Frequently Asked Questions - General Diploma in Law Course Information

Diploma in Law Handbook 

For detailed information about the curriculum, suggested study sequence, subject descriptions and enrolment advice please review the Diploma in Law Handbook.

Lecture Timetables and examination schedules can be located on the Law Extension Committee website here.

Important dates regarding registration and enrolment deadlines are available on the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) website here.

Costs

There is a one-off registration fee of $330. 

Each subject is currently $1089. This means the total cost of the course is just over $20,000 

Duration

Students usually complete the course in 4 years.

The course is designed to be studied part time, around work and family commitments.

Scheduling & Important Dates

Lecture Timetables and examination schedules can be located on the Law Extension Committee website here.

Important dates regarding registration and enrolment deadlines are available on the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) website here.

There are two sessions a year (Summer and Winter) and you would usually do two subjects per session in the first year.

Lectures

Students attend one 3-hour evening lecture per subject per week for 13 weeks

All students have the option to attend classes in person on Campus or via Zoom as LEC live stream the lectures in real time. You just need to keep in mind that the lectures will be in Sydney Time 6pm-9pm (AEST).

All students (both local and distance) attend a seminar for each subject at the Weekend School

About Us

The Diploma is coordinated by the LPAB and taught by the Law Extension Committee of the University of Sydney.

In addition to administering the Diploma in Law the LPAB is the NSW government body which determines whether people may be admitted as lawyers in NSW and is responsible for the accreditation of all academic and practical legal training courses in the State.

The course is the oldest path to joining the legal profession in NSW and for the purpose of meeting the academic requirements for admission as a lawyer under the Uniform Law is equivalent to a Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctorate from an accredited University Law School.

We look forward to welcoming you as a student-at-law

Please contact us or submit an Enquiry via your STEMS portal if you have any further questions. 

Ready to Get Started? 

Step 1: Register as a new student by signing up to the LPAB Student Tuition and Examination Management System (STEMS) and submit your registration application. 

Step 2: Once approved login to the student portal

Step 3: Enrol into your subjects on the student portal

There are two semesters a year (Summer and Winter). 

Lecture Timetables and examination schedules can be located on the Law Extension Committee website here.

Important dates regarding registration and enrolment deadlines are available on the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) website here.

The course structure is designed to be completed in four years part-time.

Most students typically complete the course in four to five years.

Students studying the Diploma are not eligible for student visas.

The Board's Diploma course is not accredited or registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS), and therefore students studying the Diploma are not eligible for student visas.

A list of CRICOS approved providers and courses is available at www.cricos.deewr.gov.au. For further information regarding visas, please contact the Department of Home Affairs.

LPAB staff are unable to assist or provide advice regarding visas.  

No. While tuition is provided by the Law Extension Committee established by the University of Sydney students are not considered graduates or students of the University of Sydney.

The Diploma in Law is issued by the Legal Profession Admission Board of NSW.

Attending Lectures 

All students have the option to attend classes in person on Campus or via Zoom as LEC live stream the lectures in real time. You just need to keep in mind that the lectures will be in Sydney Time 6pm-9pm (AEST). Additionally local and non-local students will both have the same access to lecture recordings (recordings are not released weekly but in batches at four points during the semester).

Attendance at Weekend Schools 

Distance students are strongly encouraged to attend in-person, the two relevant Weekend Schools each term. The Weekend Schools provide important opportunities for interaction with lecturers and other students, and for networking generally. Weekend School activities are not recorded and are not available online. Although in-person attendance at Weekend Schools is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended.  

Attendance at Exams 

Distance students must make reasonable efforts to attend an exam centre in person. A list of exam centres is listed on the Legal Profession Admission Board website. Students may make an application on STEMS to sit the examinations online ($210 fee per semester). Please refer to the Online Examinations by Exception Policy for more information and eligibility criteria.