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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: LPAB Diploma in Law Exam

20 of 27

Subjects Required for the Diploma

Legal Profession Admission Board (NSW)

Priestley 11

Core Admission Subjects Covered

Legal Profession Admission Board (NSW)

Annually (Sept)

Written Subject Examinations

Legal Profession Admission Board (NSW)

NSW admission

Satisfies the Academic Requirements

Legal Profession Admission Board (NSW)

Non-university

Pathway to Legal Admission

Legal Profession Admission Board (NSW)

100+

Practice Questions Here

OpenExamPrep question bank

The LPAB Diploma in Law is a non-university route to becoming a lawyer in New South Wales, run by the Legal Profession Admission Board and taught by the Law Extension Committee of the University of Sydney. Instead of a university degree, students sit standardized written examinations in individual subjects, held once a year in September. To earn the Diploma, a student-at-law must pass 20 of the 27 examinable subjects: all Group A compulsory subjects plus three of the Group B electives. The curriculum covers the Priestley 11 core admission subjects - including Contracts, Torts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Real Property, Australian Constitutional Law, Equity, Law of Associations, Administrative Law, Evidence, Civil Procedure, and Professional Conduct - all in Australian and NSW law. Each subject is graded against a pass mark set by the LPAB, and pass rates are not published. Completing the Diploma satisfies the academic requirements for admission as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of NSW; overseas-qualified lawyers may instead be directed to complete a set of prescribed subjects.

Sample LPAB Diploma in Law Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your LPAB Diploma in Law exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Anna posts a sign in her shop window reading 'Premium leather wallets - $40'. Ben enters and says 'I'll take one for $40'. Anna refuses to sell. On orthodox Australian contract principles, what is the legal nature of the shop-window sign?
A.A binding offer that Ben accepted by saying he would take one
B.An invitation to treat, so Ben's statement is the offer which Anna may refuse
C.A unilateral offer accepted by Ben's conduct in entering the shop
D.A conditional acceptance creating an enforceable option
Explanation: A display of goods with a price is generally an invitation to treat, not an offer (Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain v Boots; Fisher v Bell). The customer makes the offer, which the seller is free to accept or reject, so Anna may refuse to sell.
2A signed written contract for the sale of a business contains an entire agreement clause. The purchaser later argues a term should be implied to give the contract business efficacy. Under the orthodox test from BP Refinery (Westernport) v Shire of Hastings, which requirement must an implied term satisfy?
A.It must be inconsistent with the express terms but commercially convenient
B.It must be so obvious that it goes without saying and necessary for business efficacy
C.It need only be reasonable in the circumstances, regardless of obviousness
D.It must have been discussed by the parties during negotiations
Explanation: BP Refinery v Shire of Hastings sets five cumulative conditions for implying a term in fact: reasonable and equitable, necessary for business efficacy, so obvious it goes without saying, capable of clear expression, and not contradicting any express term. Mere reasonableness is insufficient.
3A consumer buys a new dishwasher from a retailer; it stops working after three weeks due to a manufacturing defect. The retailer says the manufacturer's express warranty has been voided. Under the Australian Consumer Law (Sch 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)), what is the consumer's strongest basis to obtain a remedy from the retailer?
A.The manufacturer's express warranty, which the retailer cannot void
B.An action in negligence against the retailer for the defective product
C.The doctrine of caveat emptor, which protects the buyer
D.The consumer guarantee of acceptable quality, which cannot be excluded by contract
Explanation: Under s 54 of the Australian Consumer Law, goods supplied in trade must be of acceptable quality; this statutory consumer guarantee cannot be excluded, restricted or modified (s 64). A major failure entitles the consumer to a remedy from the supplier regardless of any voided express warranty.
4A builder repudiates a fixed-price construction contract before completion. The owner accepts the repudiation and sues for damages. Which principle governs the measure of damages recoverable for the breach?
A.The owner is entitled to damages putting them in the position they would have been in had the contract been performed
B.The owner is entitled to damages putting them in the position as if the contract had never been made
C.The owner may recover only the deposit paid, as a penalty
D.The owner may recover punitive damages to deter future breaches
Explanation: The ruling principle for contract damages is expectation loss: to place the innocent party, so far as money can, in the position they would have occupied had the contract been performed (Robinson v Harman; Commonwealth v Amann Aviation). This protects the bargained-for benefit.
5During negotiations, a vendor of a motel innocently but inaccurately represents the takings as far higher than actual, and the purchaser relies on this in entering the contract. The misrepresentation is not a term. What is the purchaser's primary remedy for an innocent (non-fraudulent, non-negligent) misrepresentation at general law?
A.Damages in the tort of deceit
B.Specific performance of the misrepresented terms
C.Rescission of the contract, subject to bars such as affirmation and third-party rights
D.An account of profits against the vendor
Explanation: An innocent misrepresentation that induces a contract renders it voidable, and the principal general-law remedy is rescission, restoring the parties to their pre-contract positions, subject to bars (affirmation, lapse of time, intervening third-party rights, impossibility of restitutio). Damages are not available for purely innocent misrepresentation at common law.
6A retailer with weak English signs a complex finance guarantee with a bank for her son's business, without independent advice, in circumstances where the bank knew of her vulnerability and the unusual nature of the transaction. She seeks to set aside the guarantee. Which equitable doctrine, as applied in Commercial Bank of Australia v Amadio, is most directly engaged?
A.Common mistake as to the subject matter
B.Frustration of the guarantee contract
C.Unconscionable dealing, where a stronger party exploits a special disadvantage
D.Promissory estoppel preventing enforcement
Explanation: Amadio establishes that equity will set aside a transaction for unconscionable dealing where one party is under a special disadvantage of which the stronger party knows or ought to know, and unconscientiously exploits it. Vulnerability, lack of advice and the bank's knowledge engage this doctrine.
7Two commercial parties agree on the sale of '500 units' but each subjectively intends a different product line, with neither aware of the divergence and the words equally apt for both. The contract is challenged. Which category of mistake is most likely to render the contract void at common law?
A.Mutual mistake, where the parties are at cross-purposes and no consensus can objectively be found
B.Unilateral mistake known to the other party
C.Common mistake as to a fundamental quality
D.Mistake of law, which is never operative
Explanation: Where parties are genuinely at cross-purposes (mutual mistake) and the objective theory cannot resolve which meaning prevails, no agreement is formed (Raffles v Wichelhaus; Goldsbrough Mort v Quinn). The ambiguity prevents an objective consensus, so the contract may be void.
8A contract provides that, on any late payment of an instalment, the defaulting party must pay a fixed sum of $200,000 'as agreed damages', which is grossly disproportionate to any conceivable loss from late payment. Applying Australian penalty doctrine after Andrews v ANZ and Paciocco v ANZ, the clause is most likely to be:
A.Enforceable as a liquidated damages clause because the parties agreed to it
B.Void for uncertainty because damages are unliquidated
C.Unenforceable as a penalty if it is out of all proportion to the interests it protects
D.Enforceable only if the innocent party actually suffered $200,000 loss
Explanation: A stipulated sum is an unenforceable penalty where it is extravagant and out of all proportion to the legitimate interests it protects (Paciocco v ANZ; Andrews v ANZ). A genuine pre-estimate of loss is enforceable, but $200,000 grossly disproportionate to late-payment loss points to a penalty.
9An employee promises to keep working for an employer in exchange for the employer's promise to pay a bonus already legally owed under the existing contract. The employer later refuses to pay the bonus. What is the principal contractual difficulty with enforcing the bonus promise?
A.Performance of an existing contractual duty owed to the same party is generally not good consideration
B.The promise is too uncertain to enforce
C.The promise lacks an intention to create legal relations
D.The promise is unenforceable for want of writing under the Statute of Frauds
Explanation: Consideration must be something of value moving from the promisee; performing a pre-existing contractual duty owed to the same promisor is generally not fresh consideration (Stilk v Myrick; Wigan v Edwards). Without a practical benefit or variation, the bonus promise may be unsupported.
10A term in a contract is classified as an 'intermediate' (innominate) term. One party commits a breach of that term. How does an Australian court determine whether the innocent party may terminate?
A.Termination is always available for breach of any term
B.Termination is never available unless the term is a condition
C.By asking only whether the breaching party acted in bad faith
D.By asking whether the breach deprives the innocent party of substantially the whole benefit of the contract
Explanation: For intermediate terms, the right to terminate depends on the gravity and consequences of the breach: whether it deprives the innocent party of substantially the whole benefit intended (Hongkong Fir; Koompahtoo v Sanpine). Conditions allow termination for any breach; warranties do not.

About the LPAB Diploma in Law Exam

The Legal Profession Admission Board (NSW) Diploma in Law is a non-university pathway to legal admission in New South Wales, completed through standardized written subject examinations rather than a university law degree. The Diploma is administered and issued by the LPAB and taught by the Law Extension Committee of the University of Sydney. To be awarded the Diploma, a student-at-law must pass 20 of the 27 examinable subjects - all of the Group A compulsory subjects plus three Group B subjects - which together cover the Priestley 11 core admission subjects and a range of electives. The examinations are written, held once a year in September at venues across NSW, and are graded against per-subject pass marks set by the LPAB. Completing the Diploma satisfies the academic requirements for admission as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and overseas-qualified lawyers may be directed by the LPAB to complete a set of prescribed subjects.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

Written exam per subject (held annually each September)

Passing Score

Per-subject pass mark set by the LPAB (not published as a fixed percentage)

Exam Fee

Per-subject and enrolment fees set by the LPAB (varies) (Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB), NSW - taught by the Law Extension Committee, University of Sydney)

LPAB Diploma in Law Exam Content Outline

9%

Contracts

Formation of contract, capacity and privity, identification and construction of terms, matters affecting consent (mistake, misrepresentation, duress, unconscionable conduct), discharge by performance, breach, frustration and agreement, and remedies for breach under Australian contract law

