QLS Council Submission

Standards for accreditation as a provider of a Practice Management Course

1. Accreditation as a provider of a Practice Management Course

1.1Providers applying for accreditation

A provider may apply to the Council of Queensland Law Society pursuant to rule 42B of the Queensland Law Society Administration Rule 2005 to be an accredited provider for the purpose of providing a complying Practice Management Course (PMC).

Such providers may include:

a)a registered higher education provider under the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011;

b)a law practicewith more than 35 principals; or

c)another education provider or entity as accredited by the Queensland Law Society Council under rule 42B of the Queensland Law Society Administration Rule 2005.

1.2Form of Application

Applications must be in the approved form which is available through the Queensland Law Society website at

Applicants should forward the following to the Corporate Secretary of Queensland Law Society:

(a)a completed application form

(b)additional details and appendices as indicated in the approved form; and

(c)the appropriate fee, namely:

• $4500 for processing an application for accreditation for an initial two year term; or
• $2000 for re-accreditation for each subsequent one-year term.

If the application is approved, the Council will issue a statement of accreditation to the provider.

If the application is not approved, the Council will notify the applicant and will provide reasons for rejecting the application. A refusal to approve an application does not prevent the applicant from re-applying for accreditation.

1. Standards for accreditation as a provider of a Practice Management Course

2.1High quality teaching and learning

The provider must cite the number, qualifications, experience, expertise and range of course presenters, facilitators and study resource authors who comprise the teaching personnel for its PMC. The provider must ensure that the qualifications and experience of the teaching personnel is sufficient to ensure that students are able to attain the required competencies within the prescribed duration of the PMC.

All teaching personnel involved in the planning and delivery of the PMC must:

• have a sound understanding of current scholarship and/or professional practice in the discipline that they teach
• understand and apply adult learning principles, and engage students in intellectual enquiry in pursuit of the required competencies
• have sufficient experience in assessment and evaluation of competency standards to evaluation individuals’ performance in the PMC
• be advised of student and other feedback on quality of their teaching and have opportunities to improve their teaching.
• Responsibilities to students

A provider must define and meet its responsibilities to students, including the provision of information, support and equitable treatment.

A provider must give preference for enrolment in a PMC offered by it to legal practitioners who wish to complete such courses as a prerequisite to obtaining a principal practising certificate or who have been directed or ordered to undertake the PMC, in whole or in part, by the Legal Practice Tribunal, Legal Practice Committee, Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal or other disciplinary body.

2.3Course resourcing and information

Resourcing for the course must be adequate to meet the provider’s projected enrolments for the course, and must ensure that all students readily have access to information and resources required to demonstrate they have acquired the required competencies.

2.4Compliance

A provider must have systems, processes or procedures in place to ensure compliance with the Legal Profession Act 2007 and the Queensland Law Society Administration Rule 2005.

2.5Notices to Queensland Law Society

A provider must advise the Society of those studentswho have successfully completed the PMC within three days of course completion.

A provider must provide the QLS Council with an annual report on the delivery of practice management courses during the preceding financial year. Each report should include details of student numbers, assessment, feedback, any changes to course structure and content, and any recommendations to the course rules or standards for the PMC.