The new Legal Profession Uniform Law takes effect from 1 July 2015. Be prepared.

The Legal Profession Uniform Law (“Uniform Law”) is a new statutory and regulatory framework which will apply to solicitors and barristers across NSW and Victoria from 1 July 2015. The Uniform Law is the result of years of negotiations at an intergovernmental level, and years of work by the National Legal Profession Reform Taskforce. At this initial stage, only NSW and Victoria are participating in the harmonisation, though it is expected other jurisdictions will adopt the Uniform Law after it has been implemented in NSW and Victoria. Almost three quarters of Australia’s lawyers work in NSW and Victoria, so this is a solid start to harmonisation. The Uniform Law standardises areas including practicing certificates, billing practices, complaints procedures, and continued professional development.

What is the purpose of the Uniform Law?

A main purpose behind the Uniform Law is to cut costs for law firms and clients. The harmonisation of laws is meant to make it easier and simpler for lawyers and firms practising across the Eastern states. The current system is particularly challenging for small firms operating in NSW and Victoria and the Uniform Law attempts to encourage the growth of smaller law firms and businesses. Section 3 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) outlines the objects of the legislation as promoting the administration of justice and an efficient and effective Australian legal profession by:

a.       Providing interjurisdictional consistency in law applying to the legal profession;

b.      Ensuring high ethical and professional standards in the provision of legal services;

c.       Protecting clients and the general public;

d.      Empowering clients to make informed choices about services and costs involved;

e.      Promoting efficient, effective, targeted and proportionate regulation of the legal profession; and

f.        Providing a framework where the legal profession has an appropriate level of independence from the executive arm of government.

Outline of the new statutory regime

1.       Legal Profession Uniform Law

The Uniform Law is incorporated into the law of NSW by the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW). It covers areas including admission to practice, legal practice, practising certificates, business practice and professional conduct, costs agreements, costs disclosure, billing, costs assessment, professional indemnity insurance and fidelity cover. The Uniform Law will replace the Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW).

2.       Legal Profession Uniform General Rules (“Uniform Rules”)

The Uniform Rules replace the Legal Profession Regulation 2005 (NSW), and “flesh out” in detail requirements under the Uniform Law, such as the threshold requirements for legal practice, trust accounting, legal costs, and business management.

3.       Legal Profession Uniform Admission Rules (“Admission Rules”)

Under the new regime, admission to practice rules have been separated into their own separate delegated legislation.

4.       Legal Profession Uniform Law Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules (“Solicitors Rules”)

The new Solicitors Rules replace the Professional Conduct and Practice Rules 2013 (NSW).

5.       Legal Profession Uniform Legal Practice (Solicitors) Rules (“Legal Practice Rules”)

The new regime also has a short set of Legal Practice rules dealing with transfer of a solicitors practice, debt collection, conducting another business, litigation lending, and loan and security documents.

Uniform Law timeline

February 2009	COAG appoints the National Legal Profession Reform Taskforce to propose draft uniform legislation and in the process enhance the clarity and accessibility of client/consumer protection.
May 2010	The Taskforce release a draft National Law and National Rules. The three month public consultation period began.
December 2010	The Taskforce release the amended draft National Law.
19 October 2011	The Attorney General of NSW and the Attorney General of Victoria commit their respective states to the implementation of the Uniform Law.
3 October 2012	Queensland withdraw from the harmonisation talks. NSW and Victoria continue reform discussions.
5 December 2013	NSW and Victoria sign an Intergovernmental Agreement and formalise their participation.
10 December 2013	Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Bill (Vic) is introduced into Victorian parliament.
25 March 2014	The Victorian Bill receives assent.
27 March 2014	NSW introduce legislation applying the Legal Profession Uniform Law.
20 May 2014	Legal Profession Uniform Law receives assent in NSW.
1 July 2015	The new Legal Profession Uniform Law and Rules will come into effect.

New bodies are created

The Law Society of NSW will continue having the same regulatory functions such as monitoring trust accounting and licensing. The Uniform Law creates the following new bodies:

1.       Standing Committee

The Standing Committee has a general supervisory role, supervising the functions and duties of the Council, Commissioner and local authorities such as the NSW Law Society (s391 Uniform Law).

