Essential guide to criminal law
Bundle Overview
The criminal justice system provides the foundation for fair representation, just trials and upholds societal principles. It contributes to a legal system that holds individuals accountable for their actions and safeguards fundamental rights.
The Essential Guide to Criminal Law Bundle is an ideal resource for new lawyers or those seeking a comprehensive overview in New South Wales.
There are four practical modules which include interactive activities for testing your knowledge, along with access to downloadable resources, offering a simple yet effective way to grasp this practice area.
The courses include:
- Rules of evidence: practice guide
- Introduction to criminal procedure in NSW: practice guide
- Bail applications in NSW: step-by-step guide
- Pleas and sentencing in NSW: practice guide
Course Overview
Understanding the law of evidence is key to constructing a robust case for your client.
In a criminal proceeding, the rules of evidence govern what is admissible or inadmissible in a trial and the procedures that must be followed in obtaining evidence, including:
- how suspects are interviewed
- the way searches are conducted, and
- how forensic evidence is stored and analysed.
The rules also cover how witnesses are questioned during examination-in-chief and cross-examination.
In this course, you’ll learn about hearsay, opinion evidence, relevance, privilege and more.
At the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Apply the proof-making model to a set of facts
- Distinguish between the three types of burden of proof
- Identify admissible and inadmissible evidence
- Summarise the circumstances in which an exclusionary rule may apply
The course contains content that falls within the mandatory CPD category of Professional Skills.
Course Structure
- Getting started
- Receiving instructions
- Commencing proceedings
- Drafting and affirming the affidavit of the executor
- Filing the application for grant of probate
Course Overview
Get your comprehensive guide to initiating and managing criminal matters in the Local Court of New South Wales or on appeal.
When representing clients in criminal law, a thorough understanding of legislation, documentation, court procedures, and rules is crucial for effective representation. As an officer of the court, it is your responsibility to ensure your clients receive the best advice for their cases.
You'll examine issues involving:
- Commencing criminal proceedings
- Dealing with different types of offences
- Sentencing; and
- Appeals from the local court
The course contains content that falls within the mandatory CPD category of Professional Skills.
Course Structure
- Introduction to criminal law
- Commencing criminal proceedings
- Dealing with different types of offences
- Sentencing
- Appeals from the local court
Course Overview
"Bail" grants liberty in the context of an offence or alleged offence. The application itself involves five key steps which is governed in NSW by the Bail Act 2013 (NSW). This legislation establishes a framework to decide whether individuals accused of offences should be detained or released, with or without conditions.
This course, crafted for a standard two-hour duration, will guide you through the intricacies of bail procedures. Completion of the course may earn you up to 2 CPD units. The College of Law extends gratitude to James McInerney for his invaluable subject matter expertise, contributing to the comprehensive nature of this course.
You'll explore topics like:
- Getting started
- Client interview
- Show cause, bail concerns and unacceptable risk
- Presenting a bail application
The course contains content that falls within the mandatory CPD category of Professional Skills.
Course Structure
- Getting started
- Client interview
- Show cause, bail concerns and unacceptable risk
- Presenting a bail application
Course Overview
Most criminal proceedings result in a defendant pleading guilty. Your role as a lawyer acting for a client charged with a criminal offence is to:
- advise as to the appropriate plea – guilty or not guilty; and
- if the client decides to plead guilty, prepare and present evidence and submissions in court to obtain the most lenient and most appropriate sentence for your client.
To provide effective representation for your client on sentence, you must have an appreciation of:
- the role of the court;
- the sentencing attitude of the judicial officer;
- the sentencing criteria that are important; and
- the most effective way to present relevant material and make submissions.
This course will take you through 5 modules exploring:
- Pleas and sentencing
- Sentencing options
- Relevant factors
- Court procedure
- Driving offences
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of sentencing principles and plea of guilty
- Follow pleas and sentencing procedure in the Local Court; and
- Determine the best sentencing option for a drink driving plea
The course contains content that falls within the mandatory CPD category of Professional Skills.
Course Structure
- Pleas and sentencing
- Sentencing options
- Relevant factors
- Court procedure
- Driving offences
Course Overview
Understanding the law of evidence is key to constructing a robust case for your client.
In a criminal proceeding, the rules of evidence govern what is admissible or inadmissible in a trial and the procedures that must be followed in obtaining evidence, including:
- how suspects are interviewed
- the way searches are conducted, and
- how forensic evidence is stored and analysed.
The rules also cover how witnesses are questioned during examination-in-chief and cross-examination.
In this course, you’ll learn about hearsay, opinion evidence, relevance, privilege and more.
At the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Apply the proof-making model to a set of facts
- Distinguish between the three types of burden of proof
- Identify admissible and inadmissible evidence
- Summarise the circumstances in which an exclusionary rule may apply
The course contains content that falls within the mandatory CPD category of Professional Skills.
