Graduate Certificate in Laws - Flinders University

Graduate Certificate in

Laws

Graduate Certificate in

Laws

Build tailored legal expertise and apply it to your workplace right away.

Apply now

Enquire now

Fast Facts

Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree in an area other than Law

See entry requirements

Duration

6 months

Delivery mode

Online

Availability

Full-time, part-time

Start dates

March, July

Annual indicative fees (2025)

$33,768 (Full fee paying)

Available for mid-year entry?

Yes

Duration

3 years

Delivery mode

Online

Availability

Full-time, part-time

Start dates

March, July

Annual indicative fees (2025)

$33,768 (Full fee paying)

Available for mid-year entry?

Yes

Overview

Overview Course details Career opportunities Your academics Entry requirements Enquire now

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Study a Graduate Certificate in Laws at Flinders

Gain legal skills in 6 months from a top law school.

Study a Graduate Certificate in Laws at Flinders

Gain legal skills in 6 months from a top law school.

Flinders University is ranked in the top 2% globally* and No. 2 in Australia in Law & Paralegal Studies for teaching quality**.

Develop practical legal knowledge and skills to explore law’s role in society. This program offers flexibility to tailor your studies and is ideal for enhancing professional opportunities in non-legal fields.

**(THE World University Rankings 2024 as a percentage of the total number of universities in the world according to the International Association of Universities)

**The Good Universities Guide 2023 (postgraduate)

What you will study

You’ll study 1 core topic and then select 3 option topics to develop key legal skills applicable to your career needs. You’ll gain foundational knowledge of the Australian legal system and explore specialised areas such as contract law, international law, and dispute resolution.

What you will study

You’ll study 1 core topic and then select 3 option topics to develop key legal skills applicable to your career needs. You’ll gain foundational knowledge of the Australian legal system and explore specialised areas such as contract law, international law, and dispute resolution.

Core topic

The Australian Legal System

Optional topics:

Legal Innovation and Problem Solving
Dispute Resolution
Contract
Torts
Property, Equity and Trusts
Criminal Law
Corporate Law

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Course handbook

Your career

The Graduate Certificate in Laws can leverage legal knowledge and skills in roles that require an understanding of legal frameworks but not formal legal practice. This qualification can lead to careers in policy-making, compliance, research, and advisory roles in diverse sectors where a foundational knowledge of law is advantageous.

Your career

The Graduate Certificate in Laws can leverage legal knowledge and skills in roles that require an understanding of legal frameworks but not formal legal practice. This qualification can lead to careers in policy-making, compliance, research, and advisory roles in diverse sectors where a foundational knowledge of law is advantageous.

Potential occupations

Risk and Compliance Manager

$140,000*

Contract Administration

$120,000*

Policy Adviser

$105,000*

Compliance Officer

$85,000*

Legal Research Assistant

$80,000*

*Upon completion of Practical Legal Training, typical salaries are drawn from a variety of sources, including Seek, Glassdoor and Indeed, and may vary. Please do your own research.

Potential employers

Businesses
Corporations
Government agencies
Law firms
Policy and regulatory agencies

Potential occupations

Risk and Compliance Manager

$140,000*

Contract Administrator

$120,000*

Policy Adviser

$105,000*

Compliance Officer

$85,000

Legal Research Assistant

$80,000*

*Upon completion of Practical Legal Training, typical salaries are drawn from a variety of sources, including Seek, Glassdoor and Indeed, and may vary. Please do your own research.

Potential employers

Law firms
Corporations
Government agencies
Not-for-profit organisations
Consulting firms
Small-medium enterprises

Practical experience

Gain practical skills and processes to apply the law in a dynamic, interconnected, global and increasingly digital world.

Practical experience

Gain practical skills and processes to apply the law in a dynamic, interconnected, global and increasingly digital world.

Interactive, case-based teaching

Debate and reflect on real-world issues

Interactive, case-based teaching

Debate and reflect on real-world issues

Interactive, case-based
teaching

Debate and reflect on real-world issues

Practical assessments

This course has no mandatory placement requirements. Instead, students are provided with assessments and opportunities throughout the course to develop practical skills as part of their coursework in each topic.

