The Coursework Component of the PLT Program is designed to enable you to develop competency in a number of practice areas and professional skills to the level expected on admission as a legal practitioner. The competencies, practice areas and professional skills are those prescribed by the admitting authorities adopting the National Competency Standards for Pre-Admission Training in Australia.
Course Outcomes
The course outcomes enable you to:
- understand the structure and purpose of the legal profession
- understand the legal and ethical obligations governing lawyers in the practice of law, including the obligation of transparent accounting for moneys held on behalf of clients
- become familiar with techniques of legal analysis, research, reasoning and planning
- acquire skills in:
- constructing and presenting a persuasive oral argument
- examining witnesses
- writing letters
- drafting effective agreements, wills, and other non-contentious documents
- drafting effective pleadings, affidavits and other court documents
- negotiation
- interviewing
- presenting clear, concise, accurate and useful legal advice
- managing the engagement of the lawyer by the client
- managing risk
- managing clients' files
- become familiar with the procedures of civil litigation practice, commercial and corporate practice and property practice
- become familiar with professional responsibility, professional skills and trust and office accounting
- become familiar with the procedures of either administrative law practice, criminal law practice or family law practice, and
- become familiar with the procedures of either consumer law practice, employment and industrial relations practice, planning and environmental law practice or wills and estates practice
Subjects
The course outcomes are covered in the coursework curriculum, which is comprised of compulsory and elective subject areas.
Practice Areas
The Practice Areas are compulsory subjects and include:
Professional Areas
The Professional Areas are compulsory subjects and include:
Elective Areas
In accordance with the requirements of the admitting authorities, you may select one elective subject from each of the following groups:
Your lecturer will inform you if, for any reason, an elective is not available in your course. Electives are chosen at the point of enrolment, but can be changed after the course has commenced.
Please note that Criminal Law Practice is only available in the jurisdiction of the course in which you enrol. Students who attend interstate onsites must choose either Family Law Practice or Administrative Law Practice.
Methods of Instruction
The Coursework Component is offered both full-time and part-time, through either online blended learning or face-to-face learning methods.
Blended Learning
Blended learning includes:
- online access
- supervised online learning
- email
- discussion groups
- occasional on-campus sessions and assessments
Face-to-Face Learning (Only Offered in New South Wales)
Face-to-face learning includes:
- a traditional classroom environment
- lectures by experienced lawyers
- small group discussions
- practice courts
- simulated files
- role plays
- drafting exercises
- problem-based legal research and analysis
For further information about methods of instruction, please see: Attendance Modes
Course Duration
The Coursework Component can be undertaken either full-time in 15 weeks or part-time in 30 weeks.
Onsite Course Attendance
For the face-to-face on-campus program at our St Leonards (Sydney) campus, the following onsite attendance is required:
- full-time: Monday-Friday, 9am to 4:30pm
- part-time: Attendance consists of two phases:
- two weeks full-time, Monday-Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, and
- two evenings a week (e.g. Tuesday and Thursday, 6pm to 9pm)
For the online blended learning program, both full-time and part-time courses require onsite attendance as follows:
- two week onsite block (full-time, Monday-Friday, 9am to 4:30pm), mid-way through the course for skills training and assessments (Please note: Where a public holiday occurs during this period, you may be required to attend on a Saturday)
- assessments onsite held in the second to last week of the course over four days
- an orientation session which you are encouraged to attend (in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney), usually in the week prior to the course commencement
Materials
Materials are provided in the following forms:
- electronic media (online access, email)
- lectures
- unit notes
- research materials, including The College of Law Practice Papers
- online tutorials
- quizzes
- exercises
- activities
- course information materials
Print materials are provided in the following forms:
- workshop materials in face-to-face components
- examination and assessment papers and materials
- The College of Law Practice Papers
Practice Papers
Reading of selected papers from The College of Law Practice Paper collection is often required.
During the course, the Practice Papers will be available to you online through LexisNexis.
A number of the papers, which students use most frequently during the Practical Legal Training Program, are also available in a printed four volume format.
For more information, see: Practice Papers
Frequently Asked Questions
How frequently is the Coursework Component offered?
There are up to 10 start dates during the year:
- 4 start dates for full-time, face-to-face courses and 2 start dates for part-time, face-to-face courses at our St Leonards (Sydney) campus
- 7 start dates for the online course
Can I undertake single subjects instead of the full Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice Program?
Yes, you may undertake single subjects of the program. Subjects would commence within the standard timetabled section of each offering. Please contact Student Services for more details.
How many electives are in the course?
There are two groups of electives and you must choose one from each group for tuition and assessment. However, you will receive the course materials and resources for all elective subjects as reference material.
How much time do I need to put into studying the Coursework Component each week?
All students work at different rates, but on average you should expect to devote the following amount of time each week to studying the Coursework Component of the PLT Program:
- full-time: 30-35 hours per week
- part-time: 17-20 hours per week
In addition, you will be expected to devote further time to assessment tasks and exam preparation.
For the online blended learning program, you will need to complete the work on a week-by-week basis as per the supplied timetable. Studying is flexible provided you are keeping up with the timetabled deadlines.
Do I need advanced IT skills to complete the Coursework Component online?
Undertaking the Coursework Component of the PLT Program online is not technologically challenging, but you will need some skills in the use of standard software applications. Teaching and learning by this mode uses access to the internet, online instruction and activities, email and discussion forum communication and online research. You will be required to complete activities in Microsoft Word (or OpenOffice) and submit that work online. For hardware and software requirements, please see: IT Support Services