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MASTER OF LAWS (APPLIED LAW) MAJORING IN IN-HOUSE PRACTICE

  • 8 subjects
  • $4,150 per subject
  • FEE-HELP eligible
  • 2 years part-time
  • 4 intakes per year: Feb, May, Aug, Nov

BE THE GO-TO EXPERT IN YOUR WORKPLACE

The role of an in-house lawyer is unique. You will work to understand the pressure points, strategies and objectives of the business. And then you will guide decision-making using your cutting-edge legal expertise. As both a facilitator for client objectives and a guardian of their long-term interests, expect to apply your skills to a variety of stimulating situations.

With a Master of Laws (Applied Law) majoring in In-house Practice, you will deepen your expertise substantially – and truly set yourself apart as an industry specialist while learning to serve the interests of just one client, uphold an ethical commitment to serving the public interest in the administration of justice, influence good governance and compliance in their organisation, as well as broader risk-management concerns.

To complete this award, you must choose:

  • 3 IHP subjects
  • 4 elective subjects or a second major
  • Capstone project in In-house Practice

 

Plan your studies

Looking to plan your postgraduate program?

  1. Use the tool below to explore subjects by practice area and intake date.
  2. Prefer to review offline? Download the full PDF for a complete overview of all your options.

HOW TO ENROL

Follow these steps to complete your enrolment in a postgraduate program.

  1. Choose your first subject
    We recommend enrolling in one subject per intake. Enrolling in two subjects may require up to 25 hours of study per week.

  2. Gather your documents - You'll need your documents to upload when completing the online enrolment form
    • Academic Records
      You’ll need to submit one of the following:
        • Official academic transcript (LLB, JD, Dip Law)
        • Graduation certificate
        • Admission certificate
        • Current practising certificate
    • Recognition of prior learning (if applicable)
      Submit any relevant postgraduate certificates or qualifications if applying for RPL.

    • Proof of name change (if applicable)
      If your name has changed, provide certified proof.

    • Unique student identifier (USI)
      A USI is required by the Australian Government for all students (except offshore international students). Create or find your USI here.

  3. Payment or financial assistance
    Have your payment details or tax file number (TFN) ready if applying for FEE-HELP through the Commonwealth Government FEE-HELP scheme.

  4. Submit your enrolment
    Once ready, complete and submit your online enrolment.

Need help?
For assistance, contact Customer and Student Engagement at 1300 506 402 or email postgrad@collaw.edu.au

RE-ENROLMENTS

Re-enrolling for your next subject is simple!

Once you've enrolled in your chosen Award program, re-enrolling for the next subject is easy. Simply follow these steps:

  1. Choose your next subject.
  2. Log in to the customer portal.
  3. Complete the re-enrolment form and select your payment option.

FEES & FEE-HELP

Here’s what you need to know:

  • The fee per subject in 2025 is $4,150 (no GST applies)
  • Our fees are reviewed annually and may vary during your enrolment
  • You need to pay your fees in full at the time of enrolment each semester.
  • We accept cheque, EFT and credit card.

StudyAssist FEE-Help

Good news! There’s no need to pay for your entire qualification upfront. Instead, you can pay as you learn – subject by subject. Which means, you can start off small by building your own Graduate Certificate, or Graduate Diploma, and then progress to a Master of Laws later, if you choose.

Please refer to our Policy Index - 1.3.11 Withdrawal policy.

 

Kay Smith Scholarship

The Kay Smith Scholarship honours one of the longest serving and most respected people of The College of Law. It is designed to support the education aspirations of outstanding law graduates and young lawyers. Learn more.

PREREQUISITES

You must hold a recognised law degree (LLB, JD, or equivalent) to enrol in a Postgraduate Program.

ASSESSMENTS

Your assessments may vary from course to course. However, these are the most common assessments that you will need to complete:

  • Oral Assessments
  • Written Assessments
  • Short writing activities
  • Reflection activities

For all student policies refer to our policy index.

