HOW FLEXIBLE IS PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING?
CAN PLT REALLY FIT AROUND EVERYTHING ELSE YOU'RE DOING?
Practical Legal Training (PLT) can be flexible, especially at the College of Law.
If you’re trying to figure out whether PLT can fit around full-time work, clerkships, travel, or everything else in your life, the short answer is yes. With regular start dates, no weekly lectures or tutorials, limited set workshop and assessment times, and part-time study options, you have plenty of control over when and how you study.
Here’s how that flexibility works day to day.
HOW OFTEN CAN YOU START PLT?
One of the biggest perks of PLT at the College of Law is the number of start dates.
Unlike university semesters, you won’t be waiting months for the next intake. New intakes open throughout the year, in most states, this is every month or more.
This means you can:
- Start when you’re ready
- Plan your PLT around work, clerkships, or travel
- Move straight from exams into PLT if you want to
This level of flexibility is especially helpful if you’re finishing exams at an odd time of year, starting a new job soon, or want to move straight from uni into PLT without losing momentum.
HOW FLEXIBLE IS THE WEEKLY PLT SCHEDULE?
Very flexible, but with structure to keep you on track.
There are no weekly lectures, compulsory tutorials, or set log-in times. Instead, you’ll complete practical tasks each week at times that suit your routine.
You’ll always have:
- A clear start and end date
- Weekly milestones
- Freedom to build your own study schedule
This makes it manageable alongside full-time work, clerkships, or personal commitments.
ARE THERE SET CLASS TIMES FOR PLT?
Yes, a small number, and they’re clearly scheduled.
1. Live Workshops
You’ll complete between 5 and 15 days of workshops at the start of your course (depending on your format). These run online or on campus and include hands-on activities in:
- Advocacy
- Interviewing
- Legal drafting
- Negotiation
- Ethics and wellbeing
Because they’re interactive and skills-based, they aren’t recorded.
2. Practice Ready Reviews (PRRs)
These are your final capstone assessments for each subject.
PRRs are:
- Conducted via Zoom
- Scheduled in advance
- Offered at multiple time slots
- Required for course completion
They’re spaced out across your program so they fit alongside work and life.
Outside of these sessions, everything else, including when you complete weekly tasks, is flexible, as long as you meet your milestones.
HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK IS PLT?
| FULL-TIME | BALANCED | PART-TIME | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study Load | 30-35 hours | 15-20 hours | 15-20 hours |
|
Workshops |
5 days |
10 days |
5 days |
|
Typical Weekly Tasks |
2–3 tasks each week |
1–2 tasks each week |
1–2 tasks each week |
|
Best For |
Students who want to finish quickly or have a break between roles |
Students who want a faster finish without full-time hours |
Students working full-time or managing multiple commitments |
CAN YOU WORK WHILE DOING PLT?
Yes, most students do. Many even work full-time.
Our students routinely fit PLT around:
- Paralegal or graduate roles
- Seasonal clerkships
- Casual or part-time jobs
- Family or caring responsibilities
Because your coursework is mostly self-paced, you can choose the times that work for you. Early mornings, evenings, weekends, whatever fits.
SO, HOW FLEXIBLE IS PLT REALLY?
In short: very flexible. At least at the College of Law.
You can:
- Build your study routine around your life
- Work full-time or part-time while studying
- Choose a study load that matches your availability
- Select from frequent start date
- Build your own weekly routine
- Complete almost all coursework at the times you choose
- Attend only a small number of scheduled live sessions
PLT is meant to support your life, not interrupt it.
READY TO FIND A PLT FORMAT THAT WORKS FOR YOU?
Compare study modes, start dates, and workshop formats to see which PLT program best fits your routine, goals, and lifestyle.
