This means that even with a 5 year degree they graduate at around the same age as their English and American counterparts but are still younger than their European counterparts. Many universities offer graduate diploma or degree courses. The graduate diplomas aim to supplement and to extend the participant's knowledge of law in a speciality. Graduate diplomas are available in topics ranging from alternative dispute resolution, Asian law, intellectual property law, labour relations law, media communications and technology, natural resources law to family law. Some law schools also offer graduate certificates of less than one academic year focusing on one particular discipline.
Most law schools have an active postgraduate program.
Masters degrees by coursework usually permit the candidate to select a range of subjects over a number of topics. Graduate diplomas, on the other hand, usually focus on 1 or 2 topics in great detail. These degrees normally require at least 3 years of full-time research culminating in the submission of a thesis. Depending on the topic investigated and the skills of the candidate, a candidate might be required to do some further study in research methods or in a related inter-disciplinary field before completing candidature for this qualification. In Australia it is common for practitioners to take a graduate diploma or masters degree at least by coursework.