2.       Legal Services Council (“LSC”)

The Legal Services Council is established by section 394 of the Uniform Law. Each Council is appointed for a 3 year term (s394). The LSC undertakes a number of functions including:

·         Rule making in accordance with the  Uniform Law (s419);

·         Monitoring the implementation of the Uniform Law to ensure consistent application in jurisdictions (s394);

·         Ensuring the framework remains efficient, targeted and effective at promoting the maintenance of professional standards (s394);

·         Ensuring the framework appropriately protects clients (s394);

·         Monitoring and reviewing the exercise of the Commissioner’s functions (s396);

·         Examining the Commissioner’s annual report (s396); and

·         Recommending to the Standing Committee any changes to the role of Commissioner (s396).

3.       The Commissioner for Uniform Legal Services Regulation (“Commissioner”)

The Commissioner has a range of functions including promoting compliance with Uniform Laws and Rules, making guidelines for dispute resolution and professional discipline, and raising awareness about the Uniform Law and its objectives (s398). The Commissioner is to act independently of the Council (s401).

4.       Admissions Committee

The primary function of the Admissions Committee is to develop and maintain Admission Rules. The Admissions Committee also has the role of advising the council about guidelines and directions relating to admission (s402).

What are some of the changes?

1.       Changes to cost disclosure protocols

There is a new “fundamental billing principle” in section 172 that a legal practice must not charge more than what is “fair and reasonable in all the circumstances”. In particular, the costs must be proportionately and reasonably incurred and proportionate and reasonable in amount (s172). The Uniform Law also introduces categories of disclosure:

a.       No formal notification of costs is required where the estimate is less than $750;

b.      “Short disclosure” is required where estimate of costs is between $750 and $3,000;

c.       “Full disclosure” is required where estimated costs exceed $3,000.

The system is still based on estimates, and law firms will not be required to provide a binding fixed fee at the beginning of the matter.

2.       Changes to complaint time limits

There is a reduction in the time limits for complaints processes. Clients must make the complaint within 60 days after the costs become payable or 30 days after receipt of the itemised bill (itemised bills must be requested within 30 days of the costs becoming payable). The time period can be extended by an additional 4 months.  The purpose of these changes is to encourage the quick resolution of matters at a lower cost to the client and the lawyer.

3.       New costs complaints vetting procedure

The relevant Regulator must conduct a preliminary assessment of the complaint and has powers to close the complaint if it is vexatious, misconceived, or lacking substance.

4.       Firms can now advertise their personal injury services

In NSW, legislation was introduced in 2005 prohibiting the advertising of personal injury services. This prohibition is not present in the Uniform Law. However, restrictions on false and misleading advertising still apply.

5.       Liability of principals

There has been a subtle but important change in the liability of principals. Under the current system a principal is deemed liable unless they can prove otherwise under a legislative exception. The Uniform Law has changed the onus of proof. Under the Uniform Law a principal will only be liable for contravention by their law practice if:

·         The principal knowingly authorised/per mitted the contravention; or

·         The principal was in or reasonably ought to have been in a position to influence the conduct of the law practice relevant to the contravention and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it.

6.       Exemptions for government and corporate (in-house lawyers)

Under the Uniform Law, government and corporate lawyers will not have to contribute to the fidelity fund. This makes sense, as they do not handle trust money. Government and corporate lawyers will also be exempt from professional indemnity insurance requirements. These lawyers may need professional indemnity insurance however if they participate in pro-bono work or volunteer legal work.

This blog post is a short overview of the new Uniform Law. The changes are substantial. For further information, the Law Society of NSW website is a great starting point.  

A guide to Admission Ceremonies in New South Wales

Why is this guide necessary?

Details of your Admission Ceremony are only provided by the Legal Profession Admission Board one week before the ceremony. This does not give you much time to organise a mover, invite guests, apply for leave from work or understand the ceremony process.

Admission Ceremonies in the NSW Supreme Court are held on a Friday every second month. There are several ceremonies held throughout the day, and applicants for admission are grouped according to the alphabet. I am an “H” and my ceremony was at 12:15pm, right in the middle of the day. I recommend you apply for a whole day of leave from work in advance, as you won’t know the time of your ceremony until a week out.

Should I invite guests? Is my Admission even that important?

