Admission to Practice
What is Practical Legal Training?
An essential requirement for admission as a lawyer in Australia
Practical Legal Training (PLT) is a structured training program designed to help you develop the practical, day-to-day skills you will need as an entry-level lawyer.
Completion of a PLT program is the second essential step to being admitted as a lawyer – the first being your law degree.
After completing your PLT, you will be awarded a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) (CRICOS course code 069734C). This means you will be eligible to apply for admission as a legal practitioner in your state or territory.
Practical Legal Training at the college of law
Welcome to Australia’s most in-demand Practical Legal Training program
Choosing your Practical Legal Training provider should be given considered thought. You need to know exactly what you’re paying for. And you want maximum return on your investment.
That's why more than 60,000 law graduates over the past 40 years have entrusted The College of Law to prepare them for their future career. Leading and in tune with your profession, The College of law offers the largest range of flexible programs, all purpose driven to ensure you have the best start to your career.
Program structure - 3 components
Component 1
Coursework
Study five compulsory subjects plus two electives in one of four study modes. You will learn key areas of competence through everyday scenarios that parallel real-life practice. With no academic essay writing, you will solve everyday legal problems and complete hands-on tasks.
Coursework
Component 2
Work Experience
The Work Experience component is designed to give you insights into what it’s like to work in a real legal environment, this is your first opportunity to apply your skills to real-life legal problems.
Work Experience
Component 3
Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
Open your eyes to the importance of ongoing professional education and career development. Choose units from the Legal Series or the Legal Business Skills Series, which is only offered by the College.
Continuing Professional EducationWHY The College of Law
5 reasons to choose The College of Law
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1. You’ll be more ‘practice-ready’ Our Practical Legal Training program places greater emphasis on task-based, hands-on learning. It’s also the only program that offers a Legal Business Skills Series – equipping you with vital workplace skills such as time management, leadership and communication.
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2. You’ll study how and when you want With only 5 days of face-to-face attendance plus full-time, part-time, onsite and offsite study options, our program is truly flexible. We also offer more than 90 courses a year throughout Australia, allowing you to study at a time that suits you – not us.
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3. You’ll be more attractive to employers As Australasia’s largest provider of Practical Legal Training, The College of Law has a global reputation for excellence. We are also the preferred provider to 9 of the top 10 law firms in Australia.
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4. You’ll get more support and guidance With one-to-one lecturer support, pre-submission feedback and comprehensive Practice Papers to take into the workplace, our goal is to help you succeed the moment you enter the professional workforce.
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5. You’ll enjoy benefits to last a lifetime As a College of Law graduate, you receive lifelong discounts on all our short programs – plus ongoing invitations to our alumni and networking events. What’s more, two Practical Legal Training subjects entitle you to automatic credit towards the College LLM program. |
Free Webinars
Watch our webinars on demand and learn about what happens after law school, but before you can become a lawyer.
- Applying for Admission
- Clerkship Day #1: What to expect
- Creating opportunities for yourself
- Lawyering in 2020: What the future lawyer will look like
- Job application tips, tricks and hacks
- Practical Legal Training
- Work Experience
how will I be assessed?
No formal written exams
All Practical Legal Training subjects are assessed orally via video conference.
We believe that oral assessments are the best way to determine your understanding of the content and your ability to analyse and solve a problem.
Oral assessments also offer you the opportunity to practise thinking on your feet – just like a lawyer does.
When can i start Practical Legal Training?
Choose from more than 90 courses throughout Australia
Your Practical Legal Training is usually undertaken at the end of your academic studies.
However, as of 1 January 2015 it is possible to start earlier if you have completed all Priestley 11 core subjects of your law degree – with no more than two electives remaining.
To start your Practical Legal Training early, you will need to seek approval from the admitting authority in the state you wish to be admitted to practise. Rules and processes relating to early starts vary by state.
The College marries up the law degree that you’ve got and the information in your head and it gives you the tools to apply it practically.
introducing the legal Business Skills series
Only available at The College of Law
As a new lawyer, you’ll need more than technical knowledge to set yourself apart.
When we asked our alumni, ‘What three skills are most important for a new lawyer?’, skills such as communication, leadership and time management were prioritised time and again.
The Legal Business Skills Series will help you distinguish yourself as a new lawyer from day one. You will enter the workforce with the skills and confidence to:
- Network effectively and develop your ‘personal brand’
- Understand and practise the qualities of a successful leader
- Manage time and workload
- Build effective client relationships
fees & payment
Our program offers exceptional value for money. Our all-inclusive course fees include:
- Tuition
- Learning resources and materials
- A set of Practice Papers (valued at over $340)
- Free access to our unique Legal Business Skills Series
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2019 Program Fees |
Australian citizens and permanent residents |
Overseas and international citizens |
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25 days of work experience |
$10,880 |
$15,070 |
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15 days of work experience
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$10,950 |
$15,140 |
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PLT with Standard Format Work Experience 75 days of work experience |
$9,450 | $13,640 |
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You must pay upfront before you apply to enrol. FEE-HELP is available for eligible students. |
Scholarship Opportunity
Kay Smith Scholarship
This scholarship commemorates Kay Smith's 33 years of sustained outstanding contribution to The College of Law. In honour of Kay's dedication, this scholarship has been introduced by the Board of Governors to support the education aspirations of outstanding law graduates and young lawyers.
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I thought it was very practical, it is content that I still use and it was very much content that had clearly been carefully put together to be most useful for people who had just started practice.
David De Witt, Lawyer, Victoria Legal Aid
Practical Legal Training)
I undertook my Practical Legal Training at The College of Law and enjoyed it so much that I have now come back to do a Masters of Applied Law in Family Law.
Bronwyn O Loan, Lawyer, Doolan Wagner Family Lawyers
Practical Legal Training)
Because I was working full-time the online course was obviously very appealing to me. It allowed me to do most of my study in my off hours which was really good.
Robert Pasqualin, Associate, Andriano & Associates
Practical Legal Training