Graduate
Diploma of
Legal Practice
Graduate
Diploma of
Legal Practice
- In partnership with the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV)
- Truly flexible learning
- Practical workplace experience
- Build a lifelong connection to the profession
Plus workplace experience and professional engagement
Domestic Fees
Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (PLT)
| Total Indicative Course Fees* (based on 1.625 EFTSL) $9,800-$11,900 AUD depending on units selected Plus Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) Practical Legal Training Coursework: LLP4017 Coursework (Full Time): $9,000 LLP4018 Coursework A (Part Time): $4,500 LLP4019 Coursework B (Part Time): $4,500 Workplace Experience A: LLP4013 WP Experience A - 15 days: $500 Workplace Experience B - select one: LLP4020 WP Experience B - 45 days: $300 LLP4021 WP Experience B - 30 days + 1 practice area: $1,000 LLP4022 WP Experience B - 15 days + 2 practice areas: $1,700 LLP4023 WP Experience B - 0 days + 3 practice areas: $2,400 * The Total Indicative Course Fees are charged against individual units of study which may increase from time to time and does not take into account personal circumstances such as RPL, credit, repeats and some specialised electives. For more information and 2025 fees, view the ACAP Fees & Payments page. |
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International Fees
Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (PLT)
| Total Indicative Course Fees* (based on 1.625 EFTSL) $12,250-$14,875 AUD depending on units selected Practical Legal Training Coursework: LLP4017 Coursework (Full Time): $11,250 LLP4018 Coursework A (Part Time): $5,625 LLP4019 Coursework B (Part Time): $5,625 Workplace Experience A: LLP4013 WP Experience A - 15 days: $625 Workplace Experience B - select one: LLP4020 WP Experience B - 45 days: $375 LLP4021 WP Experience B - 30 days + 1 practice area: $1,250 LLP4022 WP Experience B - 15 days + 2 practice areas: $2,125 LLP4023 WP Experience B - 0 days + 3 practice areas: $3,000 * The Total Indicative Course Fees are charged against individual units of study which may increase from time to time and does not take into account personal circumstances such as RPL, credit, repeats and some specialised electives. For more information and 2025 fees, view the ACAP Fees & Payments page. |
View full fee information here
FEE-HELP Available
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In partnership with the Law Institute of Victoria
ACAP University College’s Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) course is brought to you in partnership with the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV). Combining ACAP's 40+ years of expertise in delivering tertiary education, and the LIV's leadership within the legal profession, we offer Victorian law graduates industry-led learning and genuine connection to the profession.
Overview
What to expect when studying a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice with ACAP
You know what the law is. We show you how the law works.
Our unique Practical Legal Training (PLT) is brought to you in partnership with the LIV, Victoria’s peak body for the legal profession. Together, we deliver an industry-informed PLT that ensures you’ll graduate as a confident and career-ready legal professional.
Designed to complement the theoretical knowledge you developed at an undergraduate level, ACAP’s Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) is one of the essential law courses that will guide you on your way to becoming a successful practising lawyer in today’s ever-evolving world.
Through authentic, project-based learning experiences and valuable industry insights, you’ll emerge from our GDLP as a more competent and well-rounded legal professional.
By completing engaging coursework developed and delivered by industry experts, you’ll learn to tackle a range of professional scenarios, with genuine real-world learning relevant to a variety of legal contexts. Build in-demand knowledge and practical skills across key legal practice areas, develop efficient time and legal file management processes, and discover new, industry-relevant technology to improve your workflow.
You will also undertake work placement and participate in professional engagement opportunities supported by the LIV. Throughout these hands-on experiences, you’ll work with supervisors, clients, the courts and other members of the legal profession. Strengthen key skills in client communications, problem-solving, work management, well-being and resilience; all essential for building a sustainable career and being ready for professional practice.
ACAP’s PLT course is accredited by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB) and TEQSA.
WHY CHOOSE THE GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF LEGAL PRACTICE AT ACAP?
WHAT OUR ALUMNI SAY ABOUT ACAP
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
ACAP’s GDLP program combines practical, applicable coursework with professional workplace experience opportunities to nurture confident and career-ready law graduates.
Workplace experience is a compulsory part of all GDLP courses, providing you with an invaluable opportunity to put your skills and knowledge into practice. With support from ACAP, you’ll secure a professional placement opportunity and complete 15 days of workplace training.
In addition to your core coursework units, you’ll have the opportunity to study two elective units of your choice. These electives include banking and finance, criminal law, consumer law, employment and industrial relations, family law, and more.
Throughout your PLT coursework, you’ll explore core topics, including lawyer’s skills and values, civil litigation practice, and commercial and corporate practice. These units have been designed in consultation with industry experts, ensuring the content is relevant and applicable to contemporary legal practice.
