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Practical Legal Training
GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF LEGAL PRACTICE (GDLP)
THE FLEX FACTOR: PLT BUILT BY YOU, FOR YOU
We get it. Life happens.
You might be run off your feet working full time. Or you want to study from home – in your PJs. Or you’re more of a night owl than an early bird.
Get ready for a PLT program you can build yourself. We call it the Flex Factor.
- Want a career coach? We’ve got you covered.
- Prefer evening workshops? You got it.
-
Tired of traditional exams and essays? We are too. Consider them gone.
QUESTIONS? CHAT WITH US
We'll work with you one-on-one to answer your questions.
SHAPE A COURSE AROUND YOUR NEEDS
Pick
Get admitted pronto with a 15-week full-time course or balance study and life with a 30-week part-time course.
Study at a time
that suits you
Study when you are most productive. Whether it's during your lunch break or late at night.
Learn
online
Attend just 5 days (or equivalent) of workshops onsite or online (in most states), followed by flexible online learning.
Get
started sooner
Start and finish your PLT sooner with rolling intake dates throughout the year. We’re ready when you are.
THE 3 PILLARS OF OUR PLT PROGRAM
1. Coursework
You haven’t studied like this before.No written exams. No essays.
Instead, you’ll learn by doing. In interactive workshops, you’ll go hands-on to complete engaging tasks and solve real-world legal problems.
2. Work Experience
Learn from legal leaders. Think summer clerkships. Paralegal work. Community legal centres. And more.Put the theory to the test and apply yourself in dynamic legal environments.
3. Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
The future of law is changing. So you’ll need more than technical knowledge. With CPE, you’ll gain the new skills and latest insights law firms are looking for.
WHICH COURSE IS RIGHT FOR ME?
FULL-TIME
ONLINE
ONLINE
15 WEEKS
You want to get admitted ASAP – and don’t work full time.PACE
30 – 35 hours study per weekWORKSHOP ATTENDANCE
5 days or 3 days every week*
BALANCED
ONLINE
ONLINE
18 WEEKS
You want to get admitted quickly – and still balance your work. It's a fast start, followed by part-time study.PACE
15 – 20 hours study per weekWORKSHOP ATTENDANCE
10 days
PART-TIME
ONLINE
ONLINE
30 WEEKS
You want the flexibility to study between your life or work commitments.PACE
15 – 20 hours study per weekWORKSHOP ATTENDANCE
5 days or 12 evenings
*Available only in NSW.
CHOOSE YOUR INTAKE DATE
Ready to get going? We are too. Get started sooner with rolling intakes throughout the year.
All you need to do is pick your preferred pace and workshop location.
When can I start?
You can start your Practical Legal Training 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 before completing your law degree, you'll need to seek approval from the admitting authority in your state.
ADDED INCLUSIONS
Ongoing career support
Be supported by a specialist career coach during your PLT – and for 365 days after graduation.
Hone your legaltech skills
Thrive in the roles of tomorrow. Gain hands-on experience with legaltech tools like PEXA and Josef.
NewLaw internship
Complete a virtual internship in five in-demand NewLaw careers in collaboration with the Centre for Legal Innovation.
Online community hub
Our online community – College Connect – is bursting with exclusive resources, supportive groups and informative events.
MEET YOUR SUPPORT TEAM
We’ll provide you with support and guidance if and when you need it. To help you thrive through your PLT – and beyond.
Lecturer
An experienced lawyer will provide you with one-on-one feedback and help keep your learning on track.
Mentor
A lawyer who has walked the path before you. They can provide encouragement or be a sounding board when you need a hand.
Career advisor
Receive over 12 months of assistance with career planning, job searching and building your personal brand.
Profession
Connect with top practitioners and receive flash mentoring from industry experts.
PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE
Amplify your learning to accelerate your career.
START A NEWLAW CAREER VIRTUAL INTERNSHIP
Want to try before you apply – and sharpen your legal skills while you’re at it? Complete a (free) virtual internship in five in-demand NewLaw careers:
- Legal data analyst
- Legal operations professional
- Legal technologist
- Legal knowledge manager
-
Family law mediator
SHARPEN YOUR LEGALTECH SKILLS
Tech innovations are reshaping how lawyers manage matters – and deliver greater value.
Let the College equip you with the skills and confidence to thrive in the roles of tomorrow. You'll learn to build your own legal bot using Josef, a leading legal tech startup. And in an Australian first, you’ll also go hands-on with PEXA – the e-conveyancing tool that’s transforming property law.
LOCATIONS ACROSS AUSTRALIA
We’ll pair you with one of our 15 locations across Australia. And connect you with local legal lecturers with local insights.
COURSE FEES
Want to study now and pay later?
FEE-HELP (a student loan provided by the Federal Government) is available for eligible students. You can use FEE-HELP to pay all or part of your tuition fees.
| AUS CITIZENS & PERMANENT RESIDENTS, AND NZ CITIZENS | OVERSEAS AND INTERNATIONAL CITIZENS |
|---|---|
| $10,660 | $15,380 |
Payment options and incidental fees
Tuition assurance
PLT FAQs
What is Practical Legal Training (PLT)?
Now that you’ve completed (or nearly completed) your law degree, you have a strong theoretical understanding of the law.
But you’re not ready to enter the workforce. Not yet.
PLT equips you with the practical, day-to-day skills you need as an entry-level lawyer. You know – the court-appearing, contract-preparing, law-talking kind.
Think of your PLT as the perfect finishing school. A space to practise your skills and build your confidence as an entry-level lawyer who’s ready to soar.
After completing your PLT, you will be awarded a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP). This means you’ll be eligible to apply for admission as a legal practitioner in your state or territory.
When can I start my PLT?
You can start your PLT if you have completed all Priestley 11 core subjects of your law degree – with no more than two electives remaining.
To start your PLT before completing your law degree, you’ll need to seek approval from the admitting authority in your state.
What are the Priestley 11 subjects?
During your studies, you'll gain an understanding of the theory of law and study key areas, known as the 'Priestley 11’:
- Administrative law
- Civil Procedure
- Company Law
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Criminal Law and
- Procedures
- Equity (including Trusts)
- Evidence
- Professional Conduct (including Basic Trust Accounting)
- Property, both Real (including Torrens System Land) and Personal
- Torts
Keep in mind, there may be additional subjects and electives you'll need to complete, based on your university's requirements.
Do I need my exam results to enrol in PLT?
No, you don't need your exam results to enrol! Here's when you'll need to provide them:
In the ACT, NT, VIC and WA, you have until the enrolment close date (one week before the course begins).
In NSW and SA, you'll need to provide them by the program census date.
In Queensland, you have until the end of the program to provide your exam results.
How long is PLT?
Our full-time course is 15 weeks.
Our part-time course is 30 weeks. (This is a good option if you work full time or have other commitments.)
Do I have to attend workshops?
Your PLT begins with mandatory workshops (you choose online or on campus).
You will role-play interviews, negotiation and courtroom appearances under the guidance of lawyers, barristers and judges.
If you work 9-to-5 or lead a busy life during the day, we offer an evening program in NSW, QLD, SA, VIC and WA. Our evening workshops are held after 5.30pm.
Does PLT have exams?
No traditional written exams here! Our Practical Legal Training (PLT) is all about being hands-on and practical.
After workshops, you'll jump into our interactive Learning Portal where you’ll tackle tasks that feel like real-world scenarios.
To make sure you feel ready to take on the challenges of a legal workplace, you’ll complete a “file review” for each subject. But they’re not your typical test.
Picture a conversation with an evaluator (who is a lawyer), stepping into the shoes of your supervisor. You’ll review a case file and discuss how and why you’ve settled on your conclusions – just like how real matters operate with your supervisor at work.
The file review is all about boosting your confidence, ensuring you're ready to take on the challenges of a legal workplace.
Can you do PLT full-time and work full-time?
While it's possible, we generally don't recommend it. Full-time study is 30-35 hours per week for 15 weeks, with 2-3 tasks due each week.
PLT is your chance to practice skills before entering the workforce, and having enough time for it ensures you the best start to your legal career.
The full-time course is fast-paced, and catching up if you fall behind can be challenging.
On the other hand, the part-time course offers a more relaxed pace. It covers the same content over 30 weeks and is perfect for those with work or family commitments.
Keep in mind, you can switch to part-time in the first week if needed.
I completed work experience at university. Can it count towards my PLT?
Yes. In fact, this is quite common – especially in cases where students have completed some work experience as undergraduates.
At the College, you can count up to 60 days of work experience in the two years before starting your PLT.
What is the difference between Practical Legal Training (PLT) and the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP)?
Practical Legal Training and the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice are essentially the same thing.
When you finish your PLT, you get a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice qualification.
Both are about the training you need after your law degree to become a practicing lawyer.
Sometimes people call it by the course name (Practical Legal Training), and other times the qualification you receive (Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice).
So, whether you hear PLT or GDLP, you're on the right track for your legal journey!
What happens after Practical Legal Training?
After you finish your Practical Legal Training, it's time to get admitted to the legal profession.
Before you can officially become a lawyer, you need to show the admissions authority that you have the right ethics.
In simpler terms, they want to make sure you have a good moral character to interpret, argue, and draft the law.
To prove it, you'll have to let them know if you have any criminal, academic or general misconduct history. Make sure you check the specific rules in your state's admissions authority before moving forward.
And when you finally get the green light, get ready to attend an admission ceremony where you'll officially become a lawyer! Celebrate with your friends, family, and colleagues – it's a big achievement!
DISCOVER THE FLEX FACTOR.
BUILD YOUR OWN PLT.
AND SHARPEN ALL THE SKILLS YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED.
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