PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING VICTORIA
You've finished (or nearly finished) your Victorian law degree. Now it's time to build the practical skills you’ll need for legal practice. The College of Law’s Practical Legal Training (PLT) is accredited by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB), the body that approves PLT providers in Victoria. It’s fully flexible, and purpose-built to get you practice-ready, with no essays, written exams, or unnecessary theory.
Study full-time, part-time, or at a balanced pace. Attend online or in person at our Melbourne CBD campus. You choose.
WHAT IS PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING (PLT) IN VICTORIA?
Practical Legal Training (PLT) is the next step before applying for admission to the legal profession in Victoria. It leads to the award of a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP), the qualification you need to apply for admission through the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB).
PLT helps you develop the practical skills lawyers use every day before entering legal practice.
PLT in Victoria is assessed and accredited by VLAB under the Legal Profession Uniform Admission Rules 2015. There are currently four approved PLT providers, including the College of Law. With multiple course formats, regular start dates, and the ability to complete most coursework online, the College offers flexible PLT study options designed to fit around work and other commitments.
Key facts for Victorian graduates:
- Complete your PLT in 15–30 weeks
- Choose between 15 or 75 days of work experience
- Study mostly online, with workshops online or at our Melbourne CBD campus
- Flexible options: full-time, part-time, or balanced study
- Learn by doing, with practical tasks based on real legal work
- Graduate with a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) approved by VLAB
HOW COLLEGE OF LAW PLT WORKS
Your PLT is made up of coursework and work experience, and you have up to four years to complete the program.
COURSEWORK
Forget lectures and essays. At the College of Law, you'll learn by doing.
Your coursework is designed to help you build practical legal skills through a combination of online learning and interactive workshops.
Most of your study takes place online, where you’ll complete practical legal tasks such as drafting documents, advising clients, and managing files. You’ll receive ongoing feedback from your facilitator as you progress through each subject.
Workshops are built into your coursework and focus on skills that are best developed through real-time interaction, including client interviews, negotiation, advocacy, and professional communication. These sessions are highly interactive and run as role-plays and guided exercises.
Depending on your course:
- You’ll attend 5 days of workshops, or
- 10 days of workshops, or
- 12 evening workshops
Workshops can be completed online or in person at our Melbourne CBD campus, depending on your course and your preference.
No written exams. No grades. Just practice.
Instead, you’ll build your skills in a supportive environment before applying them in a real workplace.
- Practical tasks: Work through simulated legal files (typically 2–3 tasks per week full-time, or 1–2 tasks per week part-time), with detailed feedback from your facilitator.
- Huddles: Optional small-group sessions to ask questions and discuss your work.
- Progress quizzes: Short knowledge checks at the end of each subject that you can retake to support your learning.
- Practice ready reviews: A 45-minute open-book conversation with a supervising lawyer at the end of each subject, similar to reporting on your work in practice.
- Lawyer Skills
- Ethics and Professional Responsibility
- Civil Litigation Practice
- Property Law Practice
- Commercial and Corporate Practice
- Administrative Law
- Criminal Law
- Family Law
- Consumer Law
- Employment Law
- Planning and Environmental Law
- Wills and Estate
- Banking and Finance
WORK EXPERIENCE
Options
Option 1:
75 days' work experience
Complete 75 days in a legal workplace.
Option 2:
15 days + 6-week online program
Complete 15 days of work experience plus an additional six weeks of online coursework.
Work experience is where you apply what you’re learning in a real legal workplace.
As part of Practical Legal Training in Victoria, you'll complete either 15 or 75 days of work experience. This gives you the opportunity to build practical skills and see how legal work happens day to day.
You’ll organise your own placement and can complete your days in one workplace or across multiple organisations.
You don’t need a placement organised before you enrol. Many students complete their work experience during the course.
As a College PLT student, you’ll have access to Career Coaches who can help you get started and prepare applications.
HOW LONG DOES PLT TAKE IN VICTORIA?
In Victoria, the coursework component of Practical Legal Training usually takes between 15 and 30 weeks, depending on the study mode you choose.
In addition to coursework, you’ll also complete work experience in a legal workplace. In Victoria, this can be either 15 days or 75 days, depending on the option you choose.
The total time it takes to complete PLT will depend on when you complete your work experience. Many students complete their placement during their coursework, while others may complete some or all of their work experience before or after their course.
Once you have completed both your coursework and work experience requirements, you’ll be awarded the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP), which allows you to apply for admission to the legal profession in Victoria.
PLT Entry Requirements for Victorian Graduates
Many students begin PLT shortly after finishing their law degree, although some choose to start earlier with VLAB approval.
To enrol in PLT in Victoria, you must:
- Have completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
- You've finished the last exam of your law degree (or double degree)
- You can provide your final results one week before your course begins
If you meet these requirements, congratulations, you’re ready to apply.
Starting PLT early in Victoria
In some cases, you may be able to start PLT before completing your law degree.
To do this, you’ll need approval from the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). You may be eligible if you:
- Have completed all Priestley 11 core subjects
- Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree
- Are currently enrolled in those remaining subjects
To apply for early commencement, submit the following to VLAB:
- Proof of current enrolment in your final subjects
- Proof of Priestley 11 completion
- Completed online VLAB application form
The College will need proof of VLAB approval by the Wednesday before your PLT start date.
Stale learning clause: If you completed your law degree more than five years ago, VLAB requires a reassessment of your qualifications before you can enrol.
