Fees
$4,250 per unit | FEE-HELP available
Intakes
Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Oct
Units
4 units, 7 weeks each
Duration
8 months part-time
Why study the online Graduate Certificate in Law at UC?
Boost your career with legal
expertise
Acquire specialised legal knowledge that sets you apart. Gain the confidence to navigate complex regulatory systems, enhancing your effectiveness and influence as a leader.
Tailor your learning
We offer specialised streams in business law and public policy law, or you can design your own path, customising your education to drive meaningful change in your field.
Seamless online, flexible and
supported learning
Study anywhere, anytime, with flexible online learning and a user-friendly learning platform while benefiting from dedicated 1:1 support from Student Success Advisers.
Course overview
Empower your voice and shape strategic business decisions. With an online Graduate Certificate in Law from the University of Canberra, you will be equipped with the essential knowledge and skills to navigate, lead and influence high-stakes discussions, making a meaningful impact in your community or your organisation.
What you will learn
Legal fundamentals
Demonstrate a broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of complex legal concepts, allowing you to navigate and interpret legal documents and contracts, and legal frameworks that govern organisations or the public sector.
Proactive strategies for preventing and solving problems
Learn how to interpret and apply legal principles to make informed, strategic decisions. Integrate legal research and a holistic approach to dispute resolution, applying critical analysis, strategic thinking and ethical decision-making to combat challenges.
Master effective and ethical legal communication across diverse settings
Communicate legal knowledge, ideas and arguments, ethically and effectively, within and across professional, multi-modal and cultural boundaries.
Engage respectfully with Indigenous contexts
Reflect critically on historical and social contexts to work respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in socially just ways.
Your course pathway
Boost your skills instantly and advance seamlessly from the Graduate Certificate in Law to the University of Canberra online Juris Doctor. This prestigious degree empowers your professional growth and success.
Graduate Certificate in Law
4 units | 8 months part-time*
*Exact course length will be dependent on selected electives and their availability. Please speak to a Student Enrolment Adviser for more information.
What you will study
The Graduate Certificate in Law comprises 4 units. Each unit duration is 7 weeks. We advise a minimum of 15 to 20 hours of online study per week.
Legal Methods and Skills
Legal Systems
Business Law Stream
Contract Law
Corporations Law
Lawyers and Professional Responsibility
Workplace Law in Context
Intellectual Property Law
Law, Innovation and Technologies
Negotiation
Dispute Management
Public Policy Stream
Reform and Social Change
Legal Theory
Administrative Law
Constitutional Law
Lawyers and Professional Responsibility
International Law
Electives (Flex Option)
Dispute Management
Evidence Law
Lawyers and Professional Responsibility
Contract Law
Torts Law
Criminal Law and Procedure
Constitutional Law
Corporations Law
Property Law
Administrative Law
Equity and Trusts Law
Civil Procedure
Legal Theory
International Law
Advanced Legal Research and Writing Skills
Law, Innovation and Technologies
Law Reform and Social Change
Human Rights Law
Workplace Law in Context
Intellectual Property Law
Negotiation
Course information
Entry requirements
To be eligible for the Graduate Certificate in Law, applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in any non-law discipline, with a GPA of at least 5/7.
*If you do not meet the entry requirements above, you may still be eligible for admission through alternative qualifications or work experience. Please contact a Student Adviser to discuss your options.
Ready to learn more?
Download your course brochure for more detailed information including:
- What you’ll study
- Recognition of prior learning
- Entry requirements
- Fees and FEE-HELP
Career outcomes
What can you do with a law degree? A postgraduate law degree opens up a variety of opportunities. If you're a business professional looking to enhance your career with legal knowledge, or a public policy expert in the government sector eager to make a positive impact in your community, UC's online Graduate Certificate in Law will equip you with the skills you need.
Your career options include working as a:
- C-Suite Leader
- Compliance Director/ Head of Compliance
- Strategy Director
- Executive/Non-Executive Director
- Trustee/Advisory Board Member
- Management Consultant
- Policy Director
- Policy Adviser
- Government Relations Officer
- Compliance Officer
- Regulatory Affairs Manager
Taught by the best in the industry
“The University of Canberra online Juris Doctor makes the depth of experience of academics and practitioners at Canberra Law School more accessible than ever and will set you up with the skills you need to make a difference."
Dr Trevor O'Ryan
UC Course Director, Juris Doctor
Frequently asked questions
Yes, many Australian universities now offer law degrees or postgraduate legal programs fully online, allowing students to study from anywhere. Online law study includes digital lectures, interactive tutorials, assessments, and access to academic support. This mode of study provides flexibility for working professionals or those with personal commitments, while still delivering rigorous academic content.
The University of Canberra offers a graduate certificate in law online, designed for flexible, fully digital study while maintaining high academic standards.
Generally, becoming a lawyer in Australia requires completion of an accredited law degree, such as an LLB or a Juris Doctor. However, pathways exist for non-law graduates through programs like the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), which provide the academic foundation necessary for practical legal training and admission.
UC’s Graduate Certificate in Law can serve as an entry point for non-law graduates who wish to progress into further legal study, such as a GDL or Juris Doctor, eventually enabling them to meet professional admission requirements.
A graduate certificate is a postgraduate qualification, typically sitting at Level 8 of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). It is equivalent to the first stage of a graduate diploma and is designed to provide advanced knowledge in a specialised area.
The UC Graduate Certificate in Law allows students to develop foundational legal knowledge and can serve as a stepping stone to further postgraduate law study.
Costs for graduate certificates vary depending on the institution and study load. Many universities provide options for FEE-HELP, enabling deferred payment.
For UC’s Graduate Certificate in Law, indicative fees are $4,250 per unit (2026), with FEE-HELP available for eligible students.
A graduate certificate in law is a postgraduate program designed to introduce non-law graduates to core legal principles, including contract law, criminal law, property law, and professional ethics. It provides a short, structured pathway into legal knowledge, often preparing students for a graduate diploma or Juris Doctor program.
The UC Graduate Certificate in Law online offers 4 units designed to equip students with practical and theoretical legal understanding while allowing flexible study.
Question not covered here?
We’re here to help. Our Student Enrolment Adviser can tell you more about:
- Finding your ideal course
- How courses are structured
- How online study works
- How to apply and enrol
Ready to apply?
Start your application to study with UC Online.
