This course satisfies the specific requirement for an approved examination in accounts for the purposes of admission as a legal practitioner in the ACT, NSW, QLD, VIC and/or NT.

The course is designed to ensure that you have a working understanding of how to meet your legal professional obligations in relation to the administration of trust money and trust accounts.

The course will also provide you with a working understanding of double-entry bookkeeping as it applies to both the general trust account and a law firm's office account.

The objective of this course is to provide you with an understanding of, and ability to, integrate the legal concepts of trust accounting with the practical aspects of bookkeeping.  Completing this course will enable you to:

• identify if you have received trust money
• determine the character of any trust money received - i.e. general trust money, controlled money, investment money, transit money, subject of power money, written direction money
• ensure that all trust money payments are in accordance with the legislative framework and client instructions
• process general trust money accounting transactions in journals and ledgers, and, prepare a trial balance and bank reconciliation in accordance with relevant legislation
• create the appropriate records for trust money that is not general trust money
• apply key trust accounting legislative provisions to factual scenarios.

There are no set contact hours. Students should expect to spend about 10 - 15 hours per week in reading and course related tasks to complete the course. 

The course is designed for law graduates intending to proceed into legal practice.

Students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice must complete the Skills for Practice course before beginning this course.

There are no incompatible courses.

Prescribed texts are available online and are advised to students through the course website in WebCT.

Preliminary reading is advised to students through the course website in WebCT.

All reading materials will be provided to via the course content book and the WebCT site for the course.  The following legislation is also essential reading for each jurisdiction:

• ACT
  • Legal Profession Act 2006, Part 3.1
  • Legal Profession Regulation 2007, Part 6
• NSW
  • Legal Profession Act 2004, Part 3.1
  • Legal Profession Regulations 2005, Part 8
• QLD
  • Legal Profession Act 2007, Part 3.3
  • Legal Profession Regulation 2007, Part 3.3
• VIC
  • Legal Profession Act 2004, Part 3.3
  • Legal Profession Regulations 2005, Part 3.3
• NT
  • Legal Profession Act 2007, Part 3.1
  • Legal Profession Regulations 2007, Part 3.1.

This course makes extensive use of online technology for accessing resources, activities and assessment.  It is in your best interests to ensure you have a secure computer, preferably at home, where you can access all on-line information without restriction or difficulty.

If you intend using IT supplied by your employer, please be aware that you are likely to experience difficulties accessing key on-line resources due to firewall and security restrictions.

The computer you intend to use should meet the following minimum specifications.

Hardware

• CD ROM/ DVD Player
• Sound Card and speakers
• Video Card
• Modem
• Broadband (dial-up access is not recommended) access to an Internet Service Provider (ISP)
• Printer

Software

• Firefox is the recommended web browser
• Adobe Acrobat Reader (Free download)
• Real Player (Free download)
• Microsoft Word

WebCT relies heavily on the use of "pop ups". You will need to disable "pop up blockers" for WebCT on your internet browser and or Firewall/Anti virus software and toolbars.

When Offered and Delivery Mode:  This online 8 week course is offered twice a year in the 2nd and 4th teaching periods.

Classification in Graduate Studies Select:  Specialist. In addition an elective in the GDLP program, can be used as part of the articulation into the LLM and LLM (in practice) programs.