WHAT IF I CAN’T FIND WORK EXPERIENCE FOR PLT?
CAN YOU START PLT WITHOUT WORK EXPERIENCE?
Yes. You don’t need a legal job or placement to enrol in PLT.
If you haven’t found work experience yet, that’s completely normal — many students are in the same boat. You can still start your PLT and complete your work experience during the course or after. You’ll have up to four years to finish all parts of your PLT.
There are different work experience options to suit your situation, and you’ll get support from our career coaches to help you find the right opportunity.
WORK EXPERIENCE OPTIONS
If you're stressing about finding work experience for your Practical Legal Training (PLT), take a deep breath—we’ve got you. It’s a common concern for law students, and the good news is, you have options.
All options fully meet the admission requirements, so you won’t be at a disadvantage no matter which path you take.
Let’s break it down so you can choose the best path for you.
VIC, QLD, SA, ACT, NT & NSW (Before 1 March 2026)
- Complete 15 days of supervised legal work
- Work experience must be completed after starting PLT
- Includes six weeks of additional coursework
- Complete 75 days of supervised legal work
- Some work experience may be completed before starting PLT
- At least 15 days must be completed after starting PLT
- No additional coursework is required
NSW (After 1 March 2026)
- Complete 15 days of supervised legal work
- Work experience must be completed after starting PLT
- No additional coursework is required
WA
- Complete 25 days of supervised legal work
- Some work experience may be completed before starting PLT
- Includes five weeks of additional coursework
- Complete 75 days of supervised legal work
- Some work experience may be completed before starting PLT
- At least 15 days must be completed after starting PLT
- No additional coursework is required
YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE CAN BE FLEXIBLE
You don’t need to complete all of your PLT work experience in one workplace. In most cases, you can spread it across different roles and settings, as long as the experience meets the relevant requirements.
Your work experience can include:
- Multiple placements – You can combine experience from different employers
- Different types of legal work – Private practice, in-house, government or pro bono roles may all count
- Paid or unpaid roles – Both can be eligible, provided the work is legal in nature
- Relevant experience you’ve already completed – Previous roles such as law clerk or intern may count towards your total
NEED HELP FINDING WORK EXPERIENCE? WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK
If you’re struggling to find work experience, you don’t have to figure it out alone. When you enrol in PLT at the College of Law, you get access to career coaches who can help you:
- Find work experience opportunities
- Polish your resume and cover letter
- Develop job search strategies
- Prepare for interviews
WHICH OPTION IS BEST FOR YOU?
At the end of the day, both options get you to the same goal: completing Practical Legal Training and qualifying for admission. The right choice depends on your situation:
You might prefer a longer work experience option if you:
- Already have a placement, or feel confident securing one
- Want to spend more time gaining experience in a legal workplace
You might prefer a shorter work experience option if you:
- Want to complete PLT with less time spent in a placement
- Prefer to focus on coursework alongside a shorter period of work experience
No matter which pathway applies to you, you’ll be completing an approved PLT course and moving closer to admission, and we’re here to support you at every step.
WORK EXPERIENCE IS JUST ONE PIECE—WHAT ELSE DOES PLT COVER?
Now that you know how work experience fits into PLT, take a look at the bigger picture. Explore your study options, the subjects you’ll cover, and how PLT helps you take the next step in your legal career.
