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Diploma of Legal Studies

This diploma takes about one year full time and gives an entry level grounding in law.

Compare 2 providers
How long it takes
8 to 12 months
full time
Level
Diploma
University
How you can study
Online or on campus
Taught by
2 providers
QLD

Is this course right for you?

What the Diploma of Legal Studies asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in how the law affects everyday life
  • a careful and methodical approach to reading documents
  • clear written and spoken communication skills
  • confidence in asking questions and checking details

Before you start

Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.

Where this course can take you

No job needs this course on its own, but it can help with the work below.

Jobs a degree can help with

None of these jobs needs a set qualification.

  • Claims Assessor

    Claims assessors decide whether an insurance claim gets paid, checking the policy, the evidence and the circumstances behind it.

    Median pay$59,800 (estimate)

  • Contract Administrator

    Contract administrators manage the agreements an organisation signs, keeping track of what each side promised and sorting out problems before they turn into disputes.

    Median pay$110,800

  • Court Registrar

    Court registrars run the administrative side of a courtroom, keeping case files, hearing lists and the official record in order.

    Median pay$58,200 (estimate)

  • Law Clerk

    Law clerks do the research, drafting and file work that keep a legal matter moving under a solicitor's or barrister's supervision.

    Median pay$69,900

  • Legal Secretary

    Legal secretaries run the paperwork of a law firm's matters, preparing court documents, keeping files and diaries in order, and handling contact with clients and courts.

    Median pay$84,600

  • Lobbyist

    Lobbyists put a client's case to politicians and public servants, and follow the policy decisions that affect them.

    Median pay$130,000 (estimate)

  • Social Security Assessor

    Social security assessors decide whether people qualify for income support payments such as JobSeeker and the Age Pension, and work out how much they receive.

    Median pay$75,400 (estimate)

  • Trust Officer

    Trust officers look after trusts and deceased estates, making sure assets are managed, accounted for and distributed as the trust deed or will requires.

    Median pay$90,000 (estimate)

  • Compliance Officer

    Compliance officers make sure an organisation's practices meet the laws, rules and internal policies that apply to it, and work out what has to change when they don't.

    Median pay$87,400 (estimate)

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

Where you can study this course

There are 2 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

  • Southern Cross University

    Gold Coast, QLD

    3.4from 183 Google reviews

    How you study
    Online or on campus
    (full or part time)
    Next intake
    Mar 2027
    Fee
    $17,392 a year
    (Government-supported place)
    Website for Southern Cross University (opens in a new tab)

  • Bond University

    Gold Coast, QLD

    4.4from 303 Google reviews

    How you study
    On campus
    (full or part time)
    Next intake
    Jan 2027
    Fee
    $36,800 in total
    (Full fee)
    Course page for Bond University (opens in a new tab)

    What students like

    • Staff are friendly, caring and helpful
    • Small class sizes give personalised attention

    What to weigh up

    • Fees are on the higher side
    • Admissions can be slow to sort out

What you’ll learn

The main topics covered in the Diploma of Legal Studies.

  • Australian legal system
  • Legal research and writing
  • Business law
  • Ethics in law
  • Foundations for further law study

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Related courses

Course Seeker, run by the Tertiary Admissions Centres and the Australian Government Department of Education. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.