Diploma of Paralegal Services

The Diploma of Paralegal Services is a one-and-a-half-year qualification for people who want to work alongside solicitors, barristers and in-house legal teams without completing a full law degree. You study how the Australian legal system is put together, how to draft and interpret documents, how to research legislation and case law, and how to run the day-to-day administration that keeps a legal practice moving. Expect units on legal terminology, court procedures, contract and tort basics, legal writing, and the ethical and confidentiality duties that come with handling other people's affairs. Assessment is usually a mix of written assignments, practical drafting tasks, research exercises and exams.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas sit at Level 5 on the Australian Qualifications Framework. They are shorter and more applied than a bachelor degree, which normally runs three years. This one takes 1.5 years, typically delivered across semesters or trimesters, and you will need to complete a set number of units of study and accumulate the credit points the institute assigns to each. Some providers build in a work-integrated learning component, a placement in a law firm, community legal centre or corporate legal department, where you apply your skills under supervision. Check the official course page for the exact unit list, credit point values and whether placement is a requirement or an option.

What you actually learn

By the end you should be able to find and update the law using databases, prepare briefs and correspondence, manage files and deadlines, interview clients and take instructions, and support a matter from first contact through to hearing. You also learn how to work within the rules that govern legal practice, including conflicts of interest, costs disclosure and privacy. The emphasis is practical. You are being trained to be useful in a legal office from your first week, not to argue cases in court.

Who this suits

This diploma suits school leavers who want a direct route into legal support work, career changers moving from administration or insurance into law, and people already working in a firm who want formal recognition of what they do. It also gives you a pathway into further study, many graduates use it as credit towards a bachelor degree in law, legal studies or justice. If you are an international student, you will need to meet the English requirement published for this course and the separate English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs for the Student visa. While studying, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight. After you finish, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, depending on your circumstances. Tuition is listed on the CRICOS register. Always confirm the current details on the official AIM Institute of Health & Sciences page and the CRICOS entry for course code 108755D.

• Paralegal, law firms, barristers' chambers, government legal offices, community legal centres.
• Legal assistant or legal secretary, private practice, corporate legal departments.
• Law clerk, courts, tribunals, government agencies.
• Conveyancing assistant, property law firms and settlement agencies.
• Contracts administrator, construction, mining, engineering and procurement teams.
• Compliance or investigation support officer, banking, insurance, superannuation, regulators.
• Claims officer, insurers and compensation schemes.
• Court registry officer, state and federal court services.