Entry Requirements

The UOW Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP) is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) as a qualification for law graduates who wish to apply for admission as a legal practitioner in New South Wales. It is also accepted as practical legal training for admission in the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

The GDLP is open to any law or LPAB graduate and to any student in their final year of study in one of these programs, subject to meeting the pre-entry requirements outlined below.

Pre-entry legal studies
Any law or LPAB student who has completed, or is in the final year of, their studies is eligible to undertake the Course provided they have completed all 'Priestley 11' core subjects. In the University of Wollongong LLB degree, the "Priestley 11" subjects are:

• Criminal Law and the Process of Justice OR Criminal Law and Process A and Criminal Law and Process B
• Law of Torts
• Law of Contracts OR Law of Contract A and Law of Contract B
• Property and Trusts A
• Property and Trusts B
• Public Law A (Administrative Law)
• Public Law B (Australian Constitutional Law)
• Remedies and Procedure
• Evidence
• Law of Business Organisations
• Lawyers and Australian Society (coursework only)

Pre-entry skills training and professional experience
Before commencing the GDLP, University of Wollongong graduates and final year students complete a Professional Skills Program and  Professional Experience Program as part of their degree. The UOW GDLP relies on this prior training and experience to provide a significant and valuable contribution to our students' pre-admission practical legal training.

Applicants from other law programs (both in Australia and elsewhere) may seek equivalence from the Director for both the skills program and Professional Experience Program.

A claim for equivalence for the skills program may be based on completion of a similar program at another institution or on the acquisition of appropriate and acceptable prior professional legal experience. If you are not granted equivalence for the skills program, the Director may accept your application on the basis that you satisfactorily complete a structured program of readings and assignments during the course.

To complete the GDLP, students must complete a total of 80 days of supervised professional legal work experience accumulated before, during and within a prescribed period after the Course. Up to 40 days may be completed before commencing the GDLP. UOW students can accomplish this by completing 20 days as part of LLB 190/311 followed by a further 20 days approved professional experience. Non-UOW students can also gain credit for up to 40 days professional experience before commencing the GDLP. To obtain credit for pre-GDLP professional experience all students must receive approval from the Director for the proposed placement and supervision before commencing the placement. Pre-GDLP Guidelines and Forms available here (Guidelines & Forms). Students must complete their remaining professional experience during the GDLP or within 6 months of the conclusion of the Course in which they are enrolled.