Faculty of Law: Graduate and Postgraduate Diploma Regulations Made by the Faculty Board of the Faculty of Law Version incorporating amendments as at 1 November 2012
1. Diplomas
1.1 The following diplomas may be undertaken in the faculty pursuant to these regulations -
• Graduate Diploma in Law
• Graduate Diploma in Regulatory Studies
• Graduate Diploma in Trade Mark Law and Practice
• Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Skills and Ethics.
1.2 The Graduate Diploma in Law may be undertaken in a specialty listed in the schedule and the title of the graduate diploma where so undertaken includes the name of the specialty in brackets.
2. Interpretations
In these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears -
'candidate' means a candidate for the graduate or the postgraduate diploma;
'course of study' means the course of study for the graduate or the postgraduate diploma, determined by or under these regulations;
'diploma' means a diploma listed in subsection 1.1 and ‘graduate diploma’ and ‘postgraduate diploma’ respectively have corresponding meanings;
'faculty' means the Faculty of Law;
'faculty board' means the faculty board of the faculty;
'faculty information handout' means the faculty handbook or such other publication concerning a course of study, whether bound or loose leaf or online or in other electronic form, as the faculty board determines from time to time;
'specialty' means a specialty listed in the schedule.
3. Admission to candidature
3.1 The faculty board may admit to candidature for the postgraduate diploma an applicant who has - Faculty of Law: Graduate and Postgraduate Diploma Regulations
3.1.1. qualified in the faculty for the degree of Bachelor of Laws, or has other qualifications which the faculty board is satisfied are equivalent; and
3.1.2 satisfactorily completed the units required by the Victorian Council of Legal Education for admission to practise in Victoria.
3.2 The faculty board may admit to candidature for the graduate diploma, an applicant who has -
3.2.1 qualified for a degree in the university or in another educational institution approved for the purpose by the faculty board; or
3.2.2 other qualifications and experience which the faculty board is satisfied are equivalent or a satisfactory substitute –
provided that the faculty board is satisfied the applicant's degree or qualifications and experience constitute suitable preparation for the proposed course of study.
4. Preliminary candidature
4.1 An applicant for admission to candidature for a graduate diploma may, at the discretion of the faculty board, be admitted as a preliminary candidate.
4.2 The faculty board may specify units in the course of study concerned that must be undertaken by a preliminary candidate.
4.3 A preliminary candidate who -
4.3.1 satisfactorily completes the specified units may continue as a confirmed candidate with credit for the units completed; or
4.3.2 fails to satisfactorily complete the specified units must withdraw from candidature unless the faculty board in circumstances it deems exceptional otherwise determines.
5. Course of study
5.1 A course of study comprises units determined by the faculty board under this section.
5.2 The faculty board may from time to time determine the units requirements of a course of study and in relation to the these requirements may determine any matter or thing, including but not limited to -
5.2.1 sequence, content and duration;
5.2.2 attendance and participation;
5.2.3 credit points;
5.2.4 assessment; and
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5.2.5 satisfactory completion.
5.3 Before determining the units for the postgraduate diploma, the faculty board must consult with the Victorian Council of Legal Education.
5.4 The faculty board may determine particular requirements in relation to a course of study undertaken in a specialty.
5.5 The faculty board must cause a determination under this section to be published in a faculty information handout.
6. Credit
A candidate may be granted credit towards a graduate diploma in accordance with this section and the Credit towards a Degree or Award Regulations.
7. Candidature
7.1 The course of study for the graduate or postgraduate diploma may be undertaken by full-time or part-time candidature.
7.2 A candidate may, with the consent of the faculty board, change from full-time to part-time candidature or vice-versa and in this event must complete the course study within the time specified by the faculty board.
8. Time limits
Subject to these regulations and to a determination of the faculty board in any particular case, the course of study for -
8.1.1 a graduate diploma must be completed in 12 months of full-time or 24 months of part-time candidature; and
8.1.2 the postgraduate diploma must be completed in 21 weeks of full-time or 39 weeks of part-time candidature.
9. Intermission
The faculty board may from time to time grant a graduate diploma candidate an intermission for such period and on such conditions as the faculty board determines.
10. Transfer of candidature
10.1 A candidate for the graduate or postgraduate diploma may -
10.1.1 with the consent of the faculty board transfer to candidature for a relevant graduate certificate with credit for work satisfactorily completed in the course of study for the graduate diploma; or
10.1.2 where the faculty board is satisfied that a candidate has satisfactorily completed the requirements of a graduate certificate, be declared by the
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faculty board to have qualified to that award, where appropriate in a particular specialty.
10.2 A candidate may not transfer candidature to, or be declared qualified for, a graduate certificate where the duration of candidature for the graduate or postgraduate diploma exceeds the period of candidature prescribed for the graduate certificate.
11. Qualification
A candidate who satisfactorily completes the course of study for a diploma qualifies for the award of the diploma.
12. Compliance
12.1 Subject to this section, a candidate must comply with these regulations and with the requirements concerning the relevant course of study determined by the faculty board under these regulations, as in force or published from time to time.
12.2 Where the faculty board considers that a candidate has, since first enrolling for a diploma, been unreasonably adversely affected by any change in the regulations or course of study requirements, the faculty board must permit the candidate to qualify for the diploma under the regulations or course of study requirements in force or published at some time during candidature, provided the faculty board is satisfied that the work so required to be completed is equivalent in standard to that currently required to complete the course of study.
Schedule Specialties - Graduate Diploma in Law
• Commercial Law
• Human Rights Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• International and Comparative Law
• Local Government Law
• Regulatory Studies
• Workplace and Employment Law
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End Notes
1. Table of amendments from 10 May 2012 (as incorporated into this version):
Amendment Sections Commencement amended Date (promulgation)
Faculty of Law Course Regulations (Amendment) Section 6 10 May 2012 (No. 8 of 2012)
Faculty of Law Regulations (Amendment) (No. 9 of The Schedule 6 July 2012 2012) Faculty of Law Regulations (Amendment) (No. 19 Section 9 1 November 2012 of 2012)
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