Juris Doctor Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice

Note

Commonwealth Supported Places

There are a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available in this course, which are competitive and awarded based on merit. To be considered for a CSP, applicants must:

• Indicate their interest in a CSP on their application.
• Have attained a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.5 out of 7 in their previous studies (note that applicants with a GPA between 5.0 and 5.49 may be assessed for a CSP place depending on availability).
• Apply on time in line with CSP deadlines (it is recommended applicants apply early as applications are assessed progressively).

Eligible applicants must accept their offer by the lapse date to retain their place. For application deadlines and information, please refer to Postgraduate courses with Commonwealth Supported Places.

If you’re aspiring to practise law in NSW and want an accelerated path to your career, our unique JD Accelerate program is tailored for you. It stands out as Sydney’s sole integrated law and Practical Legal Training (PLT) degree, satisfying both the academic and hands-on training requirements for admission as a lawyer in NSW.

Through a combination of rigorous legal theory and immersive practical experience, you’ll learn the essentials of law while also gaining the practical skills needed to excel in the legal profession. Our flexible learning options cater to your lifestyle, offering day and evening classes for core subjects, intensive block study for select topics and online electives.

You’ll apply your learning during a mandatory 13-week full-time (or part-time equivalent) work placement, ensuring you’re job-ready upon graduation. And if you’re eager to jumpstart your career, our Summer sessions allow you to fast-track your studies and complete the degree in just three years.

Students engage with industry-informed, academically rigorous and highly practical courses, choosing from flexible learning options that include day and evening classes (core subjects), block study (selected subjects) and online learning (electives), as well as selected recorded lectures and podcasts. In addition to standard part-time and full-time study modes, students can fast-track their progress by enrolling in Summer sessions to complete the degree in just three years.

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.

Applicants must have one of the following:

• Completed Australian doctorate, or overseas equivalent

OR

• Completed Australian bachelor's degree or Australian master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 4.5/7

OR

• Completed Australian graduate certificate or Australian graduate diploma, or overseas equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 5/7

OR

• Completed Australian bachelor's degree or Australian master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 4.1/7 AND Capacity to study the course demonstrated through relevant professional experience

The qualification must be in a field of study other than law or, if the qualification is in a legal field of study, it shall not be an academic qualification for legal practice.

Applicants who have completed the UTS Master of Intellectual Property are not eligible for admission in this course.

Applicants who do not meet the criteria above should consider applying for C04264 Master of Legal Studies or C11264 Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies.

Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application

For applicants who need to demonstrate capacity to pursue this course:

• Curriculum Vitae AND Statement of service in one of the following formats:
  • A 'Statement of Service' provided by the employer
  • A completed 'UTS statement of service’ signed by the employer
  • A statutory declaration confirming work experience (for Australian Residents only)
  • An official letter from the applicant’s accountant or solicitor on their company letterhead confirming the applicant’s work experience or engagement with the business, duration of operations, and the nature of the business
  • A business certificate of registration in original language and English (e.g. provision of ASIC documentation or ABN or similar documentation for Australian Businesses)
• Personal statement outlining relevant professional experience and reasons to pursue this course
• Relevant work-related references

For Applicants seeking credit recognition for core law subjects in overseas legal qualification

• Written assessment from the NSW Legal Profession Admissions Board (LPAB) indicating which subjects need to be completed to meet the requirements for admission as a Legal Practitioner

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL iBT: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.

To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.

Applicants must have one of the following:

• Completed Australian doctorate, or overseas equivalent

OR

• Completed Australian bachelor's degree or Australian master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 4.5/7

OR

• Completed Australian graduate certificate or Australian graduate diploma, or overseas equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 5/7

OR

• Completed Australian bachelor's degree or Australian master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 4.1/7 AND Capacity to study the course demonstrated through relevant professional experience

The qualification must be in a field of study other than law or, if the qualification is in a legal field of study, it shall not be an academic qualification for legal practice.

Applicants who have completed the UTS Master of Intellectual Property are not eligible for admission in this course.

Applicants who do not meet the criteria above should consider applying for C04264 Master of Legal Studies or C11264 Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies.

Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application

For applicants who need to demonstrate capacity to pursue this course:

• Curriculum Vitae AND Statement of service in one of the following formats:
  • A 'Statement of Service' provided by the employer
  • A completed 'UTS statement of service’ signed by the employer
  • A statutory declaration confirming work experience (for Australian Residents only)
  • An official letter from the applicant’s accountant or solicitor on their company letterhead confirming the applicant’s work experience or engagement with the business, duration of operations, and the nature of the business
  • A business certificate of registration in original language and English (e.g. provision of ASIC documentation or ABN or similar documentation for Australian Businesses)
• Personal statement outlining relevant professional experience and reasons to pursue this course
• Relevant work-related references

For Applicants seeking credit recognition for core law subjects in overseas legal qualification

• Written assessment from the NSW Legal Profession Admissions Board (LPAB) indicating which subjects need to be completed to meet the requirements for admission as a Legal Practitioner

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

• Criminal Lawyer
• Family Lawyer
• Human Rights Lawyer
• Business or Corporate Lawyer
• Copyright or Patent Lawyer
• Employment or Labour Lawyer
• Environmental Lawyer
• Civil Rights Lawyer
• Government Lawyer