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FAMILY LAW

FAMILY LAW

Hit your professional best with postgraduate study

A POSTGRADUATE QUALIFICATION IN FAMILY LAW GIVES YOU AN EDGE

The College of Law helps you refine your skills in parenting disputes, property settlements, spousal maintenance and family law advocacy. Your career is an opportunity to make a greater impact. Postgraduate study gives you the confidence and capability to serve clients at your professional best.

Advance your career by deepening your understanding of family dynamics, negotiation and courtroom practice. Study a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master of Laws to apply advanced legal knowledge to real-world family law matters.

Boost your credentials, build confidence and deliver better outcomes for your clients.

Scroll down to explore postgraduate family law courses and qualifications.

Enrol now Subjects by intake date Course guide Enquire

INTAKE 1 STARTS 9 FEB 2026

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PROGRAM OPTIONS - FAMILY LAW

Graduate Diploma of Applied Law (Family Law)

4

3 core subjects (FLP1, FLP2, FLP3) and 1 FLP elective subject

A recognised law degree (LLB, JD, or equivalent)

$4,150 per subject - FEE-HELP

1 year part-time
Learn more

Master of Laws (Applied Law) majoring in Family Law

8

3 FLP subjects, 4 elective subjects OR a second major and the Capstone Project in Family Law

A recognised law degree (LLB, JD, or equivalent)

$4,150 per subject - FEE-HELP

2 years part-time
Learn more

Master of Applied Law (Family Law)

8

4 core subjects (FLP1, FLP2, FLP3, FLP11 or FLP12), 3 elective FLP subjects and the Capstone Project in Family Law

A recognised law degree (LLB, JD, or equivalent)

$4,150 per subject - FEE-HELP

2 years part-time
Learn more

START WITH A GRADUATE DIPLOMA

If you decide later to progress towards a Masters, you’ll receive credit towards that award.

Learn more

FAMILY LAW SUBJECTS

FLP00 - Capstone Project (Family Law)

Intake 2, 4
The Capstone Project is taken as the final subject, as a culmination of the knowledge and skills attained throughout the major. It will allow students to demonstrate their skills in a specialist practice area using real-life scenarios and case studies. Throughout the intake, students will receive individualised feedback from their lecturer and will also have access to a rich array of skills modules that include guides, samples, and practice exercises for honing their legal skills. The highlight of the Capstone Project is the final task, where students will prepare a Final Portfolio that demonstrates their legal writing, research, and oral skills.

TOPICS

THE SUBJECT HAS FOUR COMPONENTS

  1. Four short answer questions
  2. Two legal writing samples
  3. Oral communication (e.g. client interview) assessment held through online conferencing
  4. Reflective analysis

FLP1 - Foundations of Family Law Practice

Intake 1, 2, 3, 4
This subject family law is concerned with people, rather than property or financial matters. It includes the law and practice concerning parenting after separation or divorce. It also examines the law and practice of divorce. The subject aims to provide students with a strong foundation for practising in family law and covers most common issues encountered by family lawyers in practice. A more advanced subject deals with topics which are less common in law practice.

TOPICS

  • Introduction to family law
  • Who is a family and who is a parent?
  • Shared parental responsibility and legislative pathways
  • Statutory considerations to determine the best interests of the child
  • Child abuse and family violence
  • Relocation and recovery of children
  • Variation and enforcement of parenting orders
  • Ethical and professional responsibility issues in children's cases
  • Divorce, nullity and validity of marriages

FLP2 - Property, Maintenance and Child Support

Intake 2, 4
This subject provides students with an introduction and overview of the process for resolving property and maintenance disputes with a focus on issues encountered in everyday practice. On satisfactory completion of this subject students will understand fundamental theories and practices in family law property, maintenance and child support practice, and have an understanding of how to apply this knowledge in professional practice. Students will be able to use and explain this knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences. Using practice-based analytical and critical thinking skills, students will be able to apply this knowledge to problem-solving and decision-making in practice.

TOPICS

  • Jurisdictional issues and spouse maintenance
  • Ethical issues, professional responsibilities and duties when acting for a party in family law financial proceedings
  • The four step process: introduction and step 1
  • The four step process: steps 2, 3 and 4
  • Conciliation conference, private mediation and costs in family law proceedings
  • Superannuation splitting, and tax, revenue and valuation issues
  • Evidence and child support
  • Documenting a settlement of a financial matter, and agreement about child support

FLP3 - Conducting Family Law Matters

Intake 1, 3
Conducting a family law matter – whether involving property, spouse maintenance, parenting, child support or other issues – requires a range of skills and procedural knowledge. This subject covers the steps involved in reaching a settlement, from the first conference with the client, through to the end of a final hearing. At the end of this subject students will be able to apply a problem-solving methodology and knowledge of procedural law to the conduct of all aspects of family law matters, both in and out of court.

TOPICS

  • Conducting first conference, compulsory mediation and pre-action procedures
  • Preparing for hearing
  • Commencing proceedings and interim proceedings
  • Court events and documents
  • Division 12A proceedings and financial proceedings 
  • Preparing for and presenting the final hearing
  • Dispute resolution
  • Evidence
  • Ethical Issues, and interlocutory processes and appeals processes

FLP11 - Advanced Parenting Issues

Intake 2, 4
This subject will build on FLP1 Foundations of Family Law and will provide a practical and in-depth study of the more complex, evolving and emerging issues in the areas of parenting, children and family law.

TOPICS

  • Practice and procedure – the legislative framework
  • Practice and procedure – specific issues
  • Parentage - who is a "parent"
  • Financial aspects of parenting – child maintenance and child support
  • Representation of children and the role of the independent children’s lawyer
  • The role of the states and territories in relation to child protection and adoption
  • Complex parenting issues for the 21st century
  • Practice and procedure – the final hearing, costs and appeals

FLP12 - Advanced Issues in Property, Maintenance and Child Support

Intake 1, 3
Family law is a multifaceted area of legal practice which helps people to deal with the legal aspects of family disputes, including relationship breakdowns. This subject provides an in-depth understanding of some of the more complex issues in property, spousal maintenance and child support, such as cross-border disputes, taxation issues, bankruptcy and the court’s power to bind third parties. The subject takes a practical approach to equip family law practitioners with the knowledge and skills to deal with these advanced issues in practice.

TOPICS

  • Jurisdiction in property matters, ascertaining the asset pool and categorising interests
  • Corporations, trusts, partnerships and businesses 
  • Third parties, competing claims and bankruptcy
  • Cross-border disputes
  • Orders, agreements, setting aside and taxation issues
  • Interim relief: injunctions, interim orders for property settlement and spousal maintenance
  • Advanced issues in child support
  • Appeals and stays in family law proceedings

FLP13 - Development & Management of a Family Law Practice

Intake 3
This subject is about the development and management of a family law practice. managing any legal practice requires a different set of skills to the technical and practical aspects of working as a lawyer on legal matters. Establishing a new legal practice and managing that practice for growth can be challenging. The personal circumstances and particular pressures facing many family law clients bring another dynamic to management of a family law practice. This subject considers a range of issues that are relevant to the effective and efficient conduct of a family law practice.

TOPICS

  • Introduction to developing and managing a family law practice
  • Getting started
  • Financial management - Pricing and costs, and leveraging for productivity profit
  • Financial indicators
  • Risk management
  • Systems management
  • Marketing management
  • Managing people and managing clients
  • Managing yourself

FLP14 - Family Dispute Resolution

Intake 2

This subject is focused around the various dispute resolution options available in family law. Understanding and differentiating these options is crucial for a family law practitioner to give clients effective advice.

 

*Students that have completed the College of Law Family Dispute Resolution Practice are eligible for advanced standing for this FLP14 - Family Dispute Resolution subject.

