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POSTGRADUATE

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Find your true calling, specialise in your passion
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Build your career 

Options to complete a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters and advance your career

Advance your expertise

Sharpen your expertise in specific practice areas with practical, real-world focused subjects designed to elevate your proficiency.

Customise your journey

Enjoy the freedom and flexibility to customise your postgraduate program by studying the subjects that appeal to you.

Four intakes per year

Plan your year and the subject you intend to study each intake - Feb, May, Aug, Nov.

A POSTGRADUATE QUALIFICATION GIVES YOU AN EDGE

The College of Law can help you expand on what you already know and acquire new knowledge while providing you with opportunities to hone your skills in a  practice area, so that you stand out from the competition. 

Open up new career pathways by studying a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master of Laws program. One that’s reality-based, balanced and world-renowned, so you can become the best version of yourself for your client, practice and community. 

This is your chance to build career prospects, earn industry recognition, and boost your earning potential. 

Curious about where your skills could take you next? Scroll down to explore the variety of practice areas, detailed course subjects, and potential awards waiting for you. Find your perfect fit and tailor your education to your career ambitions.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Select a practice area to explore relevant courses and subjects

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Business Law and Transactions

Canvass the current issues critical to the day-to-day life of practitioners in this area. Focus on skills necessary for providing legal services, advice, and consultancy on legal issues impacting businesses.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Commercial Litigation

Hone your skills in the complex and challenging world of commercial litigation under the guidance of senior practitioners. Prepare yourself with the tools needed to act in commercial disputes.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Dispute Resolution

Learn how to navigate the resolution of disputes more effectively through mediation and other dispute resolution methods.  Settling disputes can avoid costly litigation and lead to reduced costs and more tailored outcomes for your clients.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Family Dispute Resolution Practice

Assist families in navigating changes to relationships, parenting arrangements and living circumstances by becoming a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner .

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Family Law

Help resolve the legal aspects of family relationship issues including relationship breakdowns, property and parenting arrangements, as well as family violence, abuse and other complex issues affecting children and families

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Government and Public Sector Law

Advance your understanding of government and public sector practices, including contracting, procurement, and policy development, while addressing ethical considerations crucial for serving the public interest.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

In-house Practice

Develop and understand both the power and impact that good governance and compliance can have on an organisation. Learn how to communicate effectively all the way up to the board and its directors.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

International Arbitration

Acquire the skills necessary to help resolve cross-border disputes in an international context. Grow your confidence in drafting arbitration agreements and seeing out the process until a resolution is agreed upon.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Wills and Estates

Provide your clients with expert guidance on will drafting, estate management, litigation strategies, and elder law essentials.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Estate Planning

Equip your clients with comprehensive strategies in estate planning, focusing on financial structuring, tax optimisation, testamentary trusts and succession planning.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

ASEAN+6 Legal Practice

Expand your knowledge of cross-border practice and enhance your career opportunities with our first-of-its-kind subjects. Each is designed to give you in-depth knowledge on how to operate within the ASEAN region.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Property Law

Equip yourself with the ability to analyse and better manage property transactions of all types. This course has a focus on how to address and resolve the more complicated issues likely to be encountered by property law practitioners.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Legal Business Management

Learn the tools and real-world business skills necessary to understand legal operations, legal technology and how to be a more holistic and impactful leader.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Customise your program

Pick the subjects you want based on the practice areas you’d like to focus on. Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master of Laws without a major.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Double Major

Double down with a double major (completing eight subjects, four from each major subject area) to master two areas of law and stand out as a uniquely qualified legal expert.

HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT TO ENROL

Book a call back with one of our Customer and Student Engagement Advisors at a time that suits you.

FAMILY DISPUTE RESOLUTION PRACTICE SUBJECTS

FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation

Intake FDRP
This subject forms the foundation of the family dispute resolution (FDR) subjects. In this subject students will be introduced to family law and the place of mediation within family law. Students will acquire the requisite knowledge to enable them, as a family dispute resolution practitioners (FDRP), to contextualise and appreciate each party’s unique situation within the family law framework, and assist each of them to understand their own role and their respective roles in the process. This subject also discusses where mediation sits on the dispute resolution spectrum and how the process assists in the resolution of family disputes. By the end of the subject, students will have completed all the requirements under the National Mediation Standards to apply for assessment and subsequent accreditation.

TOPICS

  • Overview of Australian family law
  • Obligations of a family dispute resolution practitioner
  • The dispute resolution spectrum
  • Conflict analysis and pre-mediation preparation
  • Mediation models
  • Facilitative mediation process
  • Communication skills in mediation Common issues in mediation

*Current Nationally Accredited Mediators are eligible for advanced standing for the FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation subject.

FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution

Intake FDRP
An understanding of families involves an introduction to the meaning and purpose of the family system, and how the family is impacted through separation. This subject introduces the student to the nuances of working with conflicted families. It will focus on understanding how family groups function and how they are affected by conflict. In particular students will explore how children exposed to parental conflict can be impacted.

TOPICS

  • Defining and understanding families
  • Emotional impact of separation on family members
  • Children's needs and best interests
  • Family law and children's matters
  • Parenting plans and parenting orders.

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution

Intake FDRP
This subject explores some of the advanced concepts surrounding mediating with families, such as recognising and managing ethical dilemmas, screening and assessing family and domestic violence, and managing the complexities of working with perpetrators of violence. It is important that family dispute resolution practitioners (FDRPs) are able to assess whether their clients and cases are suitable for dispute resolution processes such as mediation and conciliation. It is also important that they are able to identify matters such as power imbalances and cultural issues that may impact on their clients’ ability to negotiate effectively within these processes. From a broad-based perspective, this subject also encompasses wider factors such as gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, language, level of education and the effect of intergenerational differences.

TOPICS

  • Family violence, child protection and the law
  • Screening for violence, risk assessment and safety planning
  • Techniques for managing volatile clients and situations
  • Ethics in family dispute resolution.

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone

Intake FDRP
FDR4 is designed to be the clinical subject to underpin the theory of family dispute resolution practice. By the end of this subject students will have an understanding of the family dispute resolution case management principles. By completing this subject students will have the opportunity to manage family dispute resolution cases within simulated workplace experiences. Students will take the carriage of four matters of various complexities that they will manage from intake, through to assessment, education, and referral, culminating in conducting the mediation. Successful completion of this subject will provide 30 hours of clinical placement under the FDRP practicum requirements.

TOPICS

  • Introduction to family dispute resolution case management Intakes (and variations)
  • Assessment for suitability Information and referrals for mediation
  • Property matters in family dispute resolution
  • Child support assessment formula
  • Preparing for and conducting mediation

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice

Intake FDRP

This subject is designed to provide students with the virtual simulation practice in family dispute resolution setting. This subject consists of the items of practical coursework. During this subject, students will be required to lead or co-facilitate on three matters, including: children matters and property matters. 

TOPICS

This subject will be conducted over 8 weeks with 5 days online face to face sessions to be spread over 3 weeks. Each student will be allocated three matters and will be required to conduct an intake for each of the matters as well as a mediation session.

 Students will also be required to complete several assessments associated with the matters such as written agreements, intake assessment forms and matter analysis.

 The online face to face sessions will be conducted in the following weeks: Week 3 – 1 day online face to face; Week 4 – 3 days online face to face; and Week 7 - 1 day online face to face.

Students will be allocated in the groups of four and assigned a supervisor/coach for the assessments and feedback. Successful completion of this subject will provide students with the remaining 20 hours of clinical placement under the FDRP practicum requirements.

START DATES

Nov Intake 4 Feb intake 1 May Intake 2
START DATE 11 Nov 2024 10 Feb 2025 12 May 2025
CENSUS 04 Dec 2024 26 Feb 2025 28 May 2025
END DATE 07 Feb 2025 02 May 2025 02 Aug 2025
Subject Start Date Census End Date Workshop Date
DRP3 - Advocacy 21 Sep 2025 30 Sep 2024 30 Oct 2025
DRP4 - Mediation 05 Oct 2025 01 Jan 0001 13 Nov 2024
EPP2 - Superannuation 01 Jul 2024 10 Jul 2024 09 Aug 2024
FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation 10 Feb 2025 17 Feb 2025 21 Mar 2025

3 - 5 March 2025 NSW & VIC
6 - 8 March 2025 QLD & WA

FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 24 Mar 2025 01 Jan 0001 20 Apr 2025

10 - 12 April 2025 NSW & VIC 
14 - 16 April 2025 QLD & WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 04 Nov 2024 13 Nov 2024 13 Dec 2024

25-27 Nov 2024 NSW & VIC 
28-30 Nov 2024 QLD & WA

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 05 May 2025 01 Jan 0001 13 Jun 2025

25-27 Nov 2024 NSW & VIC 
28-30 Nov 2024 QLD & WA

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 27 Jan 2025 05 Feb 2025 07 Mar 2025

20-22 Feb 2025 NSW & VIC 
17-19 Feb 2025 QLD & WA

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 16 Jun 2025 01 Jan 0001 25 Jul 2025

