Recognising that materials around the basics of legislative drafting are not widely available, COL and the Commonwealth Secretariat (COMSEC) originally developed the programme in 1992 to enable trainees to learn through a process of independent, individual study in their own jurisdiction. The curriculum was put together by an international project advisory group of expert trainers and is based on Commonwealth legal practice.

In 2013-2014, the Legislative Drafting Materials were revised through a collaborative effort between COL and Athabasca University. COL and COMSEC are pleased to now make the Legislative Drafting materials available as Open Education Resources, free for all to access and use.

The Legislative Drafting Programme is designed for those who are interested in learning about legislative drafting and the role of legal practitioners who specialize in the important work of legislative counsel.

How to Access Materials

The materials for this programme are now available as Open Education Resources (OER) hence those interested in learning about legislative drafting can do so by self-study. The programme comprises of eight modules. The courses include Introduction to Legislative Drafting, Instructions and Compliance, Structuring Legislation and a project to develop drafting skills. To access the full set of materials, click here.

How to Gain Qualification

To receive formal qualification for this programme, please contact our partner institutions listed below who are licensed to offer the programme by distance education.

1. Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Legislative Drafting (Athabasca University, Canada)

2. The Professional Diploma in Legislative Drafting (University of the South Pacific)

Become a Licensed Institution

If you represent an institution interested in offering the programme, please contact us. We are glad to provide further information about the programme and the licensing process.