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Diploma · national qualification

Diploma of Paralegal Services

This diploma builds on legal office experience rather than starting from scratch, because entry assumes you have already completed units in legal research, protecting client information and drafting documents, or have two years of relevant full-time work behind you.

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Illustration of a person working as paralegal
How long it takes
6 to 18 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $12,565
Full fee at TAFE Queensland
How you can study
Online or on campus
Main job
Paralegal
$64,500 (estimate) median pay
Taught by
5 providers
5 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

What the Diploma of Paralegal Services asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in how the Australian legal system works
  • care in handling client information and files
  • clear and careful writing skills
  • an ability to follow instructions from a solicitor

Before you start

Entry to this qualification is limited to those who: Have completed the following units (or equivalent competencies): BSBLEG314 Protect information in a legal services environment; BSBLEG423 Conduct simple legal research; and BSBLEG424 Support the drafting of complex legal documents. Equivalent competencies are predecessors to these units, which have been mapped as equivalent. or Have two years equivalent full-time relevant work experience.

Where this course can take you

Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.

Jobs you can do with it

  • Paralegal

    Paralegals do the research, drafting and file preparation behind a legal matter, working under a solicitor who advises the client and signs the documents.

    What else you need

    Support-role training; it does not confer admission as a lawyer. Entry requirements: Entry to this qualification is limited to those who: Have completed the following units (or equivalent competencies): BSBLEG314 Protect information in a legal services environment; BSBLEG423 Conduct simple legal research; and BSBLEG424 Support the drafting of complex legal documents. Equivalent competencies are predecessors to these units, which have been mapped as equivalent. or Have two years equivalent full-time relevant work experience.

    Median pay$64,500 (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.

What it costs

Paying the full fee

$12,565

across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Full fee
    $12,565

Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.

Where you can study this course

There are 5 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.

What you’ll learn

12 units: 5 that everyone takes and 7 you choose.

  • The Australian legal system
  • Legal research methods
  • Taking client instructions
  • Managing a legal file
  • Writing complex legal documents
  • Applying law to a matter
See all 5 core units

Core units

Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.

  • Loading the details for BSBLEG421…

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?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

It suits paralegals and legal support staff who want formal recognition of what they already do and the grounding to handle more complex work under a solicitor's supervision. It prepares you to plan and carry out work in a legal context using specialised, technical or managerial competencies. The job roles may include Paralegal, Legal Executive, Legal Secretary or Secretary.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

Entry is limited to those who have completed units in protecting information in a legal services environment, conducting simple legal research and supporting the drafting of complex legal documents, or who have two years of equivalent full-time relevant work experience. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. TAFE course pages, read 20 September 2026. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.