IN-HOUSE PRACTICE SUBJECTS

IHP00 - Capstone Project (In-house Practice)

Intake 2, 4
The Capstone Project is taken as the final subject, as a culmination of the knowledge and skills attained throughout the major. It will allow students to demonstrate their skills in a specialist practice area using real-life scenarios and case studies. Throughout the intake, students will receive individualised feedback from their lecturer and will also have access to a rich array of skills modules that include guides, samples, and practice exercises for honing their legal skills. The highlight of the Capstone Project is the final task, where students will prepare a Final Portfolio that demonstrates their legal writing, research, and oral skills.

TOPICS

THE SUBJECT HAS FOUR COMPONENTS

  1. Four short answer questions 
  2. Two legal writing samples
  3. Oral communication (e.g. client interview) assessment held through online conferencing
  4. Reflective analysis

IHP101 - Foundations of In-House Practice

Intake 1, 3

This subject has been developed around the core issues faced by in-house lawyers and the unique environment in which they must discharge their legal and professional obligations. Serving the interests of just one client brings both opportunities and tensions. With their professional qualifications, training, experience and ethical commitment to serving the public interest in the administration of justice, corporate and government lawyers can offer far more than simply providing legal advice. They can influence good governance and compliance in their organisation, as well as broader risk-management concerns.

They can act as both facilitators for their client’s objectives and as guardians of their client’s long-term interests. In-house lawyers must be able to communicate effectively and deal with all organisational levels up to the board and the directors.

The in-house role also requires a thorough understanding of the risks the client faces in its operations. From a management perspective, in-house lawyers must understand how to provide appropriate service levels, optimise execution and yet manage costs while achieving scale in both of these areas. Professionally, the in-house lawyer must be prepared to withstand challenges to their professional independence and integrity.

TOPICS

  • Working in-house and in the private and public sectors
  • Challenges for in-house lawyers – balancing the roles of facilitator and guardian
  • Communicating effectively in an in-house environment
  • Balancing your role as facilitator against your compliance obligations
  • Understanding professional duties – maintaining confidentiality and privilege
  • Duties and statutory requirements
  • Managing your own risk – limiting your liability if something goes wrong
  • Briefing out – an introduction to engaging external legal providers and managing the relationships and costs

IHP102 - Managing Disputes

Intake 2
This subject deals with issues likely to be faced by an in-house lawyer who has been asked to advise on steps to reduce the cost or inconvenience of disputes, to act in the interests of a company or a government agency in dispute management and in other contexts that require an understanding of dispute resolution processes. This practice-based subject advances on the key knowledge and skill required in an in-house role.

TOPICS

  • Understanding the role of the in-house lawyer
  • Dealing with legal and business risk
  • Managing complaints effectively
  • Dispute management processes
  • Managing electronic communications
  • Freedom of information
  • Legal professional privilege
  • Dealing with external lawyers

IHP111 - Acting as a Company Secretary

Intake 1

The role of the company secretary has evolved since the corporate collapses of the 1990s (notably HIH Insurance Ltd in Australia), the High Court decision in Shafron v ASIC (2012) 247 CLR 465; [2012] HCA 18, and the global financial crisis (GFC) and subsequent collapse of many highly leveraged businesses.

Irrespective of organisation size or type, the board will look to the company secretary not only to perform administrative tasks, but to provide it with timely information about policy, compliance and governance matters.

As a trusted advisor and custodian of corporate knowledge, the company secretary needs to understand their own role as well as the related functions – legal, risk, audit and compliance, and ensure that they do not become an alternate and perhaps conflicting source of advice.

The company secretary is now expected to be a focal point for assurance and better practice on the law and procedures, and also for better practice that underpins board decision making and good corporate governance. Company secretaries need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to discharge their duties effectively.

