Change of Entity - Further Revision of Transmission Date

For some time now we have been advising on the College website that The College of Law will be soon be owned and operated by a new corporate entity. Previous letters sent to students foreshadowed possible transmission dates but the final date was always contingent on the need for 15 sitting days to pass in both houses of federal parliament after the tabling of the approval of the new entity (TCOL Ltd) as a Higher Education Provider (HEP).

The approval of TCOL Ltd was tabled on 11 March but at the current date, TCOL Ltd still requires one further sitting day in the Senate before being finally approved as a HEP. With the proroguing of parliament for the federal election, we cannot be certain that the necessary sitting day will occur before 1 September (the last advised transmission date). Therefore, the College has determined, once again, to delay the date of transmission (from College of Law Pty Ltd to TCOL Ltd).

The new transmission date will be 1 October 2010. However, if there are no sitting days in the Senate between the election and 30 September, the transmission date will be further delayed.

All continuing students who are currently enrolled or did not advise of their wish to take alternative options by 5 July will be transferred to TCOL Ltd on the transmission date.

We will still trade as The College of Law and the provision of courses and seminars will continue unaffected and uninterrupted.

I repeat below for your information the reasons that the College of Law will be transmitted to a new entity.

Why is the College Changing?

With the gradual movement towards a national Australian profession, so The College of Law has grown to the point that it can no longer be regarded solely as a New South Wales institution providing New South Wales courses. The reality is that the College now operates in every state and territory, plus New Zealand, and runs several course streams directly relevant to legal practice in other states.

Further, we operate in association with numerous partners and stakeholders in other states and territories and it is now time to reconstitute the College of Law in order to give those stakeholders a real voice in the running of the College.

We must now be regarded as an Australasian, rather than simply a New South Wales, College of Law. Accordingly, the Law Society of New South Wales (the original owner of the College of Law) has determined to give the College to the nation. The College of Law will become a company limited by guarantee of its members, and those members will be selected from around Australia (and New Zealand) to ensure that views of all stakeholders are represented as the College continues to grow into a more sophisticated higher education institution offering courses tailored for legal practice as it continues to evolve.

To effect this change, the College of Law Pty Ltd (the current trustee of the College of Law Trust) will pass all of the business and property of the College of Law Trust to a new entity: TCOL Ltd. Shortly afterwards, College of Law Pty Ltd will be wound up and TCOL Ltd will apply to change its name to College of Law Ltd (that name is not available while College of Law Pty Ltd remains registered).

What does it mean for students?

As mentioned above, the provision of courses and seminars will continue unaffected and uninterrupted. There will be no changes to your lecturers or to any of the administrative arrangements already in place. You will not notice any change in the day to day running of the College. Any student enrolled with the College of Law Pty Ltd on the date of transition (who did not advise that they wished to take a different option by 5 July) will be transferred to TCOL Ltd, and all enrolments and graduations from the date of transition will be with TCOL Ltd and subsequently, College of Law Ltd. (All testamurs will continue to be headed “The College of Law”.)

The terms and conditions of your written agreement with The College of Law will remain the same after your enrolment is transferred to TCOL Ltd.

If you have any questions, please contact Adrian Deans, Director, Academic Audit and Policy on 02 9965 7015 or adeans@collaw.edu.au