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.

Tuition 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 not be considered graduates or students of the University of Sydney, rather the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB).

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 curriculum 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.  

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;

 It does not matter what the subject of the degree is.

• 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 started or 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 on the LPAB 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 meet the English mark requirements.

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

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

 It does not matter what the subject of the qualification is.

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

 It does not matter what the subject of the qualification is.

• 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.

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. 

The LPAB is not a university or Higher Education Institute and the LPAB Diploma in Law does not come under ASQA or TESQA and therefore it is not assessed under the AQF.   

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.

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.  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 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 online participation. 

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.

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