Course Structure
- Getting started
- Receiving instructions
- Commencing proceedings
- Drafting and affirming the affidavit of the executor
- Filing the application for grant of probate
Course Overview
Get your comprehensive guide to initiating and managing criminal matters in the Local Court of New South Wales or on appeal.
When representing clients in criminal law, a thorough understanding of legislation, documentation, court procedures, and rules is crucial for effective representation. As an officer of the court, it is your responsibility to ensure your clients receive the best advice for their cases.
You'll examine issues involving:
- Commencing criminal proceedings
- Dealing with different types of offences
- Sentencing; and
- Appeals from the local court
The course contains content that falls within the mandatory CPD category of Professional Skills.
Course Structure
- Introduction to criminal law
- Commencing criminal proceedings
- Dealing with different types of offences
- Sentencing
- Appeals from the local court
Course Overview
"Bail" grants liberty in the context of an offence or alleged offence. The application itself involves five key steps which is governed in NSW by the Bail Act 2013 (NSW). This legislation establishes a framework to decide whether individuals accused of offences should be detained or released, with or without conditions.
This course, crafted for a standard two-hour duration, will guide you through the intricacies of bail procedures. Completion of the course may earn you up to 2 CPD units. The College of Law extends gratitude to James McInerney for his invaluable subject matter expertise, contributing to the comprehensive nature of this course.
You'll explore topics like:
- Getting started
- Client interview
- Show cause, bail concerns and unacceptable risk
- Presenting a bail application
The course contains content that falls within the mandatory CPD category of Professional Skills.
Course Structure
- Getting started
- Client interview
- Show cause, bail concerns and unacceptable risk
- Presenting a bail application
Course Overview
Most criminal proceedings result in a defendant pleading guilty. Your role as a lawyer acting for a client charged with a criminal offence is to:
- advise as to the appropriate plea – guilty or not guilty; and
- if the client decides to plead guilty, prepare and present evidence and submissions in court to obtain the most lenient and most appropriate sentence for your client.
To provide effective representation for your client on sentence, you must have an appreciation of:
- the role of the court;
- the sentencing attitude of the judicial officer;
- the sentencing criteria that are important; and
- the most effective way to present relevant material and make submissions.
This course will take you through 5 modules exploring:
- Pleas and sentencing
- Sentencing options
- Relevant factors
- Court procedure
- Driving offences
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of sentencing principles and plea of guilty
- Follow pleas and sentencing procedure in the Local Court; and
- Determine the best sentencing option for a drink driving plea
The course contains content that falls within the mandatory CPD category of Professional Skills.
Course Structure
- Pleas and sentencing
- Sentencing options
- Relevant factors
- Court procedure
- Driving offences
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE TO ACCESS OUR EXPANDING LIBRARY OF LEARNING CONTENT
Frequently Asked Questions
This bundle will benefit:
- Lawyers wanting to build practical foundational knowledge and skills
- Mid-career lawyers considering a move into transactional work or who do occasional work in this area
- Senior lawyers looking to confirm and test their knowledge
The course contains content that falls within the mandatory CPD categories of:
- Professional skills
With our online on-demand interactive courses, you can learn when and where it suits you. We’ve designed each course to provide both education and enjoyment.
Each course offers a mix of engaging exercises, where you’ll gain access to:
- Interactive activities to challenge your understanding and put your knowledge to the test. You’ll also enjoy engaging exercises, such as flip cards, quizzes and drafting activities.
- Clearly identified outcomes so you know precisely what you’ll learn – and the skills you’ll gain. You’ll also be able to track your development and focus on key improvement areas.
- Extended course access so you can reference the material as you need – or revisit it should life get in the way.
- Feedback and template answers so you can refine your skills, grow your knowledge and gain fresh insights.
Each on-demand bundle contains four in-depth learning resources so you can boost your essential knowledge and skills across a practice area – more affordably.
With a bundle, you’ll earn eight CPD points, while saving 40% on the single courses.
Go in-depth as you comprehensively explore a specific practice area. Learn interactively across engaging formats like step-by-step guides, practice guides and skill series. And gain helpful learning resources you can reference when you encounter similar situations in practice.
Access each module on the College’s learning portal. When you buy a single, you’ll have 24/7 unlimited access for 12-months from the date of purchase.
Does this educational activity extend your knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to your practice needs or professional development?
If so, and you’re not a WA practitioner, you should claim 1 unit for each hour of participation, not including breaks.
Please check your local CPD rules for any caps on activity types, such as the private study of non-interactive audio/visual materials. You are responsible for keeping your own CPD records and complying with your local CPD rules.
No. Western Australian practitioners who complete our on-demand courses are currently unable to claim CPD points.
However, you may earn CPD points by attending select live CPD events or by completing select CPD Interactive modules.