Practical assessments

This course has no mandatory placement requirements. Instead, students are provided with assessments and opportunities throughout the course to develop practical skills as part of their coursework in each topic.

Industry connections

The Juris Doctor Connect Mentor Network at Flinders University connects students with experienced legal professionals, providing valuable mentorship opportunities, and exposes them to a broad range of legal practice beyond those fields covered in the course itself.

Flinders University is a future you can count on

Pathway to qualify to practise law in Australia and in Singapore with a university ranked in the top 2% globally.*

No.2 in Australia in Law & Paralegal Studies for teaching quality*

Flexible online study - study anywhere, anytime and start, stop and restart your studies when life allows.

Fast-Track Foundational Legal Knowledge. Complete the program in just three months and gain a strong understanding of essential legal principles and their applications.

In demand skills. Improve decision-making, compliance, and problem-solving in various industries, making you more competitive in your field.

Learn from experienced lawyers through interactive, case-based teaching.

Pathway to qualify to practise law in Australia and in Singapore with a university ranked in the top 2% globally.*

No.2 in Australia in Law & Paralegal Studies for teaching quality*

Flexible online study - study anywhere, anytime and start, stop and restart your studies when life allows.

Fast-Track Foundational Legal Knowledge. Complete the program in just three months and gain a strong understanding of essential legal principles and their applications.

In demand skills. Improve decision-making, compliance, and problem-solving in various industries, making you more competitive in your field.

Learn from experienced lawyers through interactive, case-based teaching.

*THE World University Rankings 2024 as a percentage of the total number of universities in the world according to the International Association of Universities

**The Good Universities Guide 2023 (postgraduate)

Meet your academics

Our incredible teaching and professional staff are experts in their fields and well-connected to industry.

Meet your academics

Our incredible teaching and professional staff are experts in their fields and well-connected to industry.

Robert Chalmers

Senior Lecturer

Robert draws on his diverse experience as a lawyer, educator, and commercial adviser to prepare students for real-world challenges. Specialising in intellectual property and technology, he explores the dynamic interplay between technological innovation, societal impacts, and regulatory frameworks.

See full profile

Robert Chalmers

Senior Lecturer

Show less

Robert draws on his diverse experience as a lawyer, educator, and commercial adviser to prepare students for real-world challenges. Specialising in intellectual property and technology, he explores the dynamic interplay between technological innovation, societal impacts, and regulatory frameworks.

See full profile

Simone Daniells

Associate Lecturer

Simone is a lawyer with over 13 years' experience, and integrates legal and business innovation into her teaching. As Dedicated Course Mentor for the Juris Doctor program, she fosters student success by blending practical expertise in law with collaborative problem-solving and design thinking approaches.

See full profile

Simone Daniells

Associate Lecturer

Show less

Simone is a lawyer with over 13 years' experience, and integrates legal and business innovation into her teaching. As Dedicated Course Mentor for the Juris Doctor program, she fosters student success by blending practical expertise in law with collaborative problem-solving and design thinking approaches.

See full profile

Professor Tania Leiman

Dean of Law

Tania leads Flinders Law’s innovative undergraduate curriculum, focusing on legal education for emerging technologies, access to justice, and sustainability. An award-winning educator and researcher, she contributes to national initiatives on future mobility, legal tech, and regulatory frameworks, shaping the future of legal practice and education.

See full profile

Professor Tania Leiman

Dean of Law

Show less

Tania leads Flinders Law’s innovative undergraduate curriculum, focusing on legal education for emerging technologies, access to justice, and sustainability. An award-winning educator and researcher, she contributes to national initiatives on future mobility, legal tech, and regulatory frameworks, shaping the future of legal practice and education.

See full profile

Robert Chalmers

Senior Lecturer

Robert draws on his diverse experience as a lawyer, educator, and commercial adviser to prepare students for real-world challenges. Specialising in intellectual property and technology, he explores the dynamic interplay between technological innovation, societal impacts, and regulatory frameworks.

