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The Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) produces skilled graduates, ready for work in a legal environment with just two years of study. Combining intellectual rigour with practical legal skills, it gives students an exceptional foundation to a career as a paralegal professional in a broad range of settings. Taught by academics who are passionate about the law, the Associate Degree in Law is offered on-campus and by distance education or in a flexible combination of both.
Paralegals perform substantive legal work in legal practices, banks, insurance companies, or other public and private organisations with in-house legal departments. A paralegal’s tasks may include legal research, drafting wills, preparing legal arguments, preparing agreements, compiling court documentation, legal record keeping, legal communication and client services.
Students who achieve the required grade point average during, or on completion of, this degree may apply for admission into the Bachelor of Laws.
Graduates typically work with a solicitor or barrister, and become involved in most areas of legal practice. Others become valued paralegal professionals in legal firms, government legal departments, law enforcement agencies, legal aid offices, courts administration, public prosecutions, and in the corporate sector in finance, banking and insurance.
If they have completed the required units, they can apply for a conveyancer’s licence in NSW.
The Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies), with a major in Conveyancing, is accredited by NSW Fair Trading. See major areas of study for more information.
The course consists of eight compulsory law units and elective units. Students can choose to study a major in either Conveyancing or Civil Practice.
Conveyancing provides students with the academic requirements necessary to obtain a conveyancer’s licence in NSW, and is accredited by NSW Fair Trading. For licensing requirements, and details of mandatory additional work experience required to enable registration, enquiries should be made to NSW Fair Trading. Note that each Australian state or territory has its own legislation regulating conveyancing practice, except Queensland where only qualified solicitors are legally permitted to engage in conveyancing.
Civil Practice provides a platform for students to move into support roles in the fields of commercial and civil litigation practice within legal firms.
To qualify for the Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) a total of 192 credit points (usually 16 units) must be completed.
Please note that some units may not be available at each location. Unit availabilities are published for each study period and vary from year to year. Please contact the School for further information.
For course rules and a full list of units, please refer to the Specific Award Rules below.
| Locations | ||
| Distance Education | Session 1 Session 2 — part-time only |
|
| Lismore | Session 1 | |
| Coffs Harbour | Unavailable | |
| Gold Coast Southern Cross Drive, Bilinga |
Session 1 | |
| Course Duration | 2 years full-time; 4 years part-time | |
| Fees and Charges | • Domestic fees • International fees • Additional fee information |
|
| School | School of Law and Justice | |
| Admission, Enrolment and General Enquiries | www.scu.edu.au/enquiries | |
| Further Information | Domestic students: Ph: 1800 626 481 International students: Ph: +61 2 6620 3876; E: intoff@scu.edu.au |
|
| Total Units: | Award Abbreviation: | 2013 ATAR equivalent/OP: |
| 16 | AssocDegLaw (Paralegal) | 63/17 |
| UAC Course Code | QTAC Course Code | CRICOS Course Code |
| Gold Coast: 336361 Lismore: 336300 |
Gold Coast: 056361 Lismore: 056061 |
Gold Coast QLD: 069407G Lismore NSW: 016182B |
On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.
Our distance education study option is highly interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.
If distance education students choose to study the following elective units, they will need to attend workshops on-campus:
The School of Law and Justice delivers courses in a blended learning environment using innovative and emergent technologies.
MySCU is a student’s point of entry to a range of online services and resources that support study and student life. The portal includes unit learning sites and information sites where students can access resources, communication tools and useful links that are integral to their studies.
The web-based program Blackboard Collaborate delivers advanced on-line learning environments for students and lecturers to communicate and collaborate through virtual meeting spaces and classrooms. They can share files, presentations, and applications. If the session is recorded, students can view it afterwards.
Learning materials include the provision of unit information guides, study guides and books of readings. Students may need to purchase or access prescribed text books.
The SCU library provides a wide range of services including librarian assistance, print and electronic resources, a document delivery service, catalogues, databases, ebooks, ereadings, and full-text journal literature.
The Academic Skills Development team supports student learning by offering online and on-campus academic skills workshops, email, phone, and one-on-one support.
The Resident Tutor assists first year students who experience difficulties in understanding their study tasks and/or adapting to tertiary study.
The School of Law and Justice has a professional and dedicated Student Support Team who provide a diverse range of enrolment advice and support services to internal, external, and international students.
The assessment methods used in this course vary from unit to unit. They may include research proposals, research essays, reports, oral and written presentations, case studies, online and class participation, and examinations. The weighting of assessment marks between assignments and examinations also varies.
SCU provides students with modern well-equipped teaching spaces such as lecture theatres, classrooms, and studios or laboratories tailored to meet the needs of specific study disciplines. Modern audio-visual equipment is standard in most teaching venues, and students have access to computer labs for individual study purposes.
Students at the Lismore campus also have access to a moot court with a two-way viewing room, which is used for teaching practical skills in a court setting.
Pre-requisite Year 12 subjects
There are no pre-requisite subjects required for this course.
On-campus Undergraduate applications
To apply to study an undergraduate degree at a SCU campus, apply online through the NSW Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). For more information please visit either the UAC or QTAC websites: www.uac.edu.au or www.qtac.edu.au. A late fee applies for UAC and QTAC applications received after the 30th of September.
Direct Applications
The following applications to study can be made online, directly to SCU:
Online applications for the Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) involve four key steps:
Once registered you can exit and return to your application at any time.
International Applicants
Please refer to the International Office website.
Your previous study may help you cut time off your degree.
We recommend that you apply for advance standing at the same time as you apply for admission into this course, because the amount and type of credit awarded will determine your study plan.
For more details and how to apply please visit the Advanced Standing website.
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Contemporary Music, Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies
Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies, Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Social Science, Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, Bachelor of Laws
Important - Please contact the University for confirmation of the course structure prior to acting on this information. The University accepts no liability for any loss suffered by reason of reliance on this information.
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
4.1 Qualification for AdmissionIn addition to Rule 2 Section 1 of the Rules Relating to Awards, applicants for admission to candidature may be selected from those who have satisfied one or more of the following: