HOW PLT HELPS YOU FIND A JOB
DOES PLT HELP YOU GET A JOB?
If you’re wondering whether Practical Legal Training (PLT) actually helps you get a legal job, the short answer is yes, it can.
PLT is designed to help law graduates build practical legal skills, gain legal work experience, and feel more prepared for real legal practice. While PLT doesn’t guarantee you a job or find you a placement, it can help you become more employable and more confident when applying for legal roles.
For many students, PLT is also the first time they complete practical legal tasks that mirror the work lawyers do every day, from drafting documents and communicating with clients to managing deadlines and solving real-world legal problems.
At a glance:
- PLT helps you build practical, job-ready skills — not just legal knowledge
- You’ll complete real-world tasks you can talk about in interviews
- You don’t need work experience before starting
- You’ll have access to career coaching (during PLT and for 365 days after)
- You’re supported by lecturers, mentors, and a wider support team
- PLT is designed to help you feel confident stepping into your first legal role
WILL PLT ACTUALLY HELP YOU GET A JOB?
PLT won’t guarantee you a job, but it will help you become someone employers want to hire.
During PLT, you move from understanding the law to applying it. You’ll practise the kinds of tasks junior lawyers do every day, like drafting documents, reviewing files, managing deadlines, and responding to client scenarios.
You’ll also complete a period of work experience, which can be a valuable foot in the door. Many students use this placement to:
- Build connections with legal employers
- Gain real workplace experience
- Demonstrate their capability in a professional setting
In some cases, that experience can lead to ongoing work or future opportunities — whether at the same organisation or elsewhere.
PLT helps you:
- Build confidence in real legal tasks
- Speak clearly about your experience in interviews
- Show you’re ready for practice
It’s often the difference between saying “I studied this” and “I’ve done this.”
WILL YOU HELP ME FIND WORK EXPERIENCE?
This is one of the biggest concerns students have, especially if you don’t already have connections in the legal industry.
The short answer: yes, you’ll be supported, you have access to a Career Coach to assist.
While the College doesn’t place students into work experience positions directly, your career coach can help you approach the process strategically and confidently.
They can support you with:
- Where to look for placements
- How to approach law firms and organisations
- Writing and refining your CV and cover letter
- Preparing for interviews
- Building a practical, achievable plan based on your situation
Whether you’re starting from scratch or already have some experience, your career coach can help you build a practical plan and approach employers with confidence.
WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU GET DURING PLT?
You’re not doing PLT alone. You’ll have support throughout the course and beyond.
Here’s what that looks like:
| SUPPORT | WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU |
|---|---|
| Lawyer-lecturer | Guides you through each subject, explains expectations, and gives practical feedback on your work |
| Lawyer-mentor | Someone who’s been through PLT and can offer advice, reassurance, and perspective |
| Career coach | Helps you plan your next steps, refine applications, and prepare for interviews |
| Ongoing support | Career coaching continues for 365 days after you finish PLT |
The support is designed to guide and prepare you through the process, not apply for jobs on your behalf.
CAREER SUPPORT THAT CONTINUES BEYOND PLT
Looking for a job doesn’t always line up neatly with when your course finishes.
At the College of Law, you’ll have access to a career coach during PLT and for 365 days after you finish. That means you can keep getting support while you’re applying for roles, preparing for interviews, or working out your next step.
Your career coach can help with things like:
- Planning how to approach your job search
- Reviewing your CV and cover letters
- Preparing for interviews
- Talking through your options
It’s there when you need it, whether that’s during the course or a few months after, when you’re actively applying.
BUILDING CONFIDENCE BEFORE YOU START YOUR CAREER
PLT isn’t just about ticking a box for admission.
It’s your chance to practise, experiment, and build confidence before stepping into a real legal role.
During PLT, you can:
- Try different approaches to drafting and problem-solving
- Ask questions without pressure
- Receive feedback and improve
- Develop your professional judgement
It’s a safe place to learn, before you’re doing this work with real clients, deadlines, and expectations.
WHAT ABOUT IF YOU'RE ALREADY WORKING?
If you’re already working in a legal or non-legal role, PLT is designed to fit around that.
Many students:
- Work part-time or full-time during PLT
- Use PLT to strengthen their current role
- Transition into legal roles while studying
The flexibility of the course means you can keep building experience while you complete your qualification.
SO, DOES PLT HELP YOU GET A JOB?
PLT doesn’t place you into a role or guarantee employment, but it gives you the tools, experience, and support to get there.
You’ll finish with:
- Practical experience you can talk about in interviews
- Feedback from legal professionals
- Support with applications and job searching
- Greater confidence in your ability to do the job
And most importantly, you won’t be navigating that process on your own.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
No. Finding work experience and applying for jobs is still your responsibility.
However, you’ll have access to career coaching and support throughout PLT, including help with applications, interview preparation, job search strategies, and approaching employers.
The goal is to help you feel more confident and prepared throughout the process.
That’s very common.
Many people start PLT without existing industry connections or legal experience. Career support during PLT can help you approach applications, networking, and work experience more strategically, even if you’re starting from scratch.
Sometimes, yes.
For some students, PLT work experience becomes a pathway to ongoing opportunities, either at the same organisation or through the connections and experience they build during the placement.
There’s no guarantee of employment, but it can be a valuable way to gain experience and demonstrate your skills in a professional environment.
PLT can help you become more job-ready by giving you practical experience, workplace exposure, and examples of legal work you can talk about in interviews.
You’ll complete tasks that mirror real legal practice, build professional skills, and complete a period of work experience. While PLT doesn’t guarantee employment, many graduates find it helps them feel more confident and prepared when applying for legal roles.
Your skills, experience, and how you present yourself will always matter most.
That said, some employers may already be familiar with certain PLT providers and the training their graduates receive. Choosing an established provider can help give context to the practical experience and skills you’ve developed during your course.
When comparing providers, it can be helpful to consider things like:
- Which providers law firms and organisations already work with
- Whether the provider has partnerships with larger employers
- Whether the provider has a national presence
- Whether lawyers, graduates, friends, or colleagues in the profession are familiar with the program
While PLT is only one part of your application, studying with a recognised provider may help employers better understand the training and experience you’ve completed.
