WHAT IS PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING?
Practical Legal Training (PLT) is a structured training program designed to help you develop the practical, day-to-day skills you'll need as an entry-level lawyer.
Think of PLT as the final stretch between law school and becoming a lawyer. It's where you put your legal knowledge into practice, learning how to advise clients, prepare legal documents and handle the kind of work lawyers do every day.
Completing PLT is an essential step towards becoming a lawyer in Australia, alongside completing your law degree. Once you've successfully completed the College of Law's PLT program, you'll receive a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) and can apply for admission as a lawyer, provided you meet the other admission requirements.
At a glance
PLT bridges the gap between university theory and day-to-day legal practice.
Key components & pathways:
Coursework (5 Core + 2 Electives) · Work Experience · Continuing Professional Education · 15 