Full-Time Program

The full-time program is available to law graduates and to students in the final year of their legal studies who are completing no more than one undergraduate subject.

The full-time program commences with two weeks of at home preparation followed by a on-campus "Intensive Week". The Intensive Week introduces you to the Course and its teaching and learning methods, and provides some skills development and basic legal practice management tools in preparation for the work in the remainder of the Course.

Over the following 17 weeks, you will:

• complete a range of self-directed assignments and tasks. Much of this work requires interaction with instructors and other students, through on-line learning, email, telephone or facsimile; and
• have the opportunity to attend a series of 4 (optional) Saturday workshops;
• attend 2 compulsory weekend assessment sessions.

To complete the GDLP you must complete a total of 80 days of professional work experience. Up to 40 of these days may be completed before commencing the GDLP. These days may be completed as part of the placement component of a University subject (eg in LLB 311 or LLB 396 at the University of Wollongong) or independent of University studies. The remaining days must be completed either during or within six months of the conclusion of the coursework.

While full-time students are undertaking GDLP coursework (ie from Week 4 to Week 18 of the program), only two days work experience per week may be credited towards their total number of days. Additional days actually worked during the coursework period of the GDLP will not usually be credited. However, students may obtain credit for additional days worked in the first two and in the last two weeks of the program. As students attend classes full-time in week 3, no days may be credited for that week.

Professional experience must be in a law-practice based environment. Students already in law-related practice based locations as defined can retain their employment, subject to their capacity to complete all course work. Students without such employment may arrange voluntary placements to meet the requirements: please note that the Faculty is unable to make those arrangements for you, but will discuss options with you.

You will not be able to graduate with the GDLP (or obtain the Certificate of Satisfactory Completion required for admission to practice) until you are also qualified to graduate with your degree or diploma.