TOPICS

  • The role of the company secretary
  • Managing the relationship with the board
  • Company secretaries; corporate governance and key responsibilities
  • Managing company information
  • Conducting meetings
  • Acting as a company secretary in public sector organisations
  • Assessing board performance
  • Managing board performance

IHP112 - Managing the Legal Team

Intake 4
Senior management will usually judge the legal team on its contribution to the organisation’s key objectives. To achieve this outcome, the legal team’s technical legal skills must be supported by effective management. This subject deals with the principles of legal practice management in a corporate or government context and covers some of the knowledge and skills required to manage a legal team. This subject provides foundations to develop advanced and integrated understandings about effective management skills for in-house lawyers.

TOPICS

  • Understanding the value of the legal department
  • Structuring the in-house legal department
  • Contributing to strategic planning
  • Communicating effectively for the in-house legal team
  • Managing a crisis
  • Planning and managing a budget
  • Developing effective management systems
  • Managing people - recruiting the legal team and performance management

IHP116 - Multi-Disciplinary Project Management

Intake 3

Project management encompasses a broad range of disciplines and skills. It is a recognised profession and becoming increasingly relevant to in-house counsel as they execute legal matters and provide support for major business projects. Both internal and external clients now expect senior lawyers to be familiar with project management concepts and to be able to apply these to their legal matters and the legal work streams of major projects.

This in turn will reduce the executional risk of strategic business programs which are the mechanism by which major organisations deliver on their strategic objectives; build and deliver new products; and undertake process improvements. 

The primary objective of this subject is to introduce lawyers to the concepts of project management and to provide concepts that can be applied to legal work when appropriate. Students will become familiar with recent trends in legal project management; the various components of the project life cycle; and a lawyer’s role and contribution at the various stages of the life cycle.

TOPICS

  • Introducing project management Initiation - defining the project
  • Planning
  • Analysing and allocating risk
  • Execution: directing and managing, monitoring and controlling
  • Execution: conducting tender processes
  • Post-implementation reviews
  • Legal project management

START DATES

Feb Intake 1 May Intake 2 Aug Intake 3 Nov Intake 4
START DATE 10 Feb 2025 12 May 2025 11 Aug 2025 10 Nov 2025
CENSUS 26 Feb 2025 28 May 2025 27 Aug 2025 03 Dec 2025
END DATE 02 May 2025 01 Aug 2025 31 Oct 2025 06 Feb 2026
Subject Start Date Census End Date Workshop Date
DRP3 - Advocacy 22 Sep 2025 01 Oct 2025 31 Oct 2025

15 - 17 October 2025

DRP4 - Mediation 06 Oct 2025 15 Oct 2025 14 Nov 2024

TBC

EPP2 - Superannuation 01 Jul 2024 10 Jul 2024 09 Aug 2024
FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation 10 Feb 2025 19 Feb 2025 21 Mar 2025

3 - 5 March 2025 NSW & VIC
6 - 8 March 2025 QLD & WA

FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation 11 Aug 2025 20 Aug 2025 19 Sep 2025

3 - 5 March 2025 NSW & VIC
6 - 8 March 2025 QLD & WA

FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 24 Mar 2025 02 Apr 2025 02 May 2025

10 - 12 April 2025 NSW & VIC 
14 - 16 April 2025 QLD & WA

FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 22 Sep 2025 30 Sep 2025 31 Oct 2025

10 - 12 April 2025 NSW & VIC 
14 - 16 April 2025 QLD & WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 05 May 2025 14 May 2025 13 Jun 2025

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 03 Nov 2025 11 Nov 2025 12 Dec 2025

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 16 Jun 2025 25 Jun 2025 25 Jul 2025

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

19 - 21 February 2026 NSW & VIC
16 - 18 February 2026 QLD & WA 

 

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 26 Jan 2026 04 Feb 2026 06 Mar 2026

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

19 - 21 February 2026 NSW & VIC
16 - 18 February 2026 QLD & WA 

 

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 07 Apr 2025 17 Apr 2025 30 May 2025

Day 1 - 24 April 2025
Days 2 - 4: 29 April - 1 May 2025
Day 5 – 20 May 2025

Day 1 – 26 September 2025    
Days 2-4 – 30 September - 2 October 2025
Day 5 – 22 October 2025