I thought my Admission Ceremony would not be that important. I had my whole family travel from interstate to attend my graduation from law school and thought the Admission Ceremony would not be a big deal. I was wrong. I was so glad my parents came from interstate. Admission is the last step in the process of becoming a lawyer and signifies the legal community’s acceptance of you. One of the junior lawyers at work claims that her Admission was much more important than her law school graduation. She comes from a legal family and had several generations of lawyers at her ceremony. Your Admission is important and I would invite guests. You can invite a maximum of three guests plus a mover (mover is compulsory).

What should I wear?

Applicants should wear corporate attire. You must wear a jacket, as the Admission Ceremony is a proper court session. Appropriate attire:

1.      A suit; or

2.      Corporate dress with jacket;

3.      Flat shoes or low heels.

What is not appropriate:

1.      Not wearing a jacket;

2.      Bright, tight dresses;

3.      Short hemlines;

4.      Ghastly nail polish;

5.      Leopard print;

6.      Hooker heels.

If you would like to wear colour, wear a charcoal, black or navy suit with a bright top. Remind your guests to dress appropriately. Tell your guests to dress conservatively as though they are going to church.

If it is Autumn, Winter or Spring, bring a coat. The Supreme Court precinct is a wind tunnel and is freezing most of the year. If it is Winter I also recommend gloves. Phillip Street is particularly windy. If you plan to walk along Phillip Street, select a hairstyle that looks ok windswept.

This picture shows newly admitted lawyers dressed relatively appropriately for an Admission Ceremony. Relatively appropriate because I think some hemlines could be longer here and leopard print heels are questionable.

What should my mover wear?

Your mover should also wear corporate attire. If your mover is a barrister, they must be robed for the ceremony.

Before the Ceremony

Arrive at the Supreme Court building at least 40 minutes before the ceremony commences. This will allow time to get through security and line up for the lift to Level 13. Banco Court will open 30 minutes before the ceremony. Remember that no photographs or films can be taken in the court or foyer area. Turn off phones before entering the court building. Photographs are permitted and are traditionally taken after the ceremony when signing the roll and on the Supreme Court steps.

You must be in the court room and seated at least 20 minutes before the ceremony begins, as this is when the instructions for conduct during the ceremony will be given. If you arrive late your entry may be refused and you may have to be admitted another time (and have to pay the $500 fee again). Before you take your seat, make sure your guests are seated in the sections behind the silver railings to the back or sides of the court.

You will then be shown to your allocated seat which will have your name tag on it. It is important you stay in your seat, otherwise you may miss the instructions. Your mover will sit at the centre front of the court where they will be briefed on procedure. Your mover’s seat will also have their name tag on it. If your mover is a member of the bar or a particular prominent member of the legal profession they will be seated at one of the bar tables.

The Admission Ceremony

1.      Opening

All stand as the Chief Justice of New South Wales the Honourable Tom Bathurst AC and the two other Supreme Court judges presiding over the ceremony walk in. Remain standing until the Chief Justice has sat.

2.      Individual moving of applicants

Each applicant will be individually moved. You do not have to say anything in this part of the ceremony. Simply stand when your name is called, facing the Chief Justice. Your mover will stand and move you. The Chief Justice will then say “let [insert name] be moved”. You will then bow to the Chief Justice and sit down. This is the most lengthy part of the ceremony, as you will have to wait for all the other applicants to individually be moved. The Chief Justice is very good at giving eye contact, so be prepared to feel as though you are being judged.

3.      Applicants take oath/affirmation in groups

All applicants must take the oath/affirmation. This is done in groups, row by row. When your row is called, stand and follow your row to stand in front of the bar table facing the bench. If you are making an oath, pick up a copy of your religious book of choice at the end of the bar table. If you are making an affirmation you do not need anything.

The oath/affirmation is that you will truly and honestly conduct yourself in the practice of a lawyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and that you will faithfully serve as such in the administration of the laws and usages of this State according to the best of your knowledge, skill and ability. You don’t have to memorise this. The oath/affirmation is read out by the court. After it is read, as a group you say either “so help me God” (if swearing) OR “I do” (if declaring and affirming). Then you file back to your seat and wait for the other groups to make their oath/affirmation.

4.      Speech by the Chief Justice

The Chief Justice addresses the new lawyers and audience. The speech in my Admission Ceremony reminded us that lawyers are guardians of the rule of law, and their duty to the court and ethical responsibilities will sometimes require them to give legal advice that could lose them clients. Key message: Lawyers must be fearless custodians of the law.

