Work Experience
ABOUT
Gain insight into a real legal environment
The Work Experience component is the second of three essential components of your Practical Legal Training. 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.
You have many work experience possibilities available to you. However, your placement must be considered ‘eligible’ to be approved. This means it must:
- Occur in the delivery of legal services
- Be supervised by a legal practitioner who meets the Work Experience Rules
- Meet the Work Experience Rules
work experience
examples
You have a huge range of opportunities that may count towards your Work Experience component. Examples include:
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WORk experience format options
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Structure |
Choose if: |
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SHORT FORMAT |
25 days of approved work experience + Clinical Experience Module (CEM) |
You’ve already had work experience – or 75 days of work experience is impractical for you |
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STANDARD FORMAT |
75 days of approved work experience
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You have already accrued or plan to accrue a significant proportion of the work experience days needed |
short format
In addition to your 25 days’ work experience, the Short Format requires you to complete the Clinical Experience Module (CEM). It takes place over a five-week period and comprises of two components:
- Four written reflections about your work experience
- An advanced skills session
The CEM incurs an additional cost (which is FEE-HELP applicable) and you may only start it after you have completed your 25 days’ work experience.
If you enrol in the Short Format and accrue 75 days’ work experience, you can move into the Standard Format.
standard format
The Standard Format requires you to complete 75 days’ work experience – before, during or after your Coursework component.
If you enrol in the Standard Format, you can move into the Short Format provided you have already accrued 25 days’ work experience.
Changing Format Options
The Standard Format requires you to complete 75 days’ work experience – before, during or after your Coursework component. If you enrol in the Standard Format, you can move into the Short Format provided you have already accrued 25 days’ work experience.
work experience rules
To be eligible, your work experience must comply with the Work Experience Rules. In short, your work experience:
- Must occur in the delivery of legal services
- Must be under the supervision of an appropriate supervisor
- May be undertaken in one or multiple placements
- May include experience undertaken as an undergraduate (but such experience cannot be used to satisfy the entire 75 day or 25 day placement)
Important: Please ensure you read the rules carefully and contact us if you have any questions.
Important - Work Experience Changes
The Work Experience rules are changing. LACC has prescribed new standards for PLT Work Experience for all PLT providers.
- You will need to complete 15 days work experience in Australia, concurrently with or after the Coursework Component and accrued at a minimum rate of 2 days per week.
- The remaining work experience (10 days for Short option and 60 days for Standard option) can be undertaken before, during or after your Coursework Component and accrued at a minimum rate of 1 day per week.
If you have work experience approved prior to 1 July 2018 the changes to the rules will not affect the approved placements. From 1 July 2018 the new rules will apply to any approvals.
If you have any questions, please contact Jayne Watt at support@collaw.edu.au or on 02 9965 7025.
when can i do my work experience?
For both the Short and Standard Format, you need to complete 15 days work experience in Australia, concurrently with or after the Coursework Component.
You may undertake the remaining work experience before, during or after your Coursework Component subject to compliance with the Work Experience Rules.
On many occasions through PLT the staff here was so fantastic in working with me to make sure I could hold down these jobs and still complete my certificate and get everything I possible could out of the program.
how to have your work experience approved
Simply follow the following four steps:
- Read the Work Experience Rules (PDF) thoroughly.
- Provide your supervisor with a copy of the Work Experience Guide for Supervisors to read.
- Download and complete in full the Work Experience Approval Form (PDF).
- Submit your Work Experience Approval Form (PDF) (signed by your supervisor) before, or as soon as possible after you start your placement via email or post.
- We will then advise you of the outcome of your application.
- After completing your placement, submit the Work Experience Declaration Form (PDF) (signed by your supervisor) to the College via email or post.
Student Services
The College of Law
PO Box 2
St Leonards NSW 1590
Or
DX 3316 St Leonards NSW
Work Experience Journal
If you are undertaking the Standard Work Experience Format, you need to submit a work experience journal for the 15 days' work experience that you have undertaken in Australia concurrently with or after the Coursework Component. This journal must be signed by your supervisor.
Can work experience be approved retrospectively?
Yes. In fact, this is quite common – especially in cases where students have completed some work experience as undergraduates. However, approval is at our discretion.
Your work experience must still comply with the Work Experience Rules – and you still need to follow Steps 2-6 above.
Your Work Experience Supervisor
We have created a guide that you can provide to your supervisor that helps explain the purpose of work experience and The College of Law's expectations about the nature of the supervision required.
Am I Covered By Insurance While Doing Work Experience?
Yes, you are entitled to insurance cover as a College of Law student if you are undertaking an unpaid approved placement.
How to Find a Work Experience
We support you in a number of ways
Although you are responsible for finding your own work experience, we help and support you in a number of ways. These include:
- Advertising employment vacancies on our Jobs Noticeboard
- Providing you with the opportunity to upload your resume so that employers can search for available law students and graduates
- Networking with industry to source placements
- Promoting the College and its students to employers
Online Jobs Noticeboard
With more than 70 jobs from around the country at any one time, we have more opportunities available for law students than any other website in Australia.
We actively source opportunities for our Jobs Noticeboard – and actively work with industry to find placement opportunities. We also advertise in legal publications encouraging employers to post jobs on our noticeboard.
Student Employment Register
The College of Law provides a free service that allows law students to post CV's on the Jobs Noticeboard so that employers can search for candidates who match their criteria.
To post your CV, create a Job Seeker profile on the Jobs Noticeboard. Please note that this service is only available to College students and graduates.
Other places to find work experience
Please see these links for work experience opportunities:
questions about your work Experience Component?
Please contact:
Jayne Watt
Work Experience Liaison Officer
jawatt@collaw.edu.au
Direct: 02 9965 7025
P: 1300 856 111
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I would strongly recommend The College's PLT course because it really gives you an insight into what it's like to practice as a lawyer and you get that experience in a non-threatening, learning, support environment.
Hollymaree Cobby, Graduate
Practical Legal Training)
The lecturers are excellent. They are thorough professionals, very knowledgeable, able to provide you with real practical examples, they really teach you what the law is about and how to apply it.
Gary Zervas, Graduate
Practical Legal Training)
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.
Nicholas Scerri, Criminal Defence Lawyer, Scerri Legal
Practical Legal Training