Specialist Certificate in Legal Leadership
Course code: SC-LGLLEAD
March, July
AUD $12,496 (2026 indicative first year fee). Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are not available
March, July
AUD $15,248 (2026 indicative first year fee)
IELTS 6.5: with no band less than 6.0
Course structure
Overview
Course structure
Students must complete 25 credit points of study from the prescribed list of subjects.
Subject timing and format
The Legal Leadership program has been designed around the busy schedules of working professionals. Subjects are offered from February to December each year. Subjects are taught intensively over five or six days and might be online or on-campus.
Subjects delivered online will have a combination of pre-recorded lecture content, live sessions and discussion boards among other resources. On-campus subjects involve interactive, seminar-style classes in the Law Building in Melbourne.
Class sizes are typically limited to 30 students regardless of delivery mode.
For detailed course and subject information, see the Handbook: Specialist Certificate in Legal Leadership.
Profile
Jessica Gelsumini
Jessica studied Legal Leadership Essentials as part of her Master of Employment and Labour Relations Law
The Legal Leadership Essentials unit is by far the most practical and valuable unit I've undertaken throughout my legal studies. This unit provides you with an unparalleled insight into how lawyers and law firms tick, and what good leadership in the legal industry looks like. It is more than 'just another leadership course' – this unit equips you with the skills and knowledge to not only be the best lawyer leader you can, but to also get the best out of those you work with. This unit is an absolute must for any law student or lawyer working, or intending to work, in the legal industry.
— Jessica Gelsumini, Legal Officer at the Fair Work Commission
Explore this course
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this certificate.
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Legal Leadership Essentials · 12.5 pts |
This subject will provide students with an understanding of key concepts in the field of leadership and enable them to more effectively assume leadership responsibilities within organisations, legal practices and/or the community more broadly. The subject aims to give students not only a theoretical understanding of leadership but practical skills and approaches that they can enact both during the course and subsequently to enhance their careers and impact. The subject focuses on the particular challenges and opportunities for lawyers seeking to have impact in modern organisations and the community through leadership. The modes of instruction will include experiential learning, transformative learning, collaborative learning and guest speaker presentations. Students will draw on their own experience of leadership (as both leaders and followers) as well as biographical and hypothetical case studies in leadership. This subject is designed for students who have worked in organisations or legal practices and who have an interest in assuming leadership responsibilities. Indicative list of principal topics:
Students in the Melbourne Law Masters program who would like to take this subject as an elective should have a minimum of 2-5 years relevant legal work experience. |
| Management for Professionals · 12.5 pts |
This subject will provide students with an understanding of key concepts in the business of law, that is, the fields of strategy, culture, leadership, marketing, human resources and legal technology. It will provide students with the ability to contribute more effectively to management decision-making. The subject aims to give students a greater appreciation of the keys to business success. The mode of instruction will include case study analysis, guest speaker presentations and interactive lectures. This subject is ideal for those working in any professional services context, including law firms, community legal practices, in-house legal teams or any other type of business advisory practice. Indicative list of principal topics:
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