC
6 - 8 March 2025 QLD & WA

FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 24 Mar 2025 31 Mar 2025 02 May 2025

10 - 12 April 2025 NSW & VIC 
14 - 16 April 2025 QLD & WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 04 Nov 2024 13 Nov 2024 13 Dec 2024

25-27 Nov 2024 NSW & VIC 
28-30 Nov 2024 QLD & WA

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 05 May 2025 12 May 2025 13 Jun 2025

25-27 Nov 2024 NSW & VIC 
28-30 Nov 2024 QLD & WA

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 27 Jan 2025 05 Feb 2025 07 Mar 2025

20-22 Feb 2025 NSW & VIC 
17-19 Feb 2025 QLD & WA

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 16 Jun 2025 24 Jul 2025 25 Jul 2025

20-22 Feb 2025 NSW & VIC 
17-19 Feb 2025 QLD & WA

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 09 Sep 2024 19 Sep 2024 01 Nov 2024

Day 1 – 24 April 2025
Days 2 to 4:  29 April - 1 May 2025

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 07 Apr 2025 16 Apr 2025 30 May 2025

Day 1 – 24 April 2025
Days 2 to 4:  29 April - 1 May 2025

TEACHING STAFF

Annette Cachia

Principal Solicitor, Adjunct Lecturer and Content Reviewer/Writer

Greg Stilianou

Principal and Adjunct Lecturer
GS Legal

Julian Creagh

Associate
Wilson Lawyers

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LEGALITIES OF BUYING, SELLING AND LEASING

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Often I go back to my notes from the courses and the assignments that I did, and I can pull directly from those.

Mark Evans, LLM Graduate Property Law

All of the lecturers are just so wonderful and so knowledgeable. they all understand that you're working as well as trying to study and are just so accommodating.

Jessica Popple, LLM Graduate

DISCOVER MORE

Scholarships

If you’re experiencing financial hardship and unable to afford postgraduate study, see if you are eligible for the The Kay Smith Scholarship. This scholarship honours one of the longest serving and most respected people of The College of Law. It is designed to support the education aspirations of outstanding law graduates and young lawyers.

Guide download

Inside the course guide, you will find information on: how this practical program will equip you with the skills and tools you will need, who the course is for, course format, topics and assessment structure, course presenters, workshop dates, prices and how to enrol.

Student success stories

Read how Craig’s postgraduate study accelerated his career by a decade and enabled him to become a specialist and eventually started his own firm.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This depends on your workload and your personal situation. If you complete one subject every intake, you could complete your Masters in two years. However, you have five years to complete the course from your intake commencement date.

You can do any of the following without financial penalty any time before the published census date for each intake:

  • Withdraw completely
  • Change the subject or course you are enrolled in
  • Defer it to a subsequent intake (must be within the next 12 months)

As you have five years to complete your Masters, you don’t need to complete a subject every intake. However, if you do not study for two consecutive intakes – then you can apply for a Leave of Absence.

You can only request a leave of absence twice over the course of your studies.

We recommend that you set aside 10-12 hours a week on study per subject, one unit per semester.

Completing two subjects in the same intake may require up to 25 hours of study and readings each week.

There are four intakes a year, February, May, August and November.

You may be entitled to claim your full 10 units per subject for your CPD requirements.

However, you may still need to complete some mandatory CPD units. Please check with your local law society for the requirements in your state or territory.

WA based students may claim up to six units per subject (six CPD units for an intensive subject that has a compulsory workshop requirement or four CPD units for any other subject).

College will lodge the CPD points with the Legal Practice Board on successful completion of the subject(s).

The College’s Credit for Prior Learning Policy encourages practitioners who have completed previous postgraduate and other recognised study to apply for credit towards either the LLM (Applied Law) or the Master of Applied Law (Family Law).

A maximum of three subject credits may be granted towards the Masters awards.

  • If you have undertaken a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice with The College of Law within the last ten years, you may apply to receive up to two elective subjects of unspecified credit
  • If you have undertaken a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice with another provider within the last ten years, you may apply to receive one elective subject of unspecified credit
  • If you have undertaken other postgraduate study, such as an LLM or Graduate Diploma of Law, whether you have completed the award or not, you may be eligible to receive credit for that study
  • Accredited Specialists may qualify for exemption of the foundations subject and Capstone Project for their area of major
  • Applicants who have completed a Legal Practice Management Course within the last 5 years at The College of Law in may receive one subject specified credit

Yes. Many Master of Laws (Applied Law) students choose electives from our Legal Business Management course. Please contact us to learn how.

No. To become a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, you will need to:

Many students choose to pursue an LLM with a double major in Family Law and FDRP.

 

For 2025, each subject in our postgraduate programmes costs $4,150, with no GST applicable. Please note that our fees are subject to annual review and may change during your enrolment.

Full payment is required at the time of enrolment each semester, and we accept various payment methods including cheque, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), and credit card.

Additionally, if you are an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen, or hold a permanent humanitarian visa, you may be eligible to defer your payment through the Australian Government's StudyAssist FEE-HELP scheme.

Yes, if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible to receive FEE-HELP. For more information, visit the Australian Government Study Assist website or download the Study Assist FEE-HELP information sheet.

Please note that StudyAssist FEE-HELP is not available for single subject enrolment.

Yes, you can, but Study Assist FEE-HELP will not apply.

Yes. If you are from a non-English speaking country or your previous studies were in a language other than English, you will need to demonstrate your English skills in accordance with the IELTS standard before starting the program. The requisite IELTS standard is at level 8 (writing), 7 (listening), 7.5 (speaking), 7 (reading), and 7.5 overall.

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