POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS

The Capstone Project is taken as the final subject, as a culmination of the knowledge and skills attained throughout the major. It will allow students to demonstrate their skills in a specialist practice area using real-life scenarios and case studies. Throughout the intake, students will receive individualised feedback from their lecturer and will also have access to a rich array of skills modules that include guides, samples, and practice exercises for honing their legal skills. The highlight of the Capstone Project is the final task, where students will prepare a Final Portfolio that demonstrates their legal writing, research, and oral skills. THE SUBJECT HAS 

This subject covers titles to, and interests in, land in New South Wales or Queensland (QPROP1).

This includes the law and practice for the various forms of title and interests and the practice dealing with those titles and interests. The subject aims to provide students with a strong understanding of property law and a good foundation for practising advanced property law in New South Wales and Queensland. It will also provide the base for the other subjects included in the Property Law curriculum, specifically: sale and purchase of land commercial leasing transactions shared titles, and financing property transactions.

This subject takes a highly practical, step-by-step approach to the property transaction. It begins by discussing the scoping, structuring and due diligence steps and considerations at the beginning of the transaction. It then moves on to explore the formation, drafting and negotiation of the Contract for Houses and Residential Land, Fourteenth Edition, approved by the Real Estate Institute of Queensland and the Queensland Law Society, before explaining the process of closing the transaction. The critical elements of option agreements and the additional steps involved in rural transactions are also discussed. Ethical considerations in property transactions will be explored as will the technological developments currently impacting the way property law is practised. The subject aims to develop foundations for advanced and integrated understandings of this practice area.

On satisfactory completion of this subject, students will understand fundamental theories and practices in real property transactions practice, and have an understanding of how to apply this knowledge in professional practice. Students will be able to use and explain this knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences. Using practice-based analytical and critical thinking skills, students will be able to apply this knowledge to problem-solving and decision-making in practice.

This subject provides foundations to develop advanced and integrated understandings about real property transactions. It adopts a highly practical, step-by-step approach to the property transaction. It begins by discussing the ethical and competency requirements for practitioners advising in this area, as well as the due diligence steps and considerations at the beginning of the transaction.

It then moves on to explore the formation, drafting and negotiation of the Contract for the sale and purchase of land (standard contract) published by the Law Society of New South Wales and the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales, before explaining the process of closing the transaction. The critical elements of Option Agreements and the additional steps involved in rural transactions are also discussed. The impact of electronic conveyancing (e-conveyancing) will be explored in addition to other technological developments currently impacting the way property law is practised today.

Commercial leasing transactions can be major transactions to negotiate and to manage with multiple parties involved. They can also be small transactions with two parties only. At the end of this subject students will be familiar with all forms of commercial leasing transactions and the common avoidable errors inherent in leasing. By participating in practical activities and assessment, students will build and extend their existing drafting and negotiation skills and their expertise and value to clients in this area. Students will develop the foundations for advanced and integrated understandings of this practice area.

Commercial leasing transactions can be major transactions to negotiate and to manage with multiple parties involved. They can also be small transactions with two parties only. At the end of this subject students will be familiar with all forms of commercial leasing transactions and the common avoidable errors inherent in leasing. By participating in practical activities and assessment, students will build and extend their existing drafting and negotiation skills and their expertise and value to clients in this area. Students will develop the foundations for advanced and integrated understandings of this practice area.

Strata subdivision enables an increasingly common form of land ownership and has been part of the driving force behind the property development boom in Australian capital cities. This subject has a strong focus on strata title and will begin by discussing the different types of title arrangements, the "landmark" recent reforms of strata legislation and the nature of strata and other subdivision methods, including community title, company title and stratum subdivision. The subject is segmented into two distinct parts of strata title – the development aspects involved in achieving strata plan registration and the on-going management aspects after the strata scheme has been established, including dispute resolution in strata schemes. Two perspectives of a property development project are then considered from the point of view of the advisor – the considerations when acting on behalf of a developer of a new strata scheme and the purchaser’s perspective when buying off-the-plan will also be analysed. Each module has been revised and based on the current legislation that applies.

Strata subdivision enables an increasingly common form of land ownership and has been part of the driving force behind the property development boom in Australian capital cities.

This subject has a strong focus on strata title and will begin by discussing the different types of title arrangements, the "landmark" recent reforms of strata legislation and the nature of strata and other subdivision methods, including community title, company title and stratum subdivision.

 The subject is segmented into two distinct parts of strata title – the development aspects involved in achieving strata plan registration and the on-going management aspects after the strata scheme has been established, including dispute resolution in strata schemes.

Two perspectives of a property development project are then considered from the point of view of the advisor – the considerations when acting on behalf of a developer of a new strata scheme and the purchaser’s perspective when buying off-the-plan will also be analysed. Each module has been revised and based on the current legislation that applies.

Community title in Queensland continues to grow. It is part of the driving force behind the property development boom in many parts of Australia, and especially in south east Queensland. Body corporate law is fragmented and is created through planning and titling laws and specific legislation dealing with community ownership. It has also developed from decisions of courts, tribunals and adjudications. This subject is divided into various parts. First part covers the development aspects – plan registration and the creation of a community management scheme. The second part covers on-going management, including dispute resolution. Furthermore, two perspectives of a property development project are considered: legal advice student should give to a developer of a new scheme as well as legal advice which should be given to a buyer of an "off the plan" unit or apartment.

Virtually every property transaction involves a financing element. The ability to advise a client on the suitability of loan and security documentation, on guarantees and on financing structures is an essential skill for a lawyer wishing to provide a complete service to a client in a property transaction. The focus of this subject is residential loans and small scale residential developments, from the perspective of the borrower.