Prospective students

The Diploma in Law is a unique pathway to admission into the Legal Profession established under the NSW Admission Board Rules 2015. 

A continuation of first NSW Supreme Court examinations to enter the legal profession which started in 1848, the course is the oldest path to joining the legal profession in NSW.  For the purpose of meeting the academic requirements for admission as a lawyer under the Uniform Law the Diploma in Law is equivalent to a Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctorate from an accredited University Law School.

The curriculum is set by the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) and demonstrates a practical emphasis on the professional life of a lawyer. This is reflected in the large compulsory core which includes those subjects such as Conveyancing and Succession that often form the basis of legal practice.  

Tuition for the Board's course is provided by the Law Extension Committee of the University of Sydney (the LEC) which has been preparing students-at-law for the Boards examinations for sixty years. While tuition is provided by the LEC established by the University of Sydney, prospective students should note that they will be students, and hopefully graduates, of the LPAB, not the University of Sydney.

The Diploma in Law provides an affordable, flexible, accessible pathway to the study of the law.  The LPAB and LEC are committed to fostering inclusion and diversity within the legal profession through the Diploma.

The Diploma in Law is the name of the course offered by the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) of New South Wales. While the term “diploma” might suggest a lower-level qualification, this course is equivalent to a university law degree—such as a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD)—for the purpose of becoming a lawyer in Australia.

A Historic Legacy

The name “Diploma in Law” has been retained for historical and professional recognition reasons. The origins of the course date back to 1848, when the Supreme Court of New South Wales first introduced legal examinations for those seeking admission to the legal profession. This was before any Australian university offered a law degree.

In 1859, the responsibility for legal education and examinations was transferred to the Solicitors Admission Board and the Barristers Admission Board, which later merged to form the current Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB). The course has continued under the LPAB’s stewardship ever since, maintaining a strong tradition of rigorous legal education outside the university system.

Modern Recognition

The Diploma in Law is assessed by the LPAB to the same academic standards as all accredited law schools in NSW. It is fully recognised under the Legal Profession Uniform Law, which governs legal admission in New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia. Tuition for the Board’s Diploma in Law is provided by the University of Sydney Law Extension Committee.

Many respected members of the legal profession—including current and former Supreme Court Justices—have qualified through the Diploma in Law program. Despite its name, the Diploma is a well-established and respected pathway to legal practice in Australia.

Under the current NSW Admission Board Rules 2015 (the Course Rules) one of the eligibility criteria for registering in the Course is that the applicant intends to remain in Australia during the whole of his or her candidature for the Board’s examinations. 

However, exceptions to this rule may be made on request for overseas qualified lawyers who are undertaking gap training as directed by an Australian admitting authority. 

The Diploma is not available to be completed in its entirety from overseas. 

Please note Diploma in Law Students are not eligible for student visas. 

If you wish to seek seeking an exemption to Rule 29(1) of the NSW Admission Board Rules 2015 as you reside overseas you will need to read and sign the Request for exemption to Rule 29(1) – Australian Residency Declaration Form. You will be required to attach this form to your student registration application. 

With the exception of applicants who have completed the HSC or an equivalent qualification, all students must be at least 18 years of age to enrol in this diploma course.

If you will turn 18 after the registration deadline but before the commencement of the next semester, you may still be eligible to apply.

In such cases, please submit a new student enquiry via STEMS. Your request for enrolment will be reviewed. 

To be eligible to register as a student you must satisfy the criteria of one of the entry categories as required by the Legal Profession Admission Rules 2005.

These include:

• Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) result of 149.

The STAT is a test that assesses your capabilities for tertiary study. You can undertake the STAT through ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research).

Please see https://stat.acer.edu.au for more information.

• University degree;

The specific subject area of the degree is not a determining factor for entry into the course.

• Admitted to candidature for a Degree in an Australian or New Zealand university.

This means you have been accepted into a university but may not have completed the course.

• Completed NSW Higher School Certificate achieving the aggregate (e.g. ATAR, UAI, TER) and English levels required

For specific information on the required aggregate and English levels required please see full list here website here.

For high school qualifications obtained before 1990, refer the requirements on LPAB website here.

• Completed International Baccalaureate Examination

Must have achieved a result of at least 30 points and meet the English mark requirements.

For specific information on the English levels required please see full list here.

• Holding a university or TAFE college Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Diploma;

The specific subject area of the qualification is not a determining factor for entry into the course

• Certificate III or Certificate IV at TAFE or at an accredited provider;

The specific subject area of the qualification is not a determining factor for entry into the course

• Working as a paralegal or legal secretary for at least three years;

You are required to have undertaken actual legal work for at least three years under supervision.

• Working as a police officer or registered nurse.

Can be past or present experience.

The LPAB is not a university or Higher Education Institute and  is not assessed under the Australian Quality Framework. 

As a result, while the emphasis is on teaching and maintaining high academic standards, not all the services and assistance that a tertiary institution may offer are available to the Board’s students. Individual attention is not available, and students are required to have initiative and motivation to succeed.

Many students find that previous study and work experience are advantageous. While some students work in law or related fields, prior experience in the legal profession is not required.

What is essential is initiative and a strong motivation for self-directed study. The lectures in the Diploma of Law program provide you with valuable opportunities, but you must be self-disciplined to take full advantage of them. Lecturers are generally not accessible to students outside of lectures.