20-22 Feb 2025 NSW & VIC 
17-19 Feb 2025 QLD & WA

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 07 Apr 2025 01 Jan 0001 30 May 2025

Day 1 – 24 April 2025
Days 2 to 4:  29 April - 1 May 2025

LB3 - Business Strategy: Planning for Success 05 May 2025 01 Jan 0001 13 Jun 2025
Subject Start Date Census End Date Workshop Date
FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation 10 Feb 2025 17 Feb 2025 21 Mar 2025

3 - 5 March 2025 NSW & VIC
6 - 8 March 2025 QLD & WA

FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 25 Mar 2024 03 Apr 2024 03 May 2024

17-19 Oct 2024 NSW & VIC
14-16 Oct 2024 QLD & WA  

10 - 12 April 2025 NSW & VIC 
14 - 16 April 2025 QLD & WA

FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 23 Sep 2024 02 Oct 2024 01 Nov 2024

17-19 Oct 2024 NSW & VIC
14-16 Oct 2024 QLD & WA  

10 - 12 April 2025 NSW & VIC 
14 - 16 April 2025 QLD & WA

FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 23 Sep 2024 02 Oct 2024 01 Nov 2024

17-19 Oct 2024 NSW & VIC
14-16 Oct 2024 QLD & WA  

10 - 12 April 2025 NSW & VIC 
14 - 16 April 2025 QLD & WA

FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 24 Mar 2025 31 Mar 2025 02 May 2025

17-19 Oct 2024 NSW & VIC
14-16 Oct 2024 QLD & WA  

10 - 12 April 2025 NSW & VIC 
14 - 16 April 2025 QLD & WA

FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 24 Mar 2025 01 Jan 0001 20 Apr 2025

17-19 Oct 2024 NSW & VIC
14-16 Oct 2024 QLD & WA  

10 - 12 April 2025 NSW & VIC 
14 - 16 April 2025 QLD & WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 06 May 2024 15 May 2024 14 Jun 2024

25-27 Nov 2024 NSW & VIC 
28-30 Nov 2024 QLD & WA

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 04 Nov 2024 13 Nov 2024 13 Dec 2024

25-27 Nov 2024 NSW & VIC 
28-30 Nov 2024 QLD & WA

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 04 Nov 2024 13 Nov 2024 13 Dec 2024

25-27 Nov 2024 NSW & VIC 
28-30 Nov 2024 QLD & WA

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 05 May 2025 12 May 2025 13 Jun 2025

25-27 Nov 2024 NSW & VIC 
28-30 Nov 2024 QLD & WA

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 05 May 2025 01 Jan 0001 13 Jun 2025

25-27 Nov 2024 NSW & VIC 
28-30 Nov 2024 QLD & WA

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 29 Jan 2024 07 Feb 2024 08 Mar 2024

20-22 Feb 2025 NSW & VIC 
17-19 Feb 2025 QLD & WA

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 17 Jun 2024 26 Jun 2024 26 Jul 2024

20-22 Feb 2025 NSW & VIC 
17-19 Feb 2025 QLD & WA

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 27 Jan 2025 05 Feb 2025 07 Mar 2025

20-22 Feb 2025 NSW & VIC 
17-19 Feb 2025 QLD & WA

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 27 Jan 2025 05 Feb 2025 07 Mar 2025

20-22 Feb 2025 NSW & VIC 
17-19 Feb 2025 QLD & WA

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 16 Jun 2025 23 Jun 2025 25 Jul 2025

20-22 Feb 2025 NSW & VIC 
17-19 Feb 2025 QLD & WA

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 16 Jun 2025 01 Jan 0001 25 Jul 2025

20-22 Feb 2025 NSW & VIC 
17-19 Feb 2025 QLD & WA

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 08 Apr 2024 18 Apr 2024 31 May 2024

 

Day 1 – 24 April 2025
Days 2 to 4:  29 April - 1 May 2025

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 09 Sep 2024 19 Sep 2024 01 Nov 2024

 

Day 1 – 24 April 2025
Days 2 to 4:  29 April - 1 May 2025

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 09 Sep 2024 19 Sep 2024 01 Nov 2024

 

Day 1 – 24 April 2025
Days 2 to 4:  29 April - 1 May 2025

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 07 Apr 2025 17 Apr 2025 30 May 2025

 

Day 1 – 24 April 2025
Days 2 to 4:  29 April - 1 May 2025

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 07 Apr 2025 01 Jan 0001 30 May 2025

 

Day 1 – 24 April 2025
Days 2 to 4:  29 April - 1 May 2025

TEACHING STAFF

Linda Kochanski

Practice Area Leader: FDR and Mediation Programs and Director: Amadras Board

Latest

HELP FAMILIIES NAVIGATE COMPLEX ISSUES

HAVE QUESTIONS OR READY TO ENROL?