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 08 Sep 2025 01 Jan 0001 31 Oct 2025

Day 1 - 24 April 2025
Days 2 - 4: 29 April - 1 May 2025
Day 5 – 20 May 2025

Day 1 – 26 September 2025    
Days 2-4 – 30 September - 2 October 2025
Day 5 – 22 October 2025

LB3 - Business Strategy: Planning for Success 05 May 2025 14 May 2025 13 Jun 2025
LB3 - Business Strategy: Planning for Success 03 Nov 2025 12 Nov 2025 12 Dec 2025
Subject Start Date Census End Date Workshop Date
FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation 10 Feb 2025 19 Feb 2025 21 Mar 2025

3 - 5 March 2025 NSW/VIC   
6 - 8 March 2025 QLD/WA

1 - 3 September 2025 NSW/VIC
4 - 6 September 2025 QLD/WA

FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation 11 Aug 2025 20 Aug 2025 19 Sep 2025

3 - 5 March 2025 NSW/VIC   
6 - 8 March 2025 QLD/WA

1 - 3 September 2025 NSW/VIC
4 - 6 September 2025 QLD/WA

FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 24 Mar 2025 02 Apr 2025 02 May 2025

10 - 12 April 2025 NSW & VIC 
14 - 16 April 2025 QLD & WA

16 - 18 October 2025   NSW/VIC
13 - 15 October 2025  QLD/WA

FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 22 Sep 2025 30 Sep 2025 30 Oct 2025

10 - 12 April 2025 NSW & VIC 
14 - 16 April 2025 QLD & WA

16 - 18 October 2025   NSW/VIC
13 - 15 October 2025  QLD/WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 05 May 2025 14 May 2025 13 Jun 2025

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

24 - 26 November 2025 NSW/VIC
27-29 November 2025 QLD/WA

FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 02 Nov 2025 11 Nov 2025 11 Dec 2025

26 - 28 May 2025 NSW & VIC
29 - 31 May 2025 QLD & WA

24 - 26 November 2025 NSW/VIC
27-29 November 2025 QLD/WA

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 26 Jan 2025 05 Feb 2026 06 Mar 2026

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

19-21 Feb 2026 NSW & VIC 
16-18 Feb 2026 QLD & WA

FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 16 Jun 2025 25 Jul 2025 25 Jul 2025

10 - 12 July 2025 NSW & VIC
7 - 9 July 2025 QLD & WA 

19-21 Feb 2026 NSW & VIC 
16-18 Feb 2026 QLD & WA

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 07 Apr 2025 17 Apr 2025 30 May 2025

Day 1 - 24 April 2025
Days 2 - 4: 29 April - 1 May 2025
Day 5 – 20 May 2025

Day 1 – 26 September 2025    
Days 2-4 – 30 September - 2 October 2025
Day 5 – 22 October 2025

FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 08 Sep 2025 18 Sep 2025 31 Oct 2025

Day 1 - 24 April 2025
Days 2 - 4: 29 April - 1 May 2025
Day 5 – 20 May 2025

Day 1 – 26 September 2025    
Days 2-4 – 30 September - 2 October 2025
Day 5 – 22 October 2025

My degree was extremely beneficial. If I had my time over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Dominique Mayo, LLM Graduate - Commercial Litigation

I would describe the College of Law as inspiring, innovative, and collegiate. 

Krystal Bellamy, LLM Graduate - Wills and Estates

INVEST IN YOUR WHERE'S NEXT

PURSUE YOUR PASSION - ADVANCE YOUR EXPERTISE

5
In-house Practice subjects to choose from PLUS 4 electives or a second major
4
Intakes per year: Feb, May, Aug and Nov
93 %
of alumni recommend our Postgraduate Programs

Discover more

Kay Smith Scholarship

If you’re experiencing financial hardship and unable to afford postgraduate study, see if you are eligible for the The Kay Smith Scholarship. This scholarship honours one of the longest serving and most respected people of The College of Law. It is designed to support the education aspirations of outstanding law graduates and young lawyers.