New students often face real issues such as work pressure, time management, and the challenges of a new discipline. Do not be discouraged from embarking on this new challenge but do be realistic. Critically assess the time you have available and your other commitments before commencing your studies. If you do not achieve initial academic success, remember that you are not alone. Seek out the support available to help you identify your problems and succeed.

A major component of accessibility is the cost of obtaining the Diploma in Law, which is significantly less than comparable qualifications. It is designed as a pay-as-you-go model, so you graduate debt free. 

There is a one-off registration fee of $330. Once you are registered as a student you will then pay per subject as you enrol each semester. Each subject as of October 2024 is $1089 (subject to change each semester).  If you pass every subject first time the total cost of the course, therefore, is under $22,000. 

This does not include any additional applications you may make during the course of your studies, for example applications for online exams. This also does not include the cost of textbooks or other study supports and materials.

The Higher Education Loan (HECS-HELP) and Fee-HELP Programs do not apply to Diploma students. 

As students of the Legal Profession Admission Board your candidacy is governed by the NSW Admission Board Rules 2015. It is a student’s responsibility to familiarise themselves with these rules.

Below we have listed some of the rules that commonly affect students.

Rule 59:

• Students can sit a maximum of two (2) subjects per semester until you have passed or been exempted from eight (8) compulsory subjects. Afterward, you can enrol in a maximum of three (3) subjects per semester.
• Subjects must be completed in a specific order until you have passed or been exempted from at least 11 subjects. If you are completing the full Diploma this means you mut have passed subject 11 - Evidence.

Rule 60(4):

A student may withdraw without penalty by the end of the third week of tuition in a subject and will be entitled to a refund of any fees paid. This is commonly referred to as a census date by higher education institutions.

Rule 63(A):

Student must satisfactorily meet the requirements of the LEC tuition before being deemed eligible to sit for an examination. This is usually achieved by making a genuine attempt at compulsory assignments.

Rule 64:

This rule requires students to sit at least two exams in any two successive terms, this means you must sit the examination.

Even if you choose to withdraw from a term, you would remain actively enrolled in the course. As a result, the courses progression rules still apply.

Not enrolling in subjects for a semester/s is considered the equivalent to not sitting for an examination. The progression rules are not paused due to non-enrolment. Consequently, the course progression rules still apply.

Rule 66:

If you fail the same subject twice you will be excluded.

Rule 66A: 

Students registered after 1 July 2024 will be excluded from the course if they have not completed the prescribed examinations within ten years of enrolling in their first subject.

Rule 67:

The LPAB understands that life can sometimes interfere with studies and there are provisions for excluded students to return by making an application under Rule 67. If you have been excluded from the course and wish to resume your studies, you will be required to make a Rule 67 application through the STEMS portal. Select ‘Student Course Application’ button on the ‘Welcome’ page and follow the prompts.

The Diploma in Law is not designed as an online course. However, there are provisions for participating remotely. 

Attending Lectures 

All students have the option to attend classes in person at the University of Sydney Camperdown campus or via Zoom. The LEC live stream the lectures in real time, you need to keep in mind that the lectures will be in Sydney Time 6pm-9pm (AEST). 

While all students are provided with lecture recordings at set points in the tuition the expectation is that students will attend lectures. 

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 LPAB website here. Students may make an application on STEMS to sit the examinations online (fee required per semester). Please refer to the Online Examinations by Exception Policy for more information and eligibility criteria.

The NSW Admission Board Rules 2015 set out the curriculum for students-at-law. To be eligible for the award of the Diploma in Law students must pass a total of 20 subjects, all the 'Group A' subjects and 3 of the 'Group B' subjects as listed below. 

Group A Subjects -  Compulsory Subjects:

• 01 Foundations of Law 
• 02 Criminal Law and Procedure
• 03 Torts
• 04 Contracts 
• 05 Real Property 
• 06 Australian Constitutional Law
• 07 Equity 
• 08 Commercial Transactions 
• 09 Administrative Law
• 10 Law of Associations
• 11 Evidence
• 12 Taxation and Revenue Law
• 13 Succession 
• 14 Conveyancing
• 15 Practice and Procedure
• 17 Legal Ethics
• 24 Jurisprudence

Group B - Elective Subjects: 

• 16 Insolvency
• 18 Conflict of Laws
• 19 Family Law
• 20 Planning & Environmental Law
• 21 Industrial Law
• 22 Intellectual Property
• 23 Public International Law
• 25 Competition and Consumer Law
• 26  Advanced Statutory Interpretation
• 27 Health Law

The Diploma in Law operates on a two-semester system each year: the Summer Semester runs from November to March, and the Winter Semester runs from May to September.

Each semester has 13 teaching weeks, with a mid-semester study break in the middle followed by examinations. 

Exams are held in March and September. Each subject has a minimum of one compulsory assignments that must be submitted for students to be eligible sit the exam

Most students begin by enrolling in two subjects per semester. Once a student has successfully completed eight core subjects, they may increase their study load to three subjects per semester.

Lectures are held weekly in the evenings, typically from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and each semester includes two in-person Weekend Schools designed to deepen understanding and support exam preparation.

To maintain academic progression, students are required to sit at least two examinations across any two consecutive semesters.