TOPICS

  • The family law dispute resolution spectrum and legislative framework
  • Understanding disputes
  • Dispute resolution and specialist lists - Evatt List, Lighthouse, Magellan List and others
  • Negotiation
  • Family dispute resolution processes and communication skills Issues of power, culture and control
  • Child informed mediation, Legal Aid conferences and collaborative law
  • Non-adversarial practice and family law - representing the client

FLP15 - Advocacy in Family Law

Intake 1, 3
This subject is skills based and focused on developing advocacy skills in family law matters. Many lawyers are aware that their advocacy skills can require fine-tuning because of the increasing use of dispute resolution mechanisms. An increasing number of lawyers are choosing to appear as an advocate in their matters on interim hearings and sometimes even on final hearings. Whether students appear as a lawyer/advocate in a matter or they choose to brief counsel, it is important that the lawyer with carriage of the matter has a good working knowledge of the various stages of proceedings and their obligations.

TOPICS

  • Role of the advocate Preparing for hearing
  • Child-related proceedings and financial proceedings
  • Evidence Examination-in-chief and witnesses
  • Cross-examination and re-examination
  • Submissions, reviews, stay applications and the slip rule
  • Interlocutory applications and appeals

START DATES

Showing options for 'General'. Select a different tab to view options for that tab.
Feb Intake 1 May Intake 2 Aug Intake 3 Nov Intake 4
START DATE 09 Feb 2026 11 May 2026 10 Aug 2026 09 Nov 2026
CENSUS 25 Feb 2026 27 May 2026 26 Aug 2026 02 Dec 2026
END DATE 01 May 2026 31 Jul 2026 30 Oct 2026 05 Feb 2027
Showing options for 'Intensives'. Select a different tab to view options for that tab.
Subject Start Date Census End Date Workshop Date
DRP3 - Advocacy 21 Sep 2026 30 Sep 2026 30 Oct 2026
DRP4 - Mediation 19 Jan 2026 28 Jan 2026 27 Feb 2026

9 - 13 February 2026
FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation 09 Feb 2026 18 Feb 2026 20 Mar 2026

Intake 1
2-4 March 2026 NSW/VIC
5-7 March 2026 QLD/WA

Intake 2
31 Aug - 2 Sep 2026 NSW/VIC
3 -5 Sept 2026 QLD/WA
FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation 10 Aug 2026 19 Aug 2026 18 Sep 2026

Intake 1
2-4 March 2026 NSW/VIC
5-7 March 2026 QLD/WA

Intake 2
31 Aug - 2 Sep 2026 NSW/VIC
3 -5 Sept 2026 QLD/WA
FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 23 Mar 2026 01 Apr 2026 01 May 2026

Intake 1, 2026
16 - 18 April 2026   NSW/VIC
13 - 15 April 2026  QLD/WA

Intake 2, 2026
15 - 17 October 2026   NSW/VIC
12 - 14 October 2026  QLD/WA
FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 21 Sep 2026 30 Sep 2026 30 Oct 2026

Intake 1, 2026
16 - 18 April 2026   NSW/VIC
13 - 15 April 2026  QLD/WA

Intake 2, 2026
15 - 17 October 2026   NSW/VIC
12 - 14 October 2026  QLD/WA
FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 04 May 2026 13 May 2026 12 Jun 2026

Intake 1, 2026
25 - 27 May 2026  NSW/VIC
28 - 30 May 2026  QLD/WA

Intake 2, 2026
23 - 25 November 2026 NSW/VIC
26 - 28 November 2026 QLD/WA
FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 02 Nov 2026 11 Nov 2026 11 Dec 2026

Intake 1, 2026
25 - 27 May 2026  NSW/VIC
28 - 30 May 2026  QLD/WA

Intake 2, 2026
23 - 25 November 2026 NSW/VIC
26 - 28 November 2026 QLD/WA
FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 26 Jan 2026 04 Feb 2026 06 Mar 2026

Intake 2, 2025
16 - 18 Feb 2026 QLD & WA
19 - 21 Feb 2026 NSW & VIC 

Intake 1, 2026
6 - 8 July 2026 QLD & WA
9 - 11 July 2026 NSW & VIC 

Intake 2, 2026
Day 1, 12 February 2027
Day 2-4, 15 - 17 Feb 2027 QLD & WA
Day 2-4, 18 - 20 Feb 2027 NSW & VIC 
FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 15 Jun 2026 24 Jun 2026 24 Jul 2026

