The Diploma of Project Management™ (DipPM) qualification is an internationally-recognised qualification issued by our alliance partner the Business Education Institute. This is a Government approved qualification. It recognises a person with advanced knowledge and practical workplace experience in Legal Project Management and has the ability to lead legal matters or internal legal projects (i.e., the legal project manager or lead lawyer).
To achieve the Diploma, an applicant is required to either have completed at least the 3 day (21 hours) IILPM an ‘Advanced Legal Project Management’ course delivered by an Accredited Training Provider or the online ‘Advanced Legal Project Management’ course, and must be one or more of the following:
• a qualified lawyer (with or without a practice certificate);
• completion of an IILPM ATP-delivered university program;
• working in a law firm for at least one year;
• working with internal Legal Counsel for at least one year; and/or
• working with law firms in the capacity of an adviser, consultant or trainer for at least one year.
In addition, the application requires to complete the following:
• Essay questions that demonstrate knowledge competency;
• Workplace evidence that includes a full legal matter or internal legal project plan, and close-out report;
• Third party confirmation that the applicant has workplace experience leading legal matters or legal projects; and
• Statutory declaration that the work submitted was real and the applicant’s own work.
The cost of certification application is US$947 after meeting the educational and workplace experience requirements.
More About the Diploma of Project Management (DipPM)
Who is the Diploma For?
The Diploma of Project Management or DipPM qualification is an internationally-recognised Australian Government approved qualification issued by our alliance partner the Business Education Institute. This is a Government approved qualification
Who is it designed for?
It is designed for people leading legal matters. This can include lawyers and non-lawyer Legal Project Managers.
Why Not a Diploma of Legal Project Management?
A survey conducted by the IILPM found that lawyers preferred receiving a Diploma of Project Management than a Diploma of Legal Project Management, especially given they would be recognised in legal project management by getting the Legal Project Practitioner™ certification.
This is because having the standard Diploma of Project Management they are open to joining other global project association and meeting the educational prerequisites of doing more generic and global project management certification.
The benefit of doing the IILPM Diploma of Project Management is that the content is all legal speak and all legal matter aligned, so it is all contextualised to legal environments, providing the best of both worlds.
Is the Qualification only for Lawyers?
There are many non-lawyer professional project managers now entering the legal profession. This allows an experienced project manager focusing on the process, to free up the more expensive lawyers to focus on the legal tasks.
Therefore a Legal Project Manager may or may not be a qualified lawyer. The Diploma of Project Management does require some workplace experience in a legal environment however.
In fact, some lawyers who choose not to practice law, find the Legal Project Manager a satisfying alternative to being a practising lawyer.
Those holding the Diploma of Project Management may include lawyers, professional project managers working in law, para-legals, law students, legal consultants, law firm educators and practice managers.
Is there a Periodic Re-certification?
The good news is that unlike a professional certification that warrants a re-certification process, you get to keep a qualification and there is no requirement for further training or accreditation.
Is there Any Pre-Assessment Work-based Experience Required?
A Diploma of Project Management applicant must be one or more of the following before they meet the industry experience requirement:
• a qualified lawyer;
• completing one of the IILPM ATP-delivered university programs;
• working in a law firm for at least one year (within the last 3 years);
• working with internal Legal Counsel for at least one year (within the last 3 years); and/or
• working with law firms in the capacity of an adviser, consultant or trainer for at least one year (within the last 3 years).
What is the Educational Prerequisites?
There are three options (you only need one):
1. Complete the 3-day face-to-face ‘Advanced Legal Project Management’ training with a IILPM Accredited Training Organisation;
2. Complete the IILPM online ‘Advanced Legal Project Management’ course and get an 80% or greater score in the simple multiple choice assessment (part of the course); or
3. Apply for Recognised Prior Learning from completing another legal project management course that would be comparable and have the required workplace experience (pending assessment by the IILPM).
Is there a Workplace Assessment?
Yes, the Diploma of Project Management is a competency-based qualification and requires a workplace based evidence that comprises:
• Essay questions that demonstrate knowledge competency;
• Workplace evidence that includes a full legal matter or internal legal project plan, and close-out report;
• Third party confirmation that the applicant has workplace experience leading legal matters or legal projects; and
• Statutory declaration that the work submitted was real and the applicant’s own work.
This is done after the completion of the training, although workplace evidence can be within the last two years.
How do I achieve the Diploma?
Once meeting the Educational Prerequisites, having the Pre-assessment Work-based Experience Prerequisites are met, and you have completed the Workplace Assessment, you will submit the Diploma of Project Management Application.
If you have completed the LPP-aligned training as a face-to-face option through a IILPM Accredited Training Organisation, there is a fee of US$597 to complete the Diploma upgrade online course.
What Happens if I do not Pass the Workplace Assessment?
You will be allocated a nationally-qualified assessor on enrolling in a Diploma of Project Management course. The assessor will support you collecting the evidence and on assessment, if there is any issues, the assessor will provide clear instructions for your resubmission.
How much does the Diploma of Project Management application cost?
After completing the pre-requisite training (which includes the Diploma upgrade online course where you completed a face-to-face program with a IILPM Accredited Training Provider at US$597), you can gain the optional LPP certification at a further US$177, and/or submit the Diploma of Project Management assessment at an additional cost of US$947. This fee includes the assessment and the issue of the Diploma award.
Do I have to Complete the LPP Certification First?
Whilst having a LPP certification is not a mandatory prerequisites for the Diploma of Project Management. It is however the smartest pathway to signify you are at a legal project manager level.
Who Issues the Diploma of Project Management?
The International Institute of Legal Project Management issues the Diploma in conjunction with the Business Education Institute (BEI) that is an Australian Government approved Registered Training Organisation. DipPM graduates receive a folder in the mail with the:
1. Welcome letter from the IILPM Chairman;
2. Diploma certificate with the gold IILPM and BEI seal;
3. Official record of records that lists the competency units completed.
How can I promote myself with the Diploma of Project Management qualification?
Diploma qualified graduates can use the DipPM post-nominal next to their name (on social media, business cards, websites, presentations, reports etc), and refer to themselves as a qualified project manager.
Certified LPP graduates may also use the certification logo to identify themselves.
What then?
As IILPM Diploma of Project Management graduate you can join our online resources and continue to get ongoing professional development through articles, podcasts, videos and templates.