Book a call back with one of our Customer and Student Engagement Advisors

My studies with the College provided me further insight into where family law is now looking to give some children a voice, particularly regarding parenting plans.

Josephine Byrnes-Luna, FDRP Graduate

Family law can be very litigious, but it doesn't have to be. So my practice in learning more about dispute resolution areas and how to manage dispute resolution and conflict resolution was valuable.

Emma Youdale, LLM Graduate - FDRP

DISCOVER MORE

Scholarships

If you’re experiencing financial hardship and unable to afford postgraduate study, see if you are eligible for the The Kay Smith Scholarship. This scholarship honours one of the longest serving and most respected people of The College of Law. It is designed to support the education aspirations of outstanding law graduates and young lawyers.

Guide download

Inside the course guide, you will find information on: how this practical program will equip you with the skills and tools you will need, who the course is for, course format, topics and assessment structure, course presenters, workshop dates, prices and how to enrol.

Student success stories

Read how Craig’s postgraduate study accelerated his career by a decade and enabled him to become a specialist and eventually started his own firm.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This depends on your workload and your personal situation. If you complete one subject every intake, you could complete your Masters in two years. However, you have five years to complete the course from your intake commencement date.

You can do any of the following without financial penalty any time before the published census date for each intake:

  • Withdraw completely
  • Change the subject or course you are enrolled in
  • Defer it to a subsequent intake (must be within the next 12 months)

As you have five years to complete your Masters, you don’t need to complete a subject every intake. However, if you do not study for two consecutive intakes – then you can apply for a Leave of Absence.

You can only request a leave of absence twice over the course of your studies.

We recommend that you set aside 10-12 hours a week on study per subject, one unit per semester.

Completing two subjects in the same intake may require up to 25 hours of study and readings each week.

There are four intakes a year, February, May, August and November.

You may be entitled to claim your full 10 units per subject for your CPD requirements.

However, you may still need to complete some mandatory CPD units. Please check with your local law society for the requirements in your state or territory.

WA based students may claim up to six units per subject (six CPD units for an intensive subject that has a compulsory workshop requirement or four CPD units for any other subject).

College will lodge the CPD points with the Legal Practice Board on successful completion of the subject(s).

The College’s Credit for Prior Learning Policy encourages practitioners who have completed previous postgraduate and other recognised study to apply for credit towards either the LLM (Applied Law) or the Master of Applied Law (Family Law).

A maximum of three subject credits may be granted towards the Masters awards.

  • If you have undertaken a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice with The College of Law within the last ten years, you may apply to receive up to two elective subjects of unspecified credit
  • If you have undertaken a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice with another provider within the last ten years, you may apply to receive one elective subject of unspecified credit
  • If you have undertaken other postgraduate study, such as an LLM or Graduate Diploma of Law, whether you have completed the award or not, you may be eligible to receive credit for that study
  • Accredited Specialists may qualify for exemption of the foundations subject and Capstone Project for their area of major
  • Applicants who have completed a Legal Practice Management Course within the last 5 years at The College of Law in may receive one subject specified credit

Yes. Many Master of Laws (Applied Law) students choose electives from our Legal Business Management course. Please contact us to learn how.

No. To become a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, you will need to:

Many students choose to pursue an LLM with a double major in Family Law and FDRP.

 

For 2024, each subject in our postgraduate programmes costs $3,950, with no GST applicable. Please note that our fees are subject to annual review and may change during your enrolment.

Full payment is required at the time of enrolment each semester, and we accept various payment methods including cheque, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), and credit card.

Additionally, if you are an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen, or hold a permanent humanitarian visa, you may be eligible to defer your payment through the Australian Government's StudyAssist FEE-HELP scheme.

Yes, if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible to receive FEE-HELP. For more information, visit the Australian Government Study Assist website or download the Study Assist FEE-HELP information sheet.

Please note that StudyAssist FEE-HELP is not available for single subject enrolment.

Yes, you can, but Study Assist FEE-help will not apply.

Yes. If you are from a non-English speaking country or your previous studies were in a language other than English, you will need to demonstrate your English skills in accordance with the IELTS standard before starting the program. The requisite IELTS standard is at level 8 (writing), 7 (listening), 7.5 (speaking), 7 (reading), and 7.5 overall.

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