This course can be valuable for anyone who needs to work within a Legal office, Paralegal or Legal Support  situation (eg. Law office staff, Paralegals, Legal Assistants, Solicitors, Law Professors, Legal Receptionists/Secretaries, Private Investigators, Authorised Government Inspectors and Officers, Law Enforcement Officers and many others.

Modules

Core Modules: These modules provide foundation knowledge for the Certificate in Legal Practice.

Bookkeeping I BBS103
Legal Terminology BWR108
Office Practices VBS102
Criminal Psychology BPS309
Professional Practice For Consultants BBS301
Technical Writing (Advanced) BWR301

Note that each module in the Diploma in Legal Practice is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.

This course is relevant for a wide range of situations from business and politics, to Law, Crime and Police.

Course Structure

Six (6) modules need to be successfully completed, as follows:

Module 1 Office Practices

The course covers the following in 8 lessons:

1. The Modern Office: Scope of office work, procedures, the home office vs commercial premises, etc.

2. Communication Systems: Using the phone, business letters, faxes, couriers, postage, etc.
3. Interpersonal Communications
4. Phone Skills
5. Writing Letters and Other Documents:Writing Letters and Reports. Structure of a report, memos, business letters.
6. Computer Applications: Scope & uses of computers, types of computers, software types, peripherals, word processing, CD Roms, Modems, setting up and care of a PC.
7. Office Organisation and Procedures: Stationary, Office furniture, Paper specifications, Filing & record keeping etc.
8. Health and Safety in the Office: Office layout and organization, security.

Module 2 Legal Terminology

There are eight lessons in this module as follows:
1. Scope and Nature of Legal Terminology
2. The Legal Workplace –People & Processes
3. Legal systems –Australia, UK, International Law etc.
4. Contract & Business Law
5. Property Law - Buying & selling property, Conveyancing, Intellectual Property
6. Wills, Probate, Estate Law
7. Criminal Law
8. Other –Tort law, Family Law, Civil Actions, Bankruptcy, Insurance, Accidents Compensation

Module 3   Criminal Psychology

There are ten lessons consisting of -

1. Introduction to Criminal Psychology
2. Psychological approaches to understanding crime
3. Psychology and understanding serious crimes
4. Mental disorder and crime 1 – Learning disabilities and crime
5. Mental Disorder and Crime 2 - Psychopathy
6. Gender and Crime
7. Youth and Crime
8. Psychology and the Police
9. Psychology in the Courtroom
10. Psychology and Crime Prevention

Module 4   Bookkeeping

There are 13 lessons as follows:

1. Introduction – Nature and Function of Accounting for Service Firms
2. Balance Sheet
3. Analysing and Designing Accounting Systems
4. The Double Entry Recording Process
5. Cash Receipts and Cash Payments Journal
6. Credit Fees and Purchases Journal
7. The General Journal
8. Closing the Ledger
9. Profit and Loss Statement
10. Depreciation on Non-current Assets
11. Profit Determination and Balance Day Adjustments
12. Cash Control: Bank Reconciliation and Petty Cash
13. Cash Control: Budgeting

Module 5   Professional Practice for

There are eight lessons in this module as follows:

1. Determining If a Consultancy Practice is for You
2. Planning a Consultancy Practice: Part 1
3. Planning a Consultancy Practice: Part 2
4. Knowing What to Charge
5. Setting Up Your Consulting Practice
6. Keeping Accounts and Records
7. How to Generate Business & Keep It
8. Maintaining Your Consultancy Practice

Module 6   Technical

There are nine lessons in this module as follows:

1. Scope and Nature of Technical Writing
2. Presentation
3. Matching style and content to the audience
4. Planning: Developing a Logical Structure or Format
5. Collaborative Writing
6. Writing Technical Periodicals
7. Writing Manuals and Procedures
8. Writing Project Proposals
9. Writing Project Reports.