Advanced Diploma in Paralegal Studies

Study the UNE Advanced Diploma in Paralegal Studies and develop advanced legal knowledge and skills in a sought-after field of expertise. Whether you’re building your skills in law, changing careers or paving the way to further legal study, you’ll get the expertise and support to take advantage of the wide range of career opportunities available to qualified paralegal professionals – regardless of your educational background.

Why study the Advanced Diploma of Paralegal Studies with UNE?
UNE is the home of Australia’s largest law school outside a capital city, as well as being keen early adopters of innovative technology in the delivery of our law programs. With a world-class teaching team who focus on practical skills — not just theoretical knowledge — this is a great place to build your legal skills. And we’re flexible too. You can study this course online, with the support and expertise that make UNE the place to build the skills for your next career move.

By choosing UNE, you are choosing an industry leader in the provision of online lifelong learning for aspiring and qualified professionals in the legal field. Year after year, students award UNE the maximum 5-star ratings for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide.

What makes our course different?
This course will enhance your career opportunities if you want to work in an ever-changing legal services market. You will be able to:

• Complete twelve units of study, giving you a solid grounding in the fundamentals of the Australian legal system, including business law, procedure law, interviewing for advocacy, environmental law and local government law.
• Apply this knowledge to undertake further legal studies, for example, a Bachelor of Legal Studies or Bachelor of Laws (4 year).
• Develop the skills to become a paralegal working for in-house lawyers, the fastest growing sector in law at present, not just legal practices or law firms.
• Enhance your critical thinking skills through a variety of problem-based exercises.
• Build transferable expertise to apply to a range of careers including corporate governance, communications, politics and policy making.
• Learn how to become a strategic and effective communicator in legal environments.
• Have the freedom to study fully online in as little as 1.5 years (full-time) or up to 6 years (part-time).

Study online
Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.

Study on campus
Many of our students choose to take advantage of the on-campus lifestyle in Armidale, in the beautiful New England region, with access to unparalleled support, accommodation and sporting facilities. These students are often starting their first degree and have left school recently. Through access to academic and career support they get a fantastic start to their careers.

* 24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.