Intake 2, 2025
16 - 18 Feb 2026 QLD & WA
19 - 21 Feb 2026 NSW & VIC 

Intake 1, 2026
6 - 8 July 2026 QLD & WA
9 - 11 July 2026 NSW & VIC 

Intake 2, 2026
Day 1, 12 February 2027
Day 2-4, 15 - 17 Feb 2027 QLD & WA
Day 2-4, 18 - 20 Feb 2027 NSW & VIC 
FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 25 Jan 2027 03 Feb 2027 05 Mar 2027

Intake 2, 2025
16 - 18 Feb 2026 QLD & WA
19 - 21 Feb 2026 NSW & VIC 

Intake 1, 2026
6 - 8 July 2026 QLD & WA
9 - 11 July 2026 NSW & VIC 

Intake 2, 2026
Day 1, 12 February 2027
Day 2-4, 15 - 17 Feb 2027 QLD & WA
Day 2-4, 18 - 20 Feb 2027 NSW & VIC 
FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 06 Apr 2026 16 Apr 2026 29 May 2026

Intake 1, 2026
Day 1: 23 April 2026    
Days 2-4: 28-30 April 2026
Day 5: 20 May 2026

Intake 2, 2026
Day 1: 25 September 2026    
Days 2-4: 29 September - 1 October 2026
Day 5: 21 October 2026
FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 07 Sep 2026 17 Sep 2026 30 Oct 2026

Intake 1, 2026
Day 1: 23 April 2026    
Days 2-4: 28-30 April 2026
Day 5: 20 May 2026

Intake 2, 2026
Day 1: 25 September 2026    
Days 2-4: 29 September - 1 October 2026
Day 5: 21 October 2026
LB3 - Business Strategy: Planning for Success 04 May 2026 13 May 2026 12 Jun 2026
LB3 - Business Strategy: Planning for Success 02 Nov 2026 11 Nov 2026 11 Dec 2025
Showing options for 'FDRP'. Select a different tab to view options for that tab.
Subject Start Date Census End Date Workshop Date
FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation 09 Feb 2026 18 Feb 2026 20 Mar 2026

Intake 1
2-4 March 2026 NSW/VIC
5-7 March 2026 QLD/WA

Intake 2
31 Aug - 2 Sep 2026 NSW/VIC
3 -5 Sept 2026 QLD/WA
FDR1 - Family Law and Mediation 10 Aug 2026 19 Aug 2026 18 Sep 2026

Intake 1
2-4 March 2026 NSW/VIC
5-7 March 2026 QLD/WA

Intake 2
31 Aug - 2 Sep 2026 NSW/VIC
3 -5 Sept 2026 QLD/WA
FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 23 Mar 2026 01 Apr 2026 01 May 2026

Intake 1, 2026
16 - 18 April 2026   NSW/VIC
13 - 15 April 2026  QLD/WA

Intake 2, 2026
15 - 17 October 2026   NSW/VIC
12 - 14 October 2026  QLD/WA
FDR2 - Children’s Matters, Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution 21 Sep 2026 30 Sep 2026 30 Oct 2026

Intake 1, 2026
16 - 18 April 2026   NSW/VIC
13 - 15 April 2026  QLD/WA

Intake 2, 2026
15 - 17 October 2026   NSW/VIC
12 - 14 October 2026  QLD/WA
FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 04 May 2026 13 May 2026 12 Jun 2026

Intake 1, 2026
25 - 27 May 2026  NSW/VIC
28 - 30 May 2026  QLD/WA

Intake 2, 2026
23 - 25 November 2026 NSW/VIC
26 - 28 November 2026 QLD/WA
FDR3 - Advanced Family Dispute Resolution 02 Nov 2026 11 Nov 2026 11 Dec 2026

Intake 1, 2026
25 - 27 May 2026  NSW/VIC
28 - 30 May 2026  QLD/WA

Intake 2, 2026
23 - 25 November 2026 NSW/VIC
26 - 28 November 2026 QLD/WA
FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 26 Jan 2026 04 Feb 2026 06 Mar 2026