Signing the Roll

After the Admission Ceremony head straight to the Macquarie Street side of the Lobby on Ground floor where the signing of the roll occurs. The line can be long, so I recommend going straight down to ground floor. There is no point lingering on Level 13 as photography is not permitted and you have to be silent as other courts may be in session.

There are two steps to signing the Roll:

1.      Complete the paperwork

You will have to circle whether you made an oath or affirmation and whether you said “so help me God” or “I do”.

2.      Sign the roll

You just have to sign, as your name and other details are already printed in the roll. You will be closely supervised, so don’t make any mistakes.

After you have signed the roll you will finally be given your certificate declaring you have been admitted as a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Don’t forget to take your certificate. I forgot to take the certificate initially which was quite embarrassing. Luckily you won’t make the same mistake because you have this guide. Remember to “shake and take”. That is, shake with your right hand, and then gently take the certificate with your left hand.

After your Admission Ceremony

Take photos in all the iconic locations, namely in front of the crest in the Eastern Foyer and outside on the court steps. 

This is a time to celebrate. You may like to choose somewhere lawyers lunch near the Supreme Court. Possible venues include:

1.      Verandah – for barrister watching;

2.      Lindt Café – for the iced chocolates;

3.      Society – for proximity to the Supreme Court;

4.      Silks Coffee Lounge – for upmarket barrister watching;

5.      Legal Grounds Café – for a quieter location;

6.      Hyde Park Barracks Café – for a historic location that pleases your grandparents;

7.      Chrysler Café – for the iconic soup menu; and

8.      Any venue at the GPO lower ground floor – for the variety and quality.

Congratulations and best of luck for your admission!

Finished your GDLP? Time to get admitted!!!! But first…the paperwork:

Admission is managed by the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB). Admission Ceremonies are generally held bi-monthly on a Friday (ie a Friday in March, a Friday in April, a Friday in June). The closing date for applications is about four weeks from the ceremony date. Get your application in as early as possible, as the number of positions in each ceremony is capped, and ceremonies often fill before the closing date. Missing out could mean you have to wait another two months to be admitted, and delay any related pay rise you are waiting for.

You will have to complete Form 10 which is the form for those who have not been admitted anywhere else before. This is available on the LPAB website. You will need to attach the following original documents to the form:

1. Two character references from persons who:
1. Are at least 30 years of age;
2. Have known you for at least three years; and
3. Are not related to you by blood or marriage (hot tip: this is A LOT of work for your referee, so choose wisely and reward with home baked cookies or other similar gift);
2. Transcript of your University academic record; and
3. Certificate from your PLT provider showing completion of your course. 

The cost of Admission is currently $500. Try and get your law firm to pay for this. Mine wouldn’t, but it is worth asking!

Lodging your application

Applications can be lodged by post or in person. I recommend you attend the LPAB Office at Level 4, 37 Bligh St in person to lodge your documents. Lodging your application in person has the following advantages:

• You can pay on your credit card, saving time preparing a cheque;
• Your documents will be checked on the spot and if your documentation is not accepted, you will be able to fix it quickly. If you send in your paperwork by mail, it can take weeks for the LPAB Office to get back to you about erroneous paperwork, which may impact your ability to fix the documents in time for the ceremony cut off date; and
• You will be told which admission ceremony you will likely be in (subject to receipt of the official email).

When will my place at the Admission Ceremony be confirmed?

The LPAB approves applications at a Board Meeting one or two weeks before the Ceremony. After the Board has met, you will receive the official confirmation for your Admission Ceremony.

Who can “move” me?

You can have a local NSW lawyer or an interstate lawyer move you. The options are:

1. Local lawyer in NSW who is:
1. Currently on the NSW roll; and
2. No requirement for NSW lawyer to hold a current practising certificate.
2. Interstate practitioner who is:
1. Currently on the roll of a non-NSW state/territory; and
2. Must hold a current practising certificate and present the certificate to Ceremony staff prior to the admission ceremony.

A member of the judiciary cannot move you, but a retired member of the judiciary can. If you have a Barrister “moving” you, be sure to remind them that they need to be robed for the ceremony.  

What if I can’t find someone to “move me”? Or what if my “mover” cannot make it at the last minute?