To wrap up your ACAP PLT course, you’ll have the freedom to choose between additional workplace experience or further studies, chosen from our wide range of electives. You can also opt to complete a combination of both practical experience and additional coursework, tailoring your GDLP studies to your interests and aspirations.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
for the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
When you study law and receive your undergraduate law degree, you’re not yet able to legally practise as a lawyer in Australia until you’ve completed postgraduate training.
A Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (also referred to as a Grad Dip Legal Practise or GDLP) is the required qualification for new graduates wanting to practice law in Australia. To receive this qualification, you must complete a PLT course.
Practical Legal Training (PLT) is a mandatory postgraduate training program required to be completed before you’re able to be admitted as a practising lawyer in Australia. The Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) is the diploma or “award” you’ll receive upon completion of your PLT program.
While this isn’t guaranteed, some law firms in Australia choose to cover the costs of their employees’ PLT course. This is at the discretion of each individual law firm.
ACAP’s GDLP course requires a 14-week study commitment with additional time for workplace experience and professional engagement. You may also choose to study part time, which requires a 28-week commitment in addition to workplace experience and professional engagement.
No – one of the best parts of our GDLP course is that there are no exams. The course has a significant focus on practical training and highly applicable coursework instead of examinations.
At ACAP, our GDLP coursework is offered 100% online (outside of mandatory work experience and professional engagement). Online study allows for maximum flexibility around personal commitments while still providing the academic guidance and support that ACAP is renowned for.
Potential Careers
Once you graduate from the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (PLT), you will open doors to a range of possible career opportunities. Listed below are a few typical roles you could consider.
-
Lawyer
-
Consultant
-
Senior Manager
Course structure
ACAP’s GDLP course is comprised of the following units:
Coursework
Credit points: 30
Pre-requisites: None
Unit description: This coursework unit includes the following practice areas.
Compulsory:
- Lawyer’s Skills and Values
- Civil Litigation Practice
- Commercial and Corporate Practice
Electives (choose two):
- Administrative Law Practice
- Banking and Finance
- Criminal Law Practice
- Consumer Law Practice
- Employment and Industrial Relations Practice
- Family Law Practice
- Government Law Practice
- Planning and Environmental Law Practice
- Property Law Practice
- Wills and Estates Practice
Workplace Experience A
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: None
Unit description:
Workplace experience is a compulsory part of all GDLP courses and provides students with an important opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired through the GDLP coursework.
Workplace experience A includes support from ACAP to source a host company through our relationship with the LIV and their extensive employer network.
This unit includes the mandatory 15 days of practical work experience.
Workplace Experience B (choose one of the following):
Credit points: 12
Pre-requisites: None
Unit description:
This Workplace Experience B option comprises 45 days of self-organised workplace experience. Any workplace experience must take place at an approved host organisation and with appropriate supervision as per the LACC Standards. You will need to provide evidence of your placement, the activities undertaken and submit a final assessment to meet the requirements of this unit.
Credit points: 12
Pre-requisites: None
Unit description:
This Workplace Experience B option comprises 30 days of self-organised workplace experience and 1 elective practice area coursework component.
Any workplace experience must take place at an approved host organisation and with appropriate supervision as per the LACC Standards. You will need to provide evidence of your placement, the activities undertaken and submit a final assessment to meet the requirements of this unit.
The elective practice area coursework can be selected from any elective not completed as part of the initial GDLP coursework.
Credit points: 12
Pre-requisites: None
Unit description:
This Workplace Experience B option comprises 15 days of self-organised workplace experience and 2 elective practice area coursework components.
Any workplace experience must take place at an approved host organisation and with appropriate supervision as per the LACC Standards. You will need to provide evidence of your placement, the activities undertaken and submit a final assessment to meet the requirements of this unit.
The two elective practice area coursework components can be selected from any elective not completed as part of the initial GDLP coursework.
Credit points: 12
Pre-requisites: None
Unit description:
This Workplace Experience B option comprises 3 elective practice area coursework components. The three elective practice areas can be selected from any elective not completed as part of the initial GDLP coursework.
Coursework
Credit points: 15
Pre-requisites: None
Unit description: This coursework unit includes the following practice areas.
Compulsory:
- Lawyer’s Skills and Values
- Civil Litigation Practice
Credit points: 15
Pre-requisites: LLP4018
Unit description:
This coursework unit includes the following practice areas:
Electives (choose one):
- Administrative Law Practice
- Banking and Finance Practice
- Criminal Law Practice
- Consumer Law Practice
- Employment and Industrial Relations Practice
- Family Law Practice
- Planning and Environmental Law Practice
- Wills and Estates Practice
Workplace Experience A
Credit points: 6
Pre-requisites: None
Unit description:
Workplace experience is a compulsory part of all GDLP courses and provides students with an important opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired through the GDLP coursework.