9%

Torts

Trespass to the person and to land, private nuisance, the tort of negligence (duty of care, breach, causation and remoteness), the Civil Liability Act framework, defences, and vicarious, concurrent and proportionate liability

9%

Criminal Law & Procedure

General principles of criminal responsibility (actus reus and mens rea), specific offences and defences, and criminal procedure in NSW, including the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) and the conduct of summary and indictable matters

9%

Real Property

Interests in land, the Torrens system under the Real Property Act 1900 (NSW), indefeasibility of title and its exceptions (fraud, in personam), competing priorities, co-ownership, leases, mortgages, and easements

9%

Australian Constitutional Law

The Commonwealth Constitution, the federal division of legislative powers, heads of power and characterisation, inconsistency between Commonwealth and State law (s. 109), the separation of powers, and implied freedoms

9%

Equity

Equitable doctrines and remedies, fiduciary obligations, the law of trusts, estoppel, breach of confidence, assignments, and the application of the equitable maxims in Australian courts

9%

Law of Associations (Company Law)

The Corporations Act 2001 (Cth): separate corporate personality and the corporate veil, the constitution and replaceable rules, directors' duties, members' rights and remedies, and the law of partnerships and other associations

9%

Administrative Law

Judicial review of administrative action and the grounds of review (jurisdictional error, procedural fairness, unreasonableness, relevant and irrelevant considerations), statutory review schemes, and merits review by tribunals

9%

Evidence

The uniform Evidence Act 1995 (NSW): relevance, the hearsay rule and its exceptions, opinion evidence, tendency and coincidence evidence, privilege, the credibility rule, and the discretionary and mandatory exclusions, in civil and criminal hearings

9%

Civil Procedure

Conduct of civil litigation in NSW under the Civil Procedure Act 2005 and the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, including the overriding purpose, pleadings, discovery and interrogatories, interlocutory applications, judgments, costs, and enforcement

10%

Professional Conduct / Ethics

The Legal Profession Uniform Law and the solicitors' and barristers' conduct rules: duties to the client, the court and the administration of justice, conflicts of interest, confidentiality and privilege, competence, and trust money and trust account obligations

How to Pass the LPAB Diploma in Law Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Per-subject pass mark set by the LPAB (not published as a fixed percentage)
  • Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
  • Time limit: Written exam per subject (held annually each September)
  • Exam fee: Per-subject and enrolment fees set by the LPAB (varies)

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

LPAB Diploma in Law Study Tips from Top Performers

1Plan your subject sequence carefully: start with Group A compulsory foundations (Foundations of Law, Contracts, Torts) before tackling heavier subjects like Equity, Real Property, and Law of Associations
2Study each subject against the LPAB examinable curriculum, not a generic textbook - the curriculum tells you exactly which doctrines and statutes are in scope for that subject's exam
3Use the LPAB exam cover pages and past papers for every subject to learn the written exam format and the markers' expectations before you sit
4Anchor your study in Australian and NSW statutes by name: the Real Property Act 1900, Corporations Act 2001, Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), Civil Procedure Act 2005, and Criminal Procedure Act 1986
5Build structured written-answer technique - issue, rule, application, conclusion - because these are full written exams that reward applying authority to facts, not just listing rules
6Spread your subject load realistically across the annual September sittings; passing 20 subjects is a multi-year commitment, so pace your enrolments to keep each exam well prepared

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the LPAB Diploma in Law?

It is a non-university pathway to becoming a lawyer in New South Wales, administered by the Legal Profession Admission Board and taught by the Law Extension Committee of the University of Sydney. Instead of a university law degree, candidates sit standardized written subject examinations. Completing the Diploma satisfies the academic requirements for admission as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of NSW.

How many subjects do I need to pass to get the Diploma in Law?

You must pass 20 of the 27 examinable subjects: all of the Group A compulsory subjects plus three of the Group B subjects. Together these cover the Priestley 11 core admission subjects and a range of electives, all in Australian and NSW law.

What subjects are examined in the Diploma in Law?

The core (Priestley 11) subjects include Contracts, Torts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Real Property, Australian Constitutional Law, Equity, Law of Associations (company law), Administrative Law, Evidence, Civil Procedure, and Professional Conduct (ethics). The Group A compulsory list also includes Foundations of Law, and Group B offers a range of elective subjects.

When are the LPAB Diploma in Law examinations held?

The subject examinations are written exams held once a year, in September, at venues across New South Wales. The 2026 examination period runs approximately 3 to 10 September. Candidates sit the exams for whichever subjects they have enrolled in and studied that year.

How is the LPAB Diploma in Law graded?

Each subject is assessed by a written examination and graded against a per-subject pass mark set by the LPAB. The board does not publish a single fixed pass percentage or pass-rate figures. Students who do not pass a subject may re-enrol and re-sit it at a later annual sitting.

Can overseas-qualified lawyers use the LPAB Diploma in Law?

Yes. Overseas-qualified lawyers seeking admission in NSW may be directed by the LPAB to complete a set of prescribed subjects rather than the full Diploma. The exact subjects depend on the LPAB's assessment of the applicant's prior qualifications.