WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR PLT IN AUSTRALIA?
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO START PLT?
To enrol in PLT, you’ll need to have finished the final exam of your law degree (or your double degree, if you’re completing one).
But what if you only have one or two subjects left? The key requirement is that you must have completed all Priestley 11 core law subjects. You may be able to start early, provided you have finished all Priestley 11 core subjects and received approval from your admitting authority.
WHEN DO I NEED TO SHOW MY LAW DEGREE RESULTS?
Each state and territory has slightly different rules about when you must show evidence of completion:
| STATE | WHEN YOU NEED TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF COMPLETION |
|---|---|
| NSW | By your PLT program’s census date. |
| VIC | By the enrolment close date (one week before the PLT program begins). |
| QLD | By the end of the PLT program |
| WA | By the enrolment close date (one week before the PLT program begins). |
| SA | By your PLT program’s census date. |
| ACT | By the enrolment close date (one week before the PLT program begins). |
| NT | By your PLT program’s census date. |
DO MY UNIVERSITY GRADES MATTER?
No. Your university grades aren’t part of the entry requirements for PLT. As long as you’ve completed the Priestley 11 core subjects and finished your degree (or have approval to start early), you’re eligible to enrol.
At the College of Law, we accept all students who meet these requirements. PLT is about building the practical skills you’ll need as a lawyer, not re-testing your academic results.
WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ENROL IN PLT?
When you apply for PLT, you’ll be asked to upload a few items:
- Transcript – An unofficial (or official) transcript showing your name, university, and degree completion date. If you can’t access this, a screenshot confirming your enrolment is fine at first. An official transcript will be required before you finish PLT.
- Photo – A clear photo of your face (not necessarily a passport photo).
- Unique Student Identifier (USI) – If you don’t already have one, you can create it quickly on the Australian Government website.
- If starting early – Supporting documents from your law school (such as a Dean’s letter) and proof of approval from your local admitting authority.
STARTING PLT EARLY
While most students begin PLT after completing their law degree, in some states, you may be able to start earlier.
To qualify, you’ll need:
- Completion of all Priestley 11 subjects
- No more than two electives left in your degree
- Enrolment in those remaining subjects
- Formal approval from your local admitting authority
This approval is essential before you can enrol early.
STARTING PLT EARLY
In the ACT you can apply to the Legal Practitioners Admission Board ACT to start your PLT early. If you have completed all subjects in your law degree but are waiting on final results, you may apply if you have:
- Completed all Priestley 11 core subjects
- Received final results for all Priestley 11 subjects
- Are waiting on final results for any remaining non-Priestley 11 subjects
If you still have up to two elective subjects remaining, you may also apply if you:
- Have completed all Priestley 11 core subjects
- Have no more than two elective subjects remaining
- Can demonstrate convincing special circumstances
- Can provide supporting documentation where possible
For both of the above categories, if early start is approved by the Legal Practitioners Admission Board ACT please provide your approval letter to the College by the enrolment deadline.
In New South Wales, you can apply to the Legal Profession Admission Board to start your PLT early if you have:
- Completed all Priestley 11 core subjects of your law degree
- Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree
- Are currently enrolled in your remaining university subject(s)
To apply, you will need to provide to the Legal Profession Admission Board:
- A completed Application for Early Commencement of PLT form
- An original letter from the Dean of your Law School which verifies:
- Your completion of the Priestley 11 core subjects
- Your current enrolment in the remaining university subject(s)
- Fee payment or confirmation of online fee payment
We'll need proof of approval by the census date.
In the Northern Territory, you can apply to the NT LPAB to start your PLT early if you have:
- Completed all Priestley 11 core subjects of your law degree
- Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree
- Are currently enrolled in your remaining university subject(s)
To apply you, you will need to provide to the NT LPAB:
- A letter outlining your circumstances
- Proof of completion of the Priestley 11 core subjects, and
- Proof that you are currently enrolled in the remaining university subject(s)
We'll need proof of approval by the census date.
Entry Requirements
- Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
- Completed the last exam of your law degree (or your double degree if you're studying one)
- You are not required to provide proof of completion of your law degree to enrol
Starting PLT early
In Queensland, you can start your PLT early if you have:
- Completed your Priestley 11 core subjects
- Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree
- Are currently enrolled in your remaining elective subject(s)
To apply you need to:
- Complete the online enrolment form for Practical Legal Training. The College will email a conditional offer of enrolment to you and the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board Queensland
- Contact the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board Queensland to complete the process
The Legal Practitioners Admissions Board Queensland requires a minimum of 2 weeks to process your application. To ensure everything is ready on time, submit your PLT enrolment form at least 3 weeks before your course starts.
We'll need proof of approval by the Wednesday before your PLT start date.
Stale learning clause
If you finished your law degree more than 5 years ago, you will need to get your qualifications assessed by the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board Queensland.
In South Australia, you can apply to the Board of Examiners (BOE) to start your PLT early if you have:
- Completed all Priestley 11 core subjects of your law degree
- Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree
- Are enrolled in your remaining university subject(s)
- Received permission from the BOE to start your PLT early
To apply, you need to provide the BOE with a:
We'll need proof of approval by the course census date.
In Victoria, you can apply to the Victorian Legal Admission Board (VLAB) to start your PLT early if you have:
- Completed all Priestley 11 core subjects of your law degree
- Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree
- Are currently enrolled in your remaining university subject(s)
To apply, you need to provide to Victorian Legal Admission Board:
- Complete the online form
- Provide proof of completion of the Priestley 11 core subjects
- Provide proof of your current enrolment in the last two subjects of the qualification
We'll need proof of approval by the Wednesday before your PLT start date.
In Western Australia, you can apply to the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (LPBWA) to start your PLT early if you:
- Have completed all Priestley 11 core subjects of your law degree
- Have no more than two electives remaining in your law degree or double degree
- Are currently enrolled in the relevant academic subject(s) while you are undertaking the PLT
To apply you will need to provide the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia with:
1. Signed Statutory Declaration
- The name of the university and degree you are enrolled in
- Confirmation you have successfully completed all your Priestley 11 core subjects
- Confirmation of your current enrolment in the last two subjects of your degree and the expected completion date of the subjects
- The name, course code, start date and end date of the College Practical Legal Training program you intend to complete
The original signed statutory declaration must be posted to the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia.
2. Academic Transcript
You will also need to arrange for your law school to email or post an academic transcript of your studies completed to date, directly to the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. An original academic transcript will be accepted by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia, but a transcript directly from the law school is preferred.
We'll need proof of approval by the Wednesday before your PLT start date.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Yes! If you’ve completed an accredited Australian law degree, you can enrol in PLT. You’ll just need to make sure you also hold a valid visa that allows you to study in Australia.
Don’t worry — it happens. If your transcript or documents aren’t ready by the deadline, you can simply defer your place to the next available intake.
In most cases, no. You apply directly to your PLT provider. The only exception is if you’re starting early — then you’ll need to get approval from your local admitting authority first, and we’ll guide you through what that involves.
Not at all. Work experience is part of PLT itself, but it’s a separate component. You can complete it before, during, or after your coursework — depending on the options your provider offers.
In most cases, yes — but you don’t need to wait until your graduation ceremony. Once your final exam is complete, you’re usually good to go. In some states, if you’ve finished your Priestley 11 and have no more than two electives left, you can apply for permission to start early.
You’ll need to complete all 11 before you can enrol. These subjects are the minimum academic requirement for admission, so missing even one means you’re not yet eligible for PLT.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PLT
Practical Legal Training (PLT) is the bridge between law school and practice. Explore how it works, what you’ll study, and how it fits into your admission journey.