Workplace experience A includes support from ACAP to source a host company through our relationship with the LIV and their extensive employer network.
This unit includes the mandatory 15 days of practical work experience.
Workplace Experience B (choose one of the following):
Credit points: 12
Pre-requisites: None
Unit description:
This Workplace Experience B option comprises 45 days of self-organised workplace experience. Any workplace experience must take place at an approved host organisation and with appropriate supervision as per the LACC Standards. You will need to provide evidence of your placement, the activities undertaken and submit a final assessment to meet the requirements of this unit.
Credit points: 12
Pre-requisites: None
Unit description:
This Workplace Experience B option comprises 30 days of self-organised workplace experience and 1 elective practice area coursework component.
Any workplace experience must take place at an approved host organisation and with appropriate supervision as per the LACC Standards. You will need to provide evidence of your placement, the activities undertaken and submit a final assessment to meet the requirements of this unit.
The elective practice area coursework can be selected from any elective not completed as part of the initial GDLP coursework.
Credit points: 12
Pre-requisites: None
Unit description:
This Workplace Experience B option comprises 15 days of self-organised workplace experience and 2 elective practice area coursework components.
Any workplace experience must take place at an approved host organisation and with appropriate supervision as per the LACC Standards. You will need to provide evidence of your placement, the activities undertaken and submit a final assessment to meet the requirements of this unit.
The two elective practice area coursework components can be selected from any elective not completed as part of the initial GDLP coursework.
Credit points: 12
Pre-requisites: None
Unit description:
This Workplace Experience B option comprises 3 elective practice area coursework components. The three elective practice areas can be selected from any elective not completed as part of the initial GDLP coursework.
View unit descriptions
- Developed a depth and breadth of knowledge and skills to analyse critically and apply complex legal concepts, theories, procedures, rules and principles in a professional legal context.
- Demonstrate an ability to work independently and as part of a team to identify and provide solutions to complex issues, taking personal and professional responsibility for ethical actions and outputs.
- Demonstrate an ability to understand client needs, confirm instructions and communicate effective, innovative and responsive solutions in a manner appropriate to the audience.
- Develop a detailed awareness and ability to use a variety of technology applications and digital resources, including new and emerging technologies, in a legal practice.
- Have a knowledge of local, interstate and international jurisdictions and an ability to recognise and be sensitive to cultural differences and a range of perspectives.
ACAP’s GDLP is accredited by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). Practical Legal Training is one of the prerequisites for admission as set out in the Legal Profession Uniform Admissions Rules 2015. See the VLAB website for a full list of requirements.
Graduates of the GDLP will be able work as a lawyer in Victoria or apply their skills in a range of other professional contexts outside of the law.
Pre-enrolment information for GDLP students
To graduate with a GDLP qualification, you must complete each of the following four requirements. Prior to enrolment, please consider which of the following combinations best suits your interests and needs.
1. Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice coursework
Students to choose practice areas based on their professional interest:
- 4x compulsory practice areas, AND
- 2x elective practice areas
The compulsory practice areas are set by the LACC Standards and include Lawyer’s Skills and Values, Civil Litigation Practice, Property Law Practice and Commercial and Corporate Practice.
There are eight elective practice areas from which you will choose two, based on your professional interest. You will have the opportunity to explore all the learning resources of each elective practice area to help make an informed decision. We also encourage you to discuss the elective options with your mentor.
2. Workplace Experience A
Choose one of the following options:
- Self-organised work experience (at an organisation that meets ACAP’s placement requirements), OR
- ACAP/LIV supported work experience
If you require assistance with organising placement, please notify ACAP as soon as possible so that we can assist you with sourcing a host organisation.
3. Workplace Experience B
Choose one of the following options:
- 45 workdays self-organised workplace experience, OR
- 30 workdays self-organised workplace experience AND 1 x 3-week coursework block (1 additional elective practice area from those not previously completed in GDLP Coursework component), OR
- 15 workdays self-organised workplace experience AND 2 x 3-week coursework blocks (2 additional elective practice areas from those not previously completed in GDLP Coursework component), OR
- 3 x 3-week coursework blocks (3 elective practice areas from those not previously completed in GDLP Coursework component)
4. Professional engagement
Build networking skills and spend time with experienced legal practitioners. For this component, you will complete 10 hours of compulsory professional engagement.
Activities that will qualify for legal profession engagement include:
- Undertaking face-to-face (in-person or online) continuing legal education
- Participating in legal networking events
- Attending a court function such as a ceremonial sitting or admission ceremony
- Contributing to a Law Institute of Victoria committee or working group
- Collaborating on submissions to government
- Participating in various law association activities
- Volunteering in Access to Justice schemes, or
- Community Legal Education.
