ESTATE PLANNING
A POSTGRADUATE QUALIFICATION IN ESTATE PLANNING GIVES YOU AN EDGE
The College of Law helps you build expertise in estate planning, wealth transfer and taxation strategies. Your career is an opportunity to make a greater impact. Postgraduate study gives you the confidence and capability to serve clients at your professional best.
Advance your career by developing the skills to structure trusts, manage superannuation, and protect client assets. Study a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master of Laws to deliver holistic advice that combines legal, tax and financial insight.
Enhance your capability and credibility as an estate planning professional.
Scroll down to explore postgraduate estate planning courses and qualifications.
INTAKE 1 STARTS 9 FEB 2026
Book a call back with one of our Customer and Student Engagement Advisors
PROGRAM OPTIONS - ESTATE PLANNING
Graduate Certificate in Applied Law
2
Choose any two subjects in your chosen area
A recognised law degree (LLB, JD, or equivalent)
Approx 6 months
Graduate Diploma of Applied Law
4
Choose four subjects in your chosen area
A recognised law degree (LLB, JD, or equivalent)
1 year part-time
Master of Laws (Applied Law) majoring in Estate Planning
8
3 EPP subjects, 4 elective subjects or a second major and the Capstone project in Estate Planning
A recognised law degree (LLB, JD, or equivalent)
2 years part-time
OR START WITH A GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
Take control of your career
If you decide later to progress towards a Masters, you’ll receive credit towards that award.
ESTATE PLANNING SUBJECTS
EPP00 - Capstone Project (Estate Planning)
Intake 2, 4TOPICS
THE SUBJECT HAS FOUR COMPONENTS
- Four short answer questions
- Two legal writing samples
- Oral communication (e.g. client interview) assessment held through online conferencing
- Reflective analysis
EPP1 - Foundations of Estate Planning
Intake 1, 4While lawyers are not financial planners, understanding the financial issues is critical to estate planning. This subject covers a range of financial planning matters which fall within the ambit of a solicitor, from business structures to insurance matters. Students learn how to apply these financial concepts to the drafting of a client advice and an estate plan.
This subject will cover preparing an estate management plan, setting up structures to protect the estate, taxation of estates, protecting the estate from claims, superannuation, insurance, asset transfer to companies, trustees and other entities and challenges to estate planning strategies.
This subject will provide an introduction to estate planning and some of the estate planning tools and strategies that are available. It will take students through the basics of how to prepare an estate plan. It covers the legislation and case law governing the use of discretionary trusts, superannuation and insurance as estate planning and asset protection tools.
TOPICS
- Introduction to estate planning
- Capacity and substitute decision making
- Basics of superannuation
- Identifying asset structure
- Triggers for review Insurance
- Taxation of deceased estates
EPP2 - Superannuation
Intake IntensiveTOPICS
- The regulatory framework for Australian superannuation
- Establishment and maintenance of self-managed superannuation funds
- Concessional and non-concessional contributions
- Investments in self-managed superannuation funds and life insurance policies
- Self-managed superannuation funds - family law, bankruptcy and financial attorneys
- Lifetime payments to fund members - pension options and lump sums
- Superannuation death benefits
EPP3 - Business Succession Planning
Intake 1, 3When establishing a business, proper structuring from the outset is key from a commercial, taxation and estate and succession planning perspective. This subject covers a range of structuring issues which lawyers should have regard to when advising on the implementation of an Australian business structure, lifetime restructure as well as succession planning on retirement, death or disability.
The subject focuses on these issues as they relate to Australian family businesses and Australian small and medium-sized enterprises. This subject will cover the different types of structures commonly used in Australia (including trusts and companies), issues relating to family farming businesses, transition of wealth during one’s lifetime, buy/sell insurance mechanisms in agreements and estate planning and transition of control on death or incapacity. The subject also touches on taxation and asset protection relevant to business structuring and succession planning.
Whilst EPP3 Business Succession Planning is a subject within the Estate Planning major, it is also relevant for lawyers practising in other areas including corporate and commercial law, wills and estates, property and family law. It will equip students with the necessary understanding to advise on and implement an effective succession plan for family business owners in Australia.