Both College of Law and ANU provide representatives at ceremonies to admit students from their PLT courses. Usually you have to call ahead of time to arrange a representative to be there, but if you find yourself without a “mover” on the day, a representative already attending may be able to “move” you. If you know you will have an issue finding a practitioner ahead of time, call LPAB and they will try and assist you to find a “mover”.

What to expect on your Admission Day:

What LPAB says:

“Normally admission ceremonies in Sydney are held in the Banco Court, Level 13, of the Law Courts Building at 184 Phillip Street, Sydney. There are entrances to the building on Phillip Street and Macquarie Streets. Please check our Home Page for any announcements regarding venue changes.

Depending on the number of applications received, we may hold between one to seven ceremonies on the day. If your application is approved, you will then be notified in writing of the time of your ceremony. As a matter of policy, this information cannot be given over the phone, it can only be confirmed in the letter sent after the Board meeting. Usually, the likely times for the ceremonies are at 90 minute intervals from 9.15am. Applicants are placed alphabetically according to their surnames (applicants cannot choose which time their admission will be). It will take approximately one and a half hours from the time of arrival for the ceremony to the time the ceremony concludes and you have completed all necessary paperwork.

It is important that you arrive at the Law Courts building at least 40 minutes prior to the ceremony. The Court room will open approximately 30 minutes before the ceremony start time to seat applicants, movers, guests and provide instructions for the conduct of the admission ceremony.

Please note that if you arrive late, after the ceremony has commenced, it is possible you may not be admitted.”

What actually happens:

You will have to wait for me to report on my own admission ceremony for that J

COL v ANU - A practical guide to selecting your admission to practice course in NSW

Who should read this article?

If you are studying at the University of Newcastle, UTS, UWS or the University of Wollongong, you can stop reading now. Your admission to practice course is usually incorporated into your time at university. All other law students and recent law graduates continue reading.

Selecting your admission to practice course may seem like a random choice, but the two Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) courses offered in NSW are VERY different. There are two main providers of admission to practice courses in NSW:

1.       College of Law; and

2.       Australian National University.

In the interest of full disclosure, I completed my GDLP through the ANU in 2014, but have numerous friends who studied their GDLP through the College of Law and have drawn on their experiences for this article. The material in this post is valid as of March 2015.

How are the courses structured?

	College of Law	Australian National University
Orientation	Compulsory 1 day orientation at St Leonards -course overview -provided with printed course materials -provided with Practice Papers -meet your classmates Compulsory Coursework Component begins immediately after the orientation.	Becoming a practitioner Compulsory 1 week face to face course in the Sydney CBD teaching you the practical basics you will need for the rest of the course, meet contact lecturers and learn how to navigate the online learning system. This week long orientation also gives you the opportunity to meet new people and work out who you would like in your 4 person “firm” for the Professional Practice Core.
Core subjects	Compulsory Coursework Component -civil litigation practice -commercial and corporate practice -property law practice -professional skills -professional responsibility -trust and office accounting Choose to study full time face to face or part online/ part face to face. Teaching style is much more like law school than the ANU course.	Professional Practice Core -property practice -commercial practice -civil litigation -ethics – Giving Voice to Values -trust accounting -professional development/mentoring Taught completely offline, you will be in a “firm” with three other students, most assessments are conducted in this “firm”, and course material is predominantly self-taught.
Electives	Must study two. Any two. Electives are more limited in scope: -administrative law practice -criminal law practice -family law practice -consumer law practice -employment and industrial practice -wills and estates practice -banking and finance practice	Must study at least two electives from different streams. Many electives are offered. How many electives you study is directly related to how much work experience you do. Electives are either taught in an intensive one week face to face block OR completely online.
Work Experience	Work experience as per admission board guidelines.	How much work experience you do will determine how many electives you must study.
Further study options?	Limited to courses run by College of Law.	Credit points can be used towards Masters at ANU. This balances out the slightly higher costs of studying the ANU course.
Taught in-house?	If you are working at a top-tier or mid-tier commercial law firm in Sydney, some of the course content may be taught in-house at your firm by Partners at your firm, making the process streamlined and convenient.	No.
When can I start?	Many starting dates throughout the year.	Starting dates more limited, as you will have to attend the Becoming a Practitioner course before continuing with the rest of the course. In Sydney there are two main starting points in the year, though you could attend Becoming a Practitioner in the ACT to get things started.

