HOW DO I APPLY FOR PLT?
HOW DO I APPLY FOR PLT IN AUSTRALIA? STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
To apply for Practical Legal Training (PLT) in Australia, you submit an online application with your personal and degree details, choose your preferred location and start date, upload required documents like your transcript and photo, and then confirm your enrolment when the College approves it.
You don’t need a job offer or work experience lined up to apply, and many students apply before they’ve officially graduated.
In this article, we’ll walk you through how to apply for PLT step by step, what you need before you start, when to apply, and what happens after you submit your application, so you know exactly what to expect and can plan your next move with confidence.
STEP 1: ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO ENROL FOR PLT?
Before you apply, you’ll need to make sure you’re eligible to commence PLT.
In most cases, you can apply under one of the following pathways:
- Standard: You’ve completed all Priestley 11 core law subjects. You can usually start PLT after your final exam, even before your results are released.
- Early Start: If you have one or two electives left, you may be able to start PLT at the same time as finishing your degree. This requires written permission from your state’s admitting authority.
If you’re unsure about your eligibility or timing, the College of Law team can help you check before you apply.
STEP 2: CHOOSE WHEN AND WHERE YOU WANT TO STUDY
One of the first decisions you’ll make is when you want to start and how you want to study.
When applying, you’ll choose:
- your location
- your start date
- whether you want to study full-time or part-time
- your preferred study mode, depending on your state
PLT courses at the College of Law start regularly throughout the year, so you don’t need to wait for a single intake period.
STEP 3: SUBMIT YOUR PLT ONLINE APPLICATION
Applications for PLT are completed online through the College of Law website.
As part of the application, you’ll be asked to provide:
- your personal details
- your law degree details and university
- an unofficial academic transcript (in some states, you may need to provide an official transcript by the course start date)
- a photo for identification purposes
- your Unique Student Identifier (USI)
- which elective subject you'd like to study
- how you’d like to pay your fees
You don’t need to complete everything in one go. You can save your application and come back to finish it later if you need more time or are waiting on information.
At this stage, you don’t need:
- a job offer
- work experience secured
- to have your admission paperwork sorted
Those steps come later.
STEP 4: CONFIRM YOUR ENROLMENT
Once your application has been processed, we’ll send you an email confirming your enrolment. After that, you’re officially enrolled and ready to get started.
FAQS
You don’t need to wait for your graduation ceremony to apply for PLT.
You can apply for PLT once you’ve completed your final law exam, even if your results haven’t been released yet and your graduation ceremony hasn’t taken place.
To enrol and start the course, you’ll need to have completed your final law exam and be able to provide the required enrolment paperwork. We recommend applying a few weeks before your intended start date to allow time for this.
If you’re unsure about your timing, the College of Law team can help you check before you apply.
There’s no single “perfect” time to apply for PLT, and you’re not behind if you’re still figuring things out.
As a general guide, we recommend applying a few weeks before your intended course start date. This simply gives you some breathing room to finalise enrolment, provide any required documents, and sort out payment or FEE-HELP, without feeling rushed.
If you’re worried you’ve left it too late, don’t panic. Enrolments typically close one week before a course begins, and you can always check in with the College of Law team to confirm your options.
If you’d like more guidance on choosing the right timing for PLT, including how it fits around work, admission dates, and your law degree, you can read more here:
No. You don’t need a job offer or work experience lined up to apply for PLT. Many students apply and enrol first, then secure work experience during their PLT.
Yes. You don’t need to complete your PLT application in one sitting.
You can save your application and return to it later if you’re waiting on documents or need more time. Once you’ve started your application, you’ll receive an email with a link that allows you to resume your enrolment at any time.
This means you can come back when you’re ready and pick up where you left off, without needing to start again.
When applying, you’ll usually need:
- an unofficial academic transcript (an official transcript may be required later, depending on your state)
- a photo for identification
- your Unique Student Identifier (USI)
Once your application is processed, you’ll receive an email confirming your enrolment. After that, you’re officially enrolled and will receive information to help you prepare for the course before it starts.