See full profile

Simone Daniells

Associate Lecturer

Simone is a lawyer with over 13 years' experience, and integrates legal and business innovation into her teaching. As Dedicated Course Mentor for the Juris Doctor program, she fosters student success by blending practical expertise in law with collaborative problem-solving and design thinking approaches.

See full profile

Professor Tania Leiman

Dean of Law

Tania leads Flinders Law’s innovative undergraduate curriculum, focusing on legal education for emerging technologies, access to justice, and sustainability. An award-winning educator and researcher, she contributes to national initiatives on future mobility, legal tech, and regulatory frameworks, shaping the future of legal practice and education.

See full profile

Three qualifications in one

Flinders University offers staggered qualifications as you complete certain milestones. Finish four topics and you’ll receive a Graduate Certificate. Finish another four topics, and you’ll receive a Graduate Diploma. Complete a further 12 topics in addition to those, and you will be awarded a Juris Doctor.

Three qualifications in one

Flinders University offers staggered qualifications as you complete certain milestones. Finish four topics and you’ll receive a Graduate Certificate. Finish another four topics, and you’ll receive a Graduate Diploma. Complete a further 12 topics in addition to those, and you will be awarded a Juris Doctor.

Juris Doctor

24 topics
3-years duration

Graduate Diploma in Laws

8 topics
12-month duration

Graduate Certificate in Laws

4 topics
6-month duration

Juris Doctor

24 topics
3-years duration

Graduate Diploma in Laws

8 topics
12-month duration

Graduate Certificate in Laws

4 topics
6-month duration

Entry requirements

To be accepted into this course, applicants must meet at least one of the following entry requirements:

hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in an area other than law, or
hold a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in law that does not make them eligible to be admitted to practise law in Australia.

Have a question?

Find the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

Have a question?

Find the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

Who is the Graduate Certificate in Laws designed for?

The Graduate Certificate in Laws is designed for individuals from non-legal backgrounds who want to gain foundational knowledge of the legal system. It’s ideal for professionals looking to enhance their understanding of law in business, government, or other industries.

Can I use this qualification to become a lawyer?

No, the Graduate Certificate in Laws does not qualify you to practise law. However, it provides a pathway to further legal studies, such as the Graduate Diploma in Laws or Juris Doctor, which can lead to legal practice.

What topics will I study in the Graduate Certificate in Laws?

You will study core topics like the Australian legal system and can choose from electives such as dispute resolution, contract law, or international law to tailor your learning experience.

Can I transition to the Graduate Diploma in Laws after completing the certificate?

Yes, the Graduate Certificate in Laws is nested within the Graduate Diploma in Laws. You can transition seamlessly and receive credit for completed topics.

Do I need a background in law to apply

No prior legal background is required. This course is tailored for graduates from other disciplines who want to explore or integrate legal knowledge into their careers.

What is Practical Legal Training?

If you want to practise law in Australia, Practical Legal Training (or PLT) is the next step to complete after graduating after completing a Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws – Legal Practice Entry. It is a requirement that helps you transition from your academic studies to real-life legal practice.

How to apply?

Select your preferred course.

Check the entry requirements and your eligibility.

Check the key application and enrolment dates.

Apply and submit your application via Direct Entry.

Who is eligible to apply?

Flinders Online courses are available for Australian or New Zealand citizens, Australian permanent residents, holders of Australian permanent humanitarian visas and Pacific Engagement visa holders.

International students in Australia who hold a student visa are not eligible to apply.

For further information regarding course eligibility, refer to the individual entry requirements for each course.

When do I apply?

You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and by no later than teaching commencement dates. If places fill, applications for your preferred start date may close without notice and you will be considered for the next available intake.

Semester 1: teaching commences 3 March 2025 – Applications close 28 February 2025
Semester 2: teaching commences 28 July 2025 – Applications close 25 July 2025

Some courses have non-standard semester commencement dates as follows:

February Study Period: teaching commences 24 February 2025 – Applications close 21 February 2025
June Study Period: teaching commences 30 June 2025 – Applications close 27 June 2025
September Study Period: teaching commences 29 September 2025 – Applications close 26 September 2025

Please refer to the individual Flinders Online course for more information.

Other critical and key dates