Intake 2, 2025
16 - 18 Feb 2026 QLD & WA
19 - 21 Feb 2026 NSW & VIC 

Intake 1, 2026
6 - 8 July 2026 QLD & WA
9 - 11 July 2026 NSW & VIC 

Intake 2, 2026
Day 1, 12 February 2027
Day 2-4, 15 - 17 Feb 2027 QLD & WA
Day 2-4, 18 - 20 Feb 2027 NSW & VIC 

 
FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 15 Jun 2026 24 Jun 2026 24 Jul 2026

Intake 2, 2025
16 - 18 Feb 2026 QLD & WA
19 - 21 Feb 2026 NSW & VIC 

Intake 1, 2026
6 - 8 July 2026 QLD & WA
9 - 11 July 2026 NSW & VIC 

Intake 2, 2026
Day 1, 12 February 2027
Day 2-4, 15 - 17 Feb 2027 QLD & WA
Day 2-4, 18 - 20 Feb 2027 NSW & VIC 

 
FDR4 - Case Management in Family Dispute Resolution Capstone 25 Jan 2027 03 Feb 2027 05 Mar 2027

Intake 2, 2025
16 - 18 Feb 2026 QLD & WA
19 - 21 Feb 2026 NSW & VIC 

Intake 1, 2026
6 - 8 July 2026 QLD & WA
9 - 11 July 2026 NSW & VIC 

Intake 2, 2026
Day 1, 12 February 2027
Day 2-4, 15 - 17 Feb 2027 QLD & WA
Day 2-4, 18 - 20 Feb 2027 NSW & VIC 

 
FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 06 Apr 2026 16 Apr 2026 29 May 2026

Intake 1, 2026
Day 1: 23 April 2026    
Days 2-4: 28-30 April 2026
Day 5: 20 May 2026

Intake 2, 2026
Day 1: 25 Sept 2026    
Days 2-4: 29 Sept - 1 Oct 2026
Day 5: 21 Oct 2026
FDR5 - Virtual Simulated Practice 07 Sep 2026 17 Sep 2026 30 Oct 2026

Intake 1, 2026
Day 1: 23 April 2026    
Days 2-4: 28-30 April 2026
Day 5: 20 May 2026

Intake 2, 2026
Day 1: 25 Sept 2026    
Days 2-4: 29 Sept - 1 Oct 2026
Day 5: 21 Oct 2026

TEACHING STAFF

Clare Dart

Barrister
Win Paten Chambers
Find out more

Crispian Carlowe

Partner
Unified Lawyers
Find out more

Doris Matias

Principal
DM Legal Services
Find out more

Glenn Thompson

Partner
Newnhams Solicitors
Find out more

Kathryn Kearley

Lecturer
College of Law
Find out more

Maria Tenace

Barrister
Victorian Bar
Find out more

Mark Youssef

Adjunct Lecturer at College of Law, Partner and Accredited Specialist in Family Law at Unified Lawyers
Find out more

Matthew Taylor

Barrister
Quay 11 Chambers
Find out more

Michele Brooks

Barrister, Accredited Advanced Mediator, Arbitrato
Victorian Bar
Find out more

Raymond James

Retired

Rebekah Bassano

Barrister
Quay 11 Chambers
Find out more

Samantha Baily

Managing Director
Baily Family Law
Find out more

Simon Cooper

Barrister
S.K Cooper
Find out more

Simone Green

Principal
Russell Kennedy
Find out more

LEARN THE NUANCES OF FAMILY LAW

Family Law Course Guide

Career in Family Law Guide

Graduate Certificate Course Guide

5 Tips for Choosing Postgraduate Subjects

How to Ask Your Employer to Fund Your Postgraduate Studies

HAVE QUESTIONS OR READY TO ENROL?

Book a call back with one of our Customer and Student Engagement Advisors

Book a Call

I felt engaged, and I loved what I was learning. It also gave me an edge. Now I know the why behind what I do.

Kiarah Grace Kelly, LLM Graduate - Family Law

All the lecturers are just so wonderful and so knowledgeable. They all understand that you're working as well as trying to study and are just so accommodating.

Jessica Popple, LLM Graduate - Family Law

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