The main differences between the two courses are:

1.       Teaching style; and

2.       Type of assessments.

What teaching style do you prefer?

If you prefer to learn content by yourself or in small self-guided groups, the ANU course is for you. Apart from the compulsory one week face to face attendance at the beginning of the course, you can complete the remainder of the subjects completely online. The benefit is that the learning is completely flexible. You can learn the content before work, in your lunch break, or after work. The College of Law course also has potential to be largely self-taught. However, most students select the face to face learning options where you attend classes at the St Leonards campus (generally after work during the week). This teaching style is similar to the teaching style you would have experienced at University. The main benefit is that you get face to face contact with your teachers and interaction with other students. However, classes are not as flexible as online learning. You may have a job where you cannot guarantee you will be able to leave at 5pm to attend class.

What type of assessments do you prefer? Do you like working in groups or prefer working by yourself?

Assessments in the ANU course are predominantly group work which you complete with your “firm”. At the beginning of each week you will be given several assignments, and as a team you will have to delegate and divide the work. You have a Senior Associate you can email for help. This is a “real life” experience. You will learn group work and proof readings skills that will be very useful when you start work as a lawyer. This is the component I loved most about the GDLP at ANU. Meeting and working through assignments with your team members created a very supportive environment. The work flow for the core subjects is intense, especially at first. In your team of four, you deal with about six assignments a week or more, as there is some overlap and some core subjects are studied concurrently. Do not choose the ANU course if you do not like working in teams or are not willing to improve your team work skills!

In contrast, assignments in the College of Law course are predominantly individual assignments, similar to what you would have done at University but with a slightly more practical focus. You will get fewer assignments than the ANU course, but many subjects have exams in addition to assignments. The ANU course has consistent assessments throughout, whereas from what I have heard from friends, COL is very intense towards the end of the course where several subjects are finishing at the same time. You may prefer the College of Law course if you enjoy the traditional style of assignments and exams you would have experienced at University.

What course materials will I get?

This is where the COL course outperforms the ANU course. Both courses have online material like readings, interactive tutorials and exercises. In addition, COL students also receive printed materials called “practice papers”. Most of the young lawyers I know keep these papers and refer to them on an ongoing basis. At ANU, little printed material is provided, though you do receive a folder of printed material at the Becoming a Practitioner orientation week. You can print the ANU professional practice core subject notes yourself (as I did), but there are nowhere near as comprehensive as the COL notes. However, I would not choose your GDLP course based on this alone as you could borrow your COL friend’s practice papers if you think you are missing out (or if you are feeling particularly cunning attend the COL orientation day, then withdraw once you have the materials….).

What kind of students will I meet?

At College of Law you will predominantly meet students from the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales.  If you are from one of these universities you will likely have many friends studying the course at the same time as you, but you may not meet too many new people. I found the variety of people I met at the ANU course one of the best parts of the GDLP. At Becoming a Practitioner I met people from interstate and overseas, who had obtained their law degrees through postgraduate study at University or online, and of a variety of ages. This variety was really interesting and I found it eye-opening to hear about other people’s experiences.

WARNING: a note on choosing your electives

Electives may say “no prior knowledge required”. Proceed with caution. I studied the Industrial Relations elective at ANU which stated “no prior knowledge required”. I was fortunate in that I had studied industrial relations at University and worked in the area for three years. I found the course challenging and do not know how a student with no prior knowledge would have coped. Electives run for only a matter of weeks, and self-teaching a whole subject can be difficult. If you are not working at all and dedicating most of your time to the elective, you may be able to do well. However, most people are balancing their GDLP with full time work.  Keep this in mind when choosing your electives.

Another trap can be choosing electives taught intensively where you have not allocated enough time to prepare or work on assignments. I studied the Criminal Law elective that was taught intensively in a one week face to face format. Leave all evenings free that week. Do not do what I did and say you will go to work after class. After class you will be required to work on assessments and assignments which occur continuously throughout the week.

The GDLP costs almost $10,000 to study. While it is the necessary final step to become admitted to the Supreme Court and become a lawyer, you should try and get as much out of it as you can. Think hard about which course will be best for you and what skills you would like to develop. Thinking it through now will ensure that your time studying your GDLP is enjoyable rather than a source of constant frustration.