Legal Practice - Frequently asked questions

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How many courses are offered per year?

• Two (2) full-time on-campus courses.
• Three (3) part-time (in-practice) courses
• Three (3) part-time (general) courses

When does the course start?

• Full-time - January and June
• Part-time - January, March and July

How long is the course?

24 weeks* fulltime
34 weeks* part-time (in-practice)
38 weeks* part-time (general)
*excluding breaks

How difficult is the course?

The course is rigorous and intensive. You will have a substantial workload each week, but nothing that you will not be able to cope with. The staff are there to help you if you run into any difficulties.

How much will the course cost me?

Fee information is available at Domestic Postgraduate Tuition Fee

Full-time students and part-time (general) students only pay for 84 credit points (there is no fee for LPP118 Placement).

Part-time (in-practice) students only pay for 72 credit points as you obtain credit for LPP 118 Placement and LPP117 Interaction on the basis of your real0-life work experience while you are doing the course.

The course fee for international students is at International Student Tuition Fee

Can I obtain a loan to pay the fee?

The Commonwealth Government provides loans for post-graduate fees. for more information visit http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/Main/Quickfind/PayingForYourStudiesHELPLoans/Default.htm.

Can I obtain living allowance?

The Commonwealth Government may provide living allowance to eligible course students.

Are there any attendance requirements?

Full time students must attend a 5 day skills school, the 13 weeks on-campus "Office Program' and a 4 weeks placement in a law firm (which we arrange).

Part-time (in-practice) students must attend a 5 day skills school.

Part-time (general) students must attend a 5 day skills school, a one day attendence school for LPP117 Interaction, and a 4 week placement in a law office which we arrange. We can sometimes arrange for the 'Interactions' day to be held in Cairns or elsewhere in Queensland.

Do I have to arrange my own placement?

We arrange placements for full-time and part-time (general) students.  Part-time (in-practice) students are not required to complete a placement.

What are the assessment rules?

Students must complete all prescribed work to a satisfactory standard.  You are awarded a grade for each unit based on the marks you receive for 'graded' work.

Can I get credit for prior study?

Part-time (in-practice) students obtain credit for LPP117 and LPP118 based on their real-life work place experience.  Full-time and part-time (general) students can also apply for credit for these units if they satisfy credit requirements (4 weeks recent placement or work experience in an approved law office for LPP118 and 12 weeks in a law office or similar environment for LPP117. If you wish to inquire about other credit, contact the student administration officer ea.clark@qut.edu.au

Can I do the course on-line?

We offer an off-campus on-line course to full-time and part-time students. All our courses involve a 5 day on-campus attendance school that focusses on skills such as interviewing and advocacy.

Why should I choose the QUT course over other training options?

QUT has more than 30 years experience in delivering high quality and widely accepted practical legal education and training. If you choose our full-time program, you will learn from real-world guest lecturers who are experts in their fields, and because of the 'boutique' nature of our course, you will have ready access to our staff.
We give you a choice of different course formats to meet your needs including on-line, and you will gain credit towards a QUT Master of Laws degree. Because our course is part of a University, it is subject to regular external scrutiny and other quality control mechanisms. Our students also have access to all the facilities of the University, including its Library, and its Information Technology, online units and student support services.

Is the course well regarded by its graduates?

Yes. We receive positive feedback about the course from our graduates and from the legal profession generally.

Is the course well regarded by its employers?

Yes.  Our graduates get jobs.  The national Graduate Destination Survey shows that those graduates who look for work after the completing the course usually obtain it fairly quickly.

Will the course qualify me for admission?

The course satisfies the practical training requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in Queensland. You also have to satisfy academic requirements which are usually an Australian LLB (that is recognised for admission purposes in the State or Territory it is from) and requirements relating to character. If you are of good character and you have an LLB from an Australian university and you complete the Legal Practice Course, you should satisfy the Queensland admission requirements.

Will my Queensland admission be recognised elsewhere?

Once you are admitted in Queensland, your admission will be recognised in all other Australian states and territories.

If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact any of the staff at the Legal Practice Course. They will be more than willing to help you.

Contact the Administration Officer ea.clark@qut.edu.au for more information.