FIND OUT WHAT YOU NEED TO START YOUR PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING WITH US TODAY

Your Practical Legal Training is usually undertaken at the end of your academic studies.

However, 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.

When you're ready to enrol, check the state below where you intend to apply to be admitted as an Australian lawyer for information on when to start your PLT.

Australian Capital Territory

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects and elective subjects
• Completed the last exam of your law degree
• Received your exam results by the enrolment close date (one week before the PLT program begins). 

 

STARTING YOUR PLT EARLY

Except in exceptional circumstances, you cannot start your Practical Legal Training in the Australian Capital Territory until you have completed the Academic Requirements for Admission.

Please contact the  Legal Practitioners Admission Board ACT on (02) 6207 1219 for further information.

If you won't receive your exam results by the enrolment deadline, you must show the College of Law that you have permission from the Legal Practitioners Admission Board ACT to start early. You will also have to provide evidence of your law qualification to the College of Law by the Practical Legal Training census date.  

If you finished your law degree more than 5 years ago, you will need to get your qualifications assessed by the Legal Practitioners Admission Board ACT.

New South Wales

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
• Completed the last exam of your law degree

• Received your exam results by the program census date

OR

• Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
• Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree
• Are currently enrolled in your remaining elective subject(s)

• Received permission from the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) to begin PLT early

STARTING YOUR PLT EARLY

In New South Wales, you can apply to the LPAB to start your PLT early if you have:

• Completed all Priestley 11 core subjects of your law degree
• Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree

• Are currently enrolled in your remaining university subject(s)

To apply, you will need to provide to the LPAB:

• A completed Application for Early Commencement of PLT form
• An original letter from the Dean of your Law School which verifies:
• Your completion of the Priestley 11 core subjects
• Your current enrolment in the remaining university subject(s)

• Fee payment or confirmation of online fee payment

If you finished your law degree more than 5 years ago, you will need to get your qualifications assessed by the LPAB.

Northern Territory

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
• Completed the last exam of your law degree

• Received your exam results by the enrolment close date (one week before the PLT program begins)

OR

• Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
• Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree
• Are currently enrolled in your remaining elective subject(s)

• Received permission from the NT LPAB to begin PLT early

STARTING YOUR PLT EARLY

In the Northern Territory, you can apply to the NT LPAB to start your PLT early if you have:

• Completed all Priestley 11 core subjects of your law degree
• Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree

• Are currently enrolled in your remaining university subject(s)

To apply you, you will need to provide to the NT LPAB:

• A letter outlining your circumstances
• Proof of completion of the Priestley 11 core subjects, and

• Proof that you are currently enrolled in the remaining university subject(s)

If you finished your law degree more than 5 years ago, you will need to get your qualifications assessed by the NT LPAB.

Queensland

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
• Completed the last exam of your law degree

• You are not required to provide proof of completion of your law degree to enrol

OR

• Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
• Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree

• Are currently enrolled in your remaining elective subject(s)

STARTING YOUR PLT EARLY

In Queensland, you can start your PLT early if you have:

• Completed all Priestley 11 core subjects of your law degree

• Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree

To apply you need to:

• Complete the online enrolment form for Practical Legal Training. The College will email a conditional offer of enrolment to you and the Queensland Law Society

• Contact the Queensland Law Society to complete the process

If you completed your law degree more than 5 years before you intend to make your application for admission, you will need to get your qualifications assessed by the Legal Practitioners Board (LPAB).

Victoria

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
• Completed the last exam of your law degree
• Provide proof of completion of your law degree that notes the completion date

OR

• Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
• Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree
• Are currently enrolled in your remaining elective subject(s)

• Received permission from the Victorian Legal Admission Board (VLAB) to begin PLT early

STARTING YOUR PLT EARLY

In Victoria, you can apply to VLAB to start your PLT early if you have:

• Completed all Priestley 11 core subjects of your law degree
• Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree

• Are currently enrolled in your remaining university subject(s)

To apply, you need to provide to VLAB:

• Complete the online form
• Provide proof of completion of the Priestley 11 core subjects

• Provide proof of your current enrolment in the last two subjects of the qualification

If you finished your law degree more than 5 years ago, you will need to get your qualifications assessed by the VLAB.

South Australia

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
• Completed the last exam of your law degree

• Received your exam results by the program census date

OR

• Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
• Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree

• Are currently enrolled in your remaining elective subject(s)

• Received permission from the Board of Examiners (BOE) to start your PLT early 

STARTING YOUR PLT EARLY

In South Australia, you can apply to the BOE start your PLT early if you have:

• Completed all Priestley 11 core subjects of your law degree
• Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree
• Are currently enrolled in the remaining subject(s) while you are undertaking the PLT

To apply, you will need to provide to the BOE:

• A cover letter

• A statutory declaration

If you finished your law degree more than 5 years ago, you will need to get your qualifications assessed by the BOE.

Tasmania

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

For students seeking direct admission to the Supreme Court of Tasmania, the Law Society of Tasmania requires students to undertake the following Practical Legal Training subjects:

1. Civil Litigation Practice
2. Commercial and Corporate Practice
3. Property Law Practice
   
   
4. At least one of the following areas:
   1. Administrative Law Practice
   2. Criminal Law Practice

   3. Family Law Practice

5. At least one of the following areas:
   1. Consumer Law Practice
   2. Employment and Industrial Law Practice
   3. Planning and Environmental Law Practice

   4. Wills and Estates Practice

Please carefully choose your elective subjects to fulfil the requirements for admission.

Western Australia

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
• Completed the last exam of your law degree

• Received your exam results by the enrolment close date (one week before the PLT program begins)

OR

• Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
• Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree

• Are currently enrolled in your remaining elective subject(s)

• Have received permission from the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (LPBWA) to start your PLT early 

STARTING YOUR PLT EARLY

In Western Australia, you can apply to the LPBWA to start your PLT early if you:

• Have completed all Priestley 11 core subjects of your law degree
• Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree

• Are currently enrolled in the relevant academic subject(s) while you are undertaking the PLT

To apply you will need to provide the LPBWA with:

Signed Statutory Declaration

Must include:

• The name of the university and degree you are enrolled in
• Confirmation you have successfully completed all your Priestley 11 core subjects
• Confirmation of your current enrolment in the last two subjects of your degree and the expected completion date of the subjects

• The name, course code, start date and end date of the College Practical Legal Training program you intend to complete

The original signed statutory declaration must be posted to the LPBWA.

Academic Transcript

You will also need to arrange for your law school to email or post an academic transcript of your studies completed to date, directly to the LPBWA. An original academic transcript will be accepted by the LPABWA, but a transcript directly from the law school is preferred.

If you finished your law degree more than 5 years ago, you will need to get your qualifications assessed by the LPBWA.

WHAT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS WILL I NEED?

When you enrol, you’ll be asked to provide us with the following documents:

1. UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT

All you need is a screenshot of your student portal that shows your name, university and law degree type.

For students in Victoria, make sure your screenshot also displays your Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor completion and the date you finished it.

You can also use an official transcript or testamur.

2. PHOTO

Have a clear photo of your face ready to upload. The photo does not need to be an official passport photo.

3. YOUR UNIQUE STUDENT IDENTIFIER

Your Unique Student Identifier (USI) – You can find or create your USI on the Australian Government’s website.