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.
HOW MUCH WORK EXPERIENCE DO YOU NEED?
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.
Let’s break it down so you can choose the best path for you.
At the College of Law, you can complete your PLT work experience in two ways:
- 75-Day Option – Do 75 days (15 weeks) of eligible work experience.
- 15-Day Option – Do 15 days* (3 weeks) of eligible work experience, plus six weeks of extra coursework.
Both options fully meet the admission requirements, so you won’t be at a disadvantage no matter which path you take.
(*In WA, this option is 25 days of work experience plus five weeks of coursework.)
OPTION 1: COMPLETING 75 DAYS OF WORK EXPERIENCE
If you have a placement lined up or have already done some legal work, this could be the best choice for you. And you don’t have to do all 75 days of Practical Legal Training work experience in one place!
Your work experience can be flexible, and it can include:
- Multiple placements – Mix and match experiences across different employers.
- Different types of legal work – Private practice, in-house, government, or pro bono—it all counts!
- Paid or unpaid work – As long as it’s legal work, it’s eligible.
- Experience you’ve already done – Previous work as a law clerk, intern, or other legal role might count towards your total.
If you can piece together 75 days, this is a great way to build your experience and make valuable connections in the legal industry.
OPTION 2: COMPLETING 15 DAYS* OF WORK EXPERIENCE
If finding a placement is tough or 75 days isn’t an option for you, don’t stress—you can still complete your PLT with the 15-day option*.
This involves:
- 15 days of legal work experience* (3 weeks).
- Six weeks of additional online coursework, where you’ll work through real-world legal scenarios.
Just like the 75-day option, your 15 days of work experience can be flexible:
- Multiple placements – You don’t need to do it all in one place.
- Different types of legal work – Private firms, in-house, government, or pro bono—all count!
- Paid or unpaid work – Both are eligible.
This option is fully approved for admission, so if 75 days isn’t possible for you, you can still qualify as a lawyer without any delays.
(*In WA, this option requires 25 days of Practical Legal Training work experience plus five weeks of coursework.)
WORK EXPERIENCE OPTIONS
15 DAYS
ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, VIC & SA
If you’re planning to do work experience after starting your PLT or if 75 days is hard to fit into your schedule.
You’ll complete 15 days of work experience in Australia, doing at least 2 days per week, after starting your PLT.
Includes an extra 6-week online program to round out your experience.
$1,690 (FEE-HELP available).
25 DAYS
WA
If 75 days isn’t practical or you prefer starting work experience after beginning your PLT.
You’ll complete 15 days of work experience in Australia, doing at least 2 days per week, after starting your PLT. The other 10 days can be done before, during, or after PLT (up to 2 years before).
Includes an extra 5-week online course to round out your experience.
$1,620 (FEE-HELP available).
75 DAYS
All states and territories, plus the UK
If you’ve already gained significant work experience or plan to.
You’ll complete 15 days of work experience in Australia, doing at least 2 days per week, after starting your PLT. The other 60 days can be done before, during, or after PLT (up to 2 years before).
No extra online coursework is required with this option.
No additional fees—this option is included with your PLT program.
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:
- Have a placement (or can find one)? The 75-day option lets you gain workplace experience.
- Struggling to find one? The 15-day coursework option* keeps you moving forward—without the stress of securing a long-term placement.
No matter which option you choose, you’re one step closer to becoming a lawyer—and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
(*In WA, this option requires 25 days of PLT work experience plus five weeks of coursework.)
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.
