The path to practice | All about the GDLP

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, or GDLP for short.

The link between a law degree and legal practice

The GDLP provides practical, supervised legal training based on the Australian Professional Legal Education Council (APLEC) 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 in Australia.

Bond’s GDLP can be completed online.  Aspiring lawyers are taught and mentored by a variety of experienced legal practitioners including  solicitors, barristers, accredited specialists and judges, 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 intensive, 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.

Study flexibly online

Bond’s Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice is competitively priced, it gives trainees the ability to manage their professional work with their study – they can elect to complete the program part-time or full-time. 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 real law firm to apply the skills and values they have obtained during the GDLP under the supervision of a legal practitioner.

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 to a minimum of 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 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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