The College of Law is the largest provider of practice-focused legal education in Australasia.

We’re deeply committed to supporting legal professionals throughout their entire careers, emphasising the importance of lifelong learning and continuing professional development (CPD). As the largest Practical Legal Training organisation in Australia, we help lay the groundwork for graduates to enter the legal profession and continue to realise personal and professional possibilities throughout their careers.

Our mission is to deliver innovative, practice-focused and flexible education and training to enhance the careers of professionals across the legal profession. We are also informed by the latest innovation and technology through our Centre for Legal Innovation. That’s why we’re always questioning and adapting what we do, how we do it, what we teach and how people learn.

Celebrating 50 years of learning, we’ve been at the forefront of practical legal education since 1974 – supporting over 100,000 graduates in their legal careers. With over 400 staff across Australia and New Zealand – most of whom are practising lawyers – we work from the profession, for the profession.

We’re always here to help our students answer “where’s next?” as they navigate professional practice and develop professionally.

What is COL’s perception of the legal education market at present, and the headline trends that will impact legal professionals in the near future?

From digital privacy to generative AI, the landscape in which we operate continues to change at lightning speed. The modern lawyer needs an education partner that has endured the many evolutions of the past and can navigate those to come. One with an adaptable, anywhere and anytime educational approach.

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With one of the most flexible programs in the market, your CPD search stops here.

Browse our curated bundles, find topic-specific on-demand courses, subscribe to a diverse library of short-form content or join a live program and hear from world-class presenters, and expand your network. Our short courses are developed by practitioners to help you get the most in-demand qualifications to further your career.

What does COL see as being the biggest challenges to lawyers’ education and professional development this year?

For lawyers, ongoing education is critical to staying ahead of developments in law, maintaining professional competence, supporting career progression and serving clients effectively. Three of the biggest challenges in ongoing education and professional development are:

1. Time: It’s a critical commodity, whether it’s spent in casework, client meetings and court appearances, or balancing professional and personal commitments. To overcome this, our suite of over 100 on-demand products ensures learning fits in with your lifestyle – whatever, whenever and wherever suits you best. Check out Your CPD, Your Way.
   
   
2. Value for money: Quality continuing learning can be expensive. Small law firms and solo practitioners may find it difficult to afford, limiting access to important learning opportunities. That’s why we’ve developed the Digital Subscription. Meet all your CPD compliance needs, enjoy 90+ hours of learning content and gain unlimited 24/7 access for 12 months, all for $499.
   
   
3. Ongoing Relevance: It’s crucial for lawyers to access relevant and high-quality content that’s in step with the rapid pace of change. To ensure practical area relevance, we’ve created the practice area bundles that help practitioners to dive in deep. With over eight practice area focused bundles and a choose your own option we have you covered.

What are the major opportunities to be grasped in legal education and professional development, and how can providers like COL take advantage?

Technological advancements such as generative AI have expanded the market for legal education from lawyers to allied legal professionals; law schools to alternative legal education providers; and from an emphasis on theory to experience and practical real-world experience. We are uniquely placed to help our students and lawyers navigate an ever-changing world with:

1. Flexible learning: We offer one of the most flexible learning calendars across PLT, CPD and postgraduate courses so our students and lawyers can learn anywhere, anytime to suit their lifestyle.
   
   
2. Cost-effective options tailored for you: Across our CPD range, we have developed a flexible range of digital subscriptions, practice-specific bundles, and the ability to build your own bundle, helping you meet your requirements in the most cost-effective and timely way. We encourage our learners to go beyond mandatory and achieve mastery with optional deep dives in Family Law, Criminal Law and more.
   
   
3. Support doesn’t just end with the course: We provide ongoing support and resources to help our graduates navigate their lifelong education journey, including mentoring programs, coaching services, regular practice-focused newsletters and practising lecturers within our education programs to provide real-life practitioner experience.
   
   
4. Accumulative accreditation and certification: We partner with accrediting bodies and regulatory agencies to ensure that our programs are recognised and valued within the legal community and meet the professional standards and requirements for continuing legal education. This includes programs like Family Dispute Resolution Practice, Mediation, Notarial Practice Training Course, Legal Practice Management Course and Mental Health and First Aid.

Why should legal practitioner’s use COL at this point in time, and moving forward?

Lifelong learning support: Providing courses throughout your career, not just during CPD season, supporting your professional growth from admission to retirement.

By practitioners, for practitioners: Courses are developed and taught by experienced legal practitioners and educators, ensuring current and relevant content and real industry experience.

Informed by innovation: Informed by the Centre for Legal Innovation, at the College of Law, with a focus on supporting legal professionals to navigate disruption and new technologies transforming the industry.

Flexible delivery modes: Online courses, webinars, on-demand and subscription accessibility for when, where and how you want to learn.

Practice area focused specialisations: Diverse programs covering various practice areas, practice management, legal business and legal tech to meet specific professional needs.

Professional networking opportunities: Find your tribe of peers, experts, and industry leaders for professional collaborations and insights.

50 years of excellence: With over 50 years of experience in legal education, providing a trusted and established foundation for legal professional development.

Your learning and development partner: We offer a pathway to excellence for both individual legal professionals and entire organisations. We’re dedicated to nurturing the development of top-tier legal talent, by providing every possible path from the “where’s next?” in your career.

What are COL’s goals for 2024, and how will these be achieved?

In a profession where professional development often feels like ticking a box, the College of Law transforms continuous professional development into opportunities for personal achievement and professional career progression. Moving away from the traditional, passive consumption of legal content, we champion a dynamic and engaging approach to learning that transcends compliance and encourages the industry to imagine, pursue and achieve much greater possibilities.

Understanding that every lawyer is on a distinctive and personal career journey, from admission to partnership, managing a law firm, or specialising in a practice area, the College of Law acts as a companion to individual professionals and entire firms. We’re not just about broadcasting content; we’re about creating a truly interactive, immersive learning experience designed to prepare you for the future of law.

Our offerings include a suite of CPD, short courses, and postgraduate programs meticulously tailored to address skill gaps, deepen practice area knowledge, and support strategic career decisions. Additionally, we offer firms access to CPD subscriptions to become a learning and development partner over the long haul, ensuring teams have access to our exceptional learning resources where, when, and how they want without compromising on quality or relevance.

We’re dedicated to nurturing the development of top-tier legal talent (individuals and organisations), and are well-positioned to take you wherever your “where’s next?” journey might be.

Click here for all your CPD needs.