COURSE OPTIONS IN VICTORIA
Most practitioners say the rewards far outweigh the challenges — especially when clients express relief and gratitude for the outcomes achieved.
| FULL-TIME | BALANCED | PART-TIME | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 15 weeks | 18 weeks | 30 weeks |
| Pace | 30-35 hrs study per week | 15-20 hrs study per week | 15-20 hrs study per week |
| Attendance | 5 days | 10 days | 5 days |
| Attendance Location | Online or Melbourne CBD | Melbourne CBD | Online or Melbourne CBD |
FEES & PAYMENT
Program Fees
Practical Legal Training
Domestic $9,200
International $13,270
Optional 15 days' work experience & 6-week coursework
Domestic $1,690
International $1,690
What’s included
Your PLT fee covers everything you need to complete the course. This includes:
- All learning materials and resources
- One-on-one career consultations with our Career Coaches during your PLT and for one year after you finish
- Access to a legal practitioner mentor
- Access to College Connect, our online student community
- Ongoing support from facilitators and student services
Payment options
- FEE-HELP (eligible students)
- Upfront payment
- Scholarships and bursaries
YOUR LECTURERS
Joanna Abraham
Lecturer
BJourn, JD, GDLP
Joanna Abraham is the President of Victorian Women Lawyers and an award-winning lawyer in Administrative, Immigration & Refugee Law. She is listed as one of Australia’s leading lawyers in Human Rights Law 2024 and Australia's 40 under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians.
Katherine Baldanoff
Lecturer
BA, LLB, GDLP
Katherine joined the College in 2021 after returning from 20 years in Asia. Her background is litigation and insurance law, and she is also an accredited mediator. Katherine maintains a current Practising Certificate in Victoria.
Maria Corbisiero
Assistant Director
BBSc, BSW, GradDipIRP, LLB (Hons), GDLP
Maria’s experience includes private practice and 15 years as a Barrister. She has taught at the College since 2007, using her experience to prepare students for entry to the profession.
Dr Alan Davis
Director of Academic Policy and Senior Lecturer
PhD (Monash), BMus (Edinburgh), MA (Law) (Bristol), Postgrad Dip. Bar Vocational Studies (Cardiff)
Alan, a former UK barrister, lectured at Monash before joining the College. He holds a PhD in law.
Lee Horton
Assistant Director
BA (Crim Justice), Dip Law (LPAB) GDLP, Cert IV (TA), LLM
With expertise in litigation, admin law, wills, estates, and property, Lee teaches PLT and CEM and has 20 years' experience as a practising lawyer.
Ryan Licastro
Assistant Director
LLB (Hons), GDLP, Cert IV Learning and Teaching
Ryan joined the College in 2018, after 8 years in litigation practice. Since joining the College, Ryan has focused on legal education with a passion for curriculum and mentoring law graduates.
Beth McKenzie
Lecturer
LLB, GDLP, LLM
Uthra Ramachandra
Lecturer
BA, LLB, LLM
Uthra has recently joined the College of Law from the Victorian Bar, where she had experience appearing in criminal, family, administrative and Children’s Court matters. She began her legal career in a large commercial law firm.
Kate Ross
Lecturer
BA, Bbus, LLB
Kate’s career encompasses private practice in both top-tier and small law firms, as well as roles in the union movement and legal assistant sector. Most recently, she was the Director of Legal Services at a large Community Legal Centre for five years, where she developed innovative legal programs and championed community advocacy.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Practical Legal Training (PLT) is a post-degree qualification that allows you to apply for for admission to the legal profession in Victoria. After completing PLT, you'll be awarded a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) - the qualification you need to apply for admission as a lawyer through VLAB.
Yes. The College of Law is an approved PLT provider accredited by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB) under the Legal Profession Uniform Admission Rules 2015.
Victorian graduates can choose from Full-Time (15 weeks), Balanced (18 weeks - exclusive to Victoria and Queensland), or Part-Time (30 weeks) programs. All are available online or on campus.
Yes, if you have no more than two electives remaining and have completed all Priestley 11 core subjects. You will need approval from VLAB before commencing. The College needs proof of approval by the Wednesday before your PLT start date.
Yes. Part-time PLT workshops are available in the evenings (after 5:30pm) in Victoria - ideal if you are working or completing legal placements during the day.
Victorian graduates can choose the 15-day option (with a 6-week additional online program, $1,690 additional fee) or the 75-day option (included in your course fee, no additional coursework). Prior legal work experience may count toward the 75-day requirement.
Completing PLT in Victoria allows you to apply for admission to the legal profession in Victoria. Once admitted, Australia’s mutual recognition framework allows you to seek admission to practise in other Australian states and territories.
Yes. FEE-HELP is available to eligible domestic students for the PLT program and the 15-day work experience option.
VLAB's stale learning clause requires a reassessment of qualifications for graduates who completed their degree more than five years ago. Contact VLAB directly for guidance on next steps.
No. There are no traditional written exams or essays. Assessment is conducted through practical tasks and a Practice Ready Review — a supervised, open-book conversation with a practising lawyer at the end of each subject.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF LAW VICTORIA
The College of Law has been part of the legal profession for more than 50 years. Established in 1974, the College has helped more than 100,000 graduates begin their legal careers across Australia.
In Victoria, the College has been delivering Practical Legal Training since 2005 and is now the largest PLT provider in the state. For more than 20 years, the College has been part of the Victorian legal profession, supporting law graduates as they transition from university to legal practice.
The College’s Melbourne campus at 555 Bourke Street places students in the heart of the city’s legal precinct, close to courts, law firms, and the profession they are preparing to join.
As a not-for-profit provider, the College works closely with practitioners, employers, and the legal profession to ensure its Practical Legal Training reflects the skills and knowledge needed in modern legal practice.
The College delivers Practical Legal Training across Australia, with campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, and programs accredited by the relevant legal admissions authorities in each state.