TOPICS
- Private companies
- Unit trusts Family discretionary trusts and other types of structures
- Family discretionary trusts and succession planning
- Soft skills, second generation planning and transitioning succession
- Small business CGT concessions and the small business rollover
- Buy/sell agreements on death/incapacity
- Death and incapacity: the use of wills, binding nominations and powers of attorney
EPP4 - Inter Vivos and Testamentary Trusts
Intake 4TOPICS
- Introduction to estate planning and trusts
- Specialty trusts – superannuation, disability and minors
- The trust deed Trustees’ powers and duties
- Discretionary trusts
- Trusts and asset protection
- Trusts and revenue tax law
- Structuring trust arrangements
EPP5 - Accounting and Tax for Estates and Trusts
Intake 2TOPICS
- Roles of LPR and trustee
- Capital gains tax
- Deceased's taxation affairs
- Deceased estate
- Accounting for trusts
- Testamentary trusts
- Non-resident issues
- Miscellaneous issues
EPP6 - Applied Taxation Strategies
Intake 2, 3TOPICS
- Tax effective estate planning
- Taxation of deceased estates
- Structures and taxation strategies Income, assets and taxation
- Goods and services tax (GST)
- International taxation and estate planning
- Anti-avoidance Recent developments for testamentary trusts
START DATES
| Aug Intake 3 | Nov Intake 4 | Feb Intake 1 | May Intake 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| START DATE | 11 Aug 2025 | 10 Nov 2025 | 09 Feb 2026 | 11 May 2026 |
| CENSUS | 27 Aug 2025 | 03 Dec 2025 | 25 Feb 2026 | 27 May 2026 |
| END DATE | 31 Oct 2025 | 06 Feb 2026 | 01 May 2026 | 31 Jul 2026 |
| Subject | Start Date | Census | End Date | Workshop Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRP3 - Advocacy | 22 Sep 2025 | 01 Oct 2025 | 31 Oct 2025 |
10, 16 and 17 October 2025 |
| DRP4 - Mediation | 19 Jan 2026 | 28 Jan 2026 | 27 Feb 2026 |
9 - 13 February 2026 |
| FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation | 09 Feb 2026 | 18 Feb 2026 | 20 Mar 2026 |
2-4 March 2026 NSW/VIC |
| FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution | 22 Sep 2025 | 01 Oct 2025 | 31 Oct 2025 |
Intake 2, 2025 |
| FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution | 23 Mar 2026 | 01 Apr 2026 | 01 May 2026 |
Intake 2, 2025 |
| FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution | 03 Nov 2025 | 12 Nov 2025 | 12 Dec 2025 |
Intake 2, 2025 |
| FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution | 04 May 2026 | 13 May 2026 | 12 Jun 2026 |
Intake 2, 2025 |
| FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone | 26 Jan 2026 | 04 Feb 2026 | 06 Mar 2026 |
16 - 18 Feb 2026 QLD & WA 6 - 8 July 2026 QLD & WA |
| FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone | 15 Jun 2026 | 24 Jun 2026 | 24 Jul 2026 |
16 - 18 Feb 2026 QLD & WA 6 - 8 July 2026 QLD & WA |
| FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice | 08 Sep 2025 | 18 Sep 2025 | 31 Oct 2025 |
Intake 2, 2025 |
| FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice | 06 Apr 2026 | 16 Apr 2026 | 29 May 2026 |
Intake 2, 2025 |
| LB3 - Business Strategy: Planning for Success | 03 Nov 2025 | 12 Nov 2025 | 12 Dec 2025 | |
| LB3 - Business Strategy: Planning for Success | 04 May 2026 | 13 May 2026 | 12 Jun 2026 |
| Subject | Start Date | Census | End Date | Workshop Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation | 09 Feb 2026 | 18 Feb 2026 | 20 Mar 2026 |
2-4 March 2026 NSW/VIC |
| FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution | 22 Sep 2025 | 01 Oct 2025 | 31 Oct 2025 |
Intake 2, 2025 |
| FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution | 23 Mar 2026 | 01 Apr 2026 | 01 May 2026 |
Intake 2, 2025 |
| FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution | 03 Nov 2025 | 12 Nov 2025 | 12 Dec 2025 |
Intake 2, 2025 |
| FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution | 04 May 2026 | 13 May 2026 | 12 Jun 2026 |
Intake 2, 2025 |
| FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone | 26 Jan 2026 | 04 Feb 2026 | 06 Mar 2026 |
16 - 18 Feb 2026 QLD & WA
|
| FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone | 15 Jun 2026 | 24 Jun 2026 | 24 Jul 2026 |
16 - 18 Feb 2026 QLD & WA
|
| FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice | 08 Sep 2025 | 18 Sep 2025 | 31 Oct 2025 |
Intake 2, 2025 |
| FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice | 06 Apr 2026 | 16 Apr 2026 | 29 May 2026 |
Intake 2, 2025 |
TEACHING STAFF
Nathan Yii
Principal Lawyer, Chartered Tax Advisor, Trust & Estates Practitioner and SMSF Specialist Advisor
Nathan Yii Lawyers
HAVE QUESTIONS OR READY TO ENROL?
Book a call back with one of our Customer and Student Engagement Advisors
I really enjoyed The College of Law’s practical assessment style; I could apply the skills and knowledge I gained from these assessments to my everyday work. – Sian Ogge, LLM Graduate
I graduated six months ago, and since then I've actively sought to implement what I've learned into my day-to-day practice. – Krystal Bellamy
It expedited my career in succession law by a decade
Craig Gregson
