Trainee Admission Course - Victoria

The College of Law Victoria, in conjunction with the Law Institute of Victoria, offers the Victoria Trainee Admission Course to meet the quality training needs of graduates completing Supervised Workplace Training and their employers.

There are two paths to admission in Victoria:

a Practical Legal Training Program, or
a 12 month Supervised Workplace Training

The College recommends Practical Legal Training for admission purposes, but understands the desire for some firms or law graduates to undertake the extended Supervised Workplace Training option.

This option includes a 12 month workplace training placement, that covers set competencies as prescribed by the Victoria Legal Profession (Admission) Rules 2008. In addition to the workplace training, the Trainee must also undertake Professional Responsibility and Lawyer's Skills by an approved provider like The College of Law.

Methods of Instruction

Teaching methods for the Trainee Admission Course vary according to the subject and include:

online learning
face-to-face instruction
mentoring and individual tuition
practical exercises
skills development sessions
assignments and feedback sessions
problem-based research
online discussion groups

Trainee Admission Course Subjects

The following table outlines the Trainee Admission Course core and optional competencies. Please click on subject titles for detailed subject outlines.

Compulsory Competencies (Values and Professional Skills)	Format	Hours	Assessment includes completing all units online and submitting coursework, plus:	Cost

Professional Responsibility (Ethics)^^	Online + ½ day workshop	80	Satisfactory completion of workshop/2 hour open book written exam onsite – 100%	$1,500
Lawyers Skills Suite/Professional Skills^^				$1,800
Advocacy Skills	2 1/2 day workshop^	20	Satisfactory completion of workshop
Client Interviewing Skills	Online pre-reading + 1 day workshop^	10	Satisfactory completion of workshop
Negotiation and Dispute Resolution	Online pre-reading + 1 day workshop^	10	Satisfactory completion of workshop
Problem Solving, Work and Risk Management	1/2 day workshop^	5	Satisfactory completion of workshop
Writing and Drafting	1 day workshop^	5	Satisfactory completion of workshop
Supplementary Compulsory Competencies	Format	Hours	Assessment includes completing all units online and submitting coursework, plus:	Cost
Civil Litigation Practice	Online + 1 day workshop attendance (over 2 days)^	95	2 hour open book written exam onsite – 60% Assessment of court application onsite – 40%	$1,500
Commercial and Corporate Practice	Online^	90	2 hour open book written exam onsite – 60% Oral assessment of selected file onsite – 40%	$1,500
Property Practice	Online^ + 1.5 hour feedback and settlement demonstration	90	2 hour open book written exam onsite – 60% Settlement assessment onsite – 20% Oral assessment of selected file onsite – 20%	$1,500
Trust and Office Accounting	Online^ + 1.5 hour Trust and Office accounting review	55	2 hour open book written exam onsite – 100%	$776
Administrative Law Practice	Online + 1 day workshop + conduct interview and hearing (1/2 day)^	30	Assessment of court appearance onsite – 60% Assessment of file note of advice – 40%	$776
Consumer Law Practice	Online^	30	Online written assessment – 40% Oral assessment – 60%	$776
Criminal Law Practice	Online + 1 day workshop + conduct interview and hearing (1/2 day)^	30	Assessment of plea in mitigation court appearance onsite – 60% Assessment of file note of advice – 40%	$776
Employment and Industrial Relations Practice	Online^	30	Online written assessment – 40% Oral assessment – 60%	$776
Family Law Practice	Online + 1 day workshop + conduct interview and hearing (1/2 day)^	30	Assessment of court appearance onsite – 60% Assessment of file note of advice – 40%	$776
Planning and Environmental Law Practice	Online^	30	Online written assessment – 40% Oral assessment – 60%	$776
Wills and Estates Practice	Online^	30	Online written assessment – 40% Oral assessment – 60%	$776

^ These subjects require some face-to-face attendance onsite

Trainee Admission Course Dates

Offering Code	Start Date	End Date
VT123F Full-time	19 March 2012	29 June 2012
VT125F Full-time	21 May 2012	31 Aug 2012
VT127F Full-time	1 Oct 2012	18 Jan 2013

Please note that courses may be subject to minimum student numbers.

Attendance and Assessments

Onsite and assessment session attendance is required. Some examinations may be conducted at external locations in regional areas at the graduate or employer’s expense.

For further information on attendance dates, please see: Victoria Trainee Admission Course Schedule

Application Details

Enrolment is open until two weeks before each course starting date.

To access the Application and Enrolment Form and related information for the Victoria Trainee Admission Course, please click on the Apply Now button.

For information on Payment Options, please see: Payment Options

FEE-HELP Government Loans

For eligible students undertaking the Trainee Admission Course, the tuition fee may be fully or partially covered by FEE-HELP. For further details, please review the Application and Enrolment Form, contact Student Services, or see: FEE-HELP Loans

Additional Information

For further information on Supervised Workplace Training, please visit:

Council for Legal Education - Board of Examiners
Law Institute of Victoria

Additional Resources

Victoria Trainee Admission Course Enrolment Form

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