Got questions or want to enrol?

If you have any questions about subjects, awards, intake dates, or anything else related to our postgraduate programs, don't hesitate to reach out. Book a call with one of our Student and Customer Engagement Advisors who are ready to assist you.

Student success stories

Read how Craig’s postgraduate study accelerated his career by a decade and enabled him to become a specialist and eventually started his own firm.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This depends on your workload and your personal situation. If you complete 1 subject every intake you could complete your Masters in 2 years. However, you have five years to complete the course from your intake commencement date.

You can do any of the following without financial penalty any time before the published census date for each intake:

  • Withdraw completely
  • Change the subject or course you are enrolled in
  • Defer it to a subsequent intake (must be within the next 12 months)

Learn more by reading our Policy Index.

As you have 5 years to complete your Masters, you don’t need to complete a subject every intake. However, if you do not study for 2 consecutive intakes – then you can apply for a Leave of Absence. You can only request a leave of absence twice over the course of your studies.

We recommend that you set aside 10-12 hours a week on study per subject, 1 unit per semester. Completing two subjects in the same intake may require up to 25 hours of study and readings each week. 

There are four intakes a year: February, May, August and November.

You may be entitled to claim your full 10 units per subject for your CPD requirements.

However, you may still need to complete some mandatory CPD units. Please check with your local law society for the requirements in your state or territory.

WA-based students may claim up to 6 units per subject (6 CPD units for an intensive subject that has a compulsory workshop requirement or 4 CPD units for any other subject). College will lodge the CPD points with the Legal Practice Board on successful completion of the subject(s).

The College’s Credit for Prior Learning Policy encourages practitioners who have completed previous postgraduate and other recognised study to apply for credit towards either the LLM (Applied Law) or the Master of Applied Law (Family Law).

A maximum of three subject credits may be granted towards the Masters awards.

  • If you have undertaken a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice with The College of Law within the last ten years, you may apply to receive up to two elective subjects of unspecified credit.
  • If you have undertaken a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice with another provider within the last ten years, you may apply to receive one elective subject of unspecified credit.
  • If you have undertaken other postgraduate study, such as an LLM or Graduate Diploma of Law, whether you have completed the award or not, you may be eligible to receive credit for that study.
  • Accredited Specialists may qualify for exemption of the foundations subject and Capstone Project for their area of major.
  • Applicants who have completed a Legal Practice Management Course at The College of Law in may receive one subject specified credit.

Yes. Many LLM students choose electives from our Legal Business Management course. Please contact us to learn how.

No. To become a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, you will need to:

  1. Complete the Graduate Diploma in Family Dispute Practice (FRDP)
  2. Seek accreditation with the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department

Many students choose to pursue an LLM with a double major in Family Law and FDRP.

For 2025, each subject in our postgraduate programmes costs $4,150 with no GST applicable.

Please note that our fees are subject to annual review and may change during your enrolment. Full payment is required at the time of enrolment each semester, and we accept various payment methods including cheque, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), and credit card. Additionally, if you are an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen, or hold a permanent humanitarian visa, you may be eligible to defer your payment through the Commonwealth Government's FEE-HELP scheme.

Yes, if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident you may be eligible to receive FEE-HELP. For more information, download the FEE-HELP Factsheet.

Yes, you can, but StudyAssist FEE-HELP will not apply.

Yes. If you are from a non-English speaking country or your previous studies were in a language other than English, you will need to demonstrate your English skills in accordance with the IELTS standard before starting the program.

The requisite IELTS standard is at level 8 (writing), 7 (listening), 7.5 (speaking), 7 (reading), and 7.5 overall.

The Kay Smith Scholarship is designed to assist law graduates and young lawyers in Australia and New Zealand facing financial or personal hardships by covering the costs of a Master of Laws (Applied Law) or a Practical Legal Training course at The College of Law. It honours Kay Smith’s significant contributions to the college. Eligible applicants must demonstrate financial need, academic commitment, and community impact. Applications are due annually by December 15. For more details, you can click here

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