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The path to practice: Everything you need to know about the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Online)

The journey to becoming a qualified legal practitioner does not end when you have completed your Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree.

Once you have finished your law degree, the next step before applying for admission (unless you have a traineeship) is to complete practical legal training, also known as the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Online), or GDLP for short.

Law students in business suits walking through campus

The link between a law degree and legal practice

The GDLP provides practical, supervised legal training based on the National Competency Standards for Entry-Level Lawyers.  Once you have completed the GDLP at Bond, you will be able to apply for admission to legal practice anywhere in Australia.

Aspiring lawyers are taught and mentored by a variety of experienced legal practitioners including solicitors and barristers, all of whom have experience in the areas that they teach, with trainees undertaking practical assessments replicating real practice (no exams).

The program also comprises a five-day Learning Intensive at the commencement of the program, which features practical workshops and exercises focussing on legal skills and values, including communication, interviewing clients, letter writing, alternative dispute resolution, advocacy, ethics and financial responsibilities, as well as guest speakers from the profession.

An academic helping a student in class

Study flexibly

Bond’s Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Online) is competitively priced and gives trainees the ability to manage their professional work with their studies due to its flexibility. The online program is interactive and collaborative, ensuring an intuitive and premium experience on an interactive and collaborative learning platform.

Personalised placement support

One of the core components of the GDLP is placement (work experience), where trainees work in a legal environment to apply the skills and values they have obtained during the GDLP under the supervision of a lawyer.

Placement options include a short (30 day) or a long (60 day) placement and prior recognition of legal practice may be available bringing the days required for placement once trainees commence the program to 15 days.

You will have access to personalised support in securing a legal placement from the Career Development Centre’s dedicated specialists.

Ready for admission

After you have completed the GDLP at Bond, you will be able to apply for admission to legal practice anywhere in Australia. If you are in South Australia or the Northern Territory, there may be some additional requirements – check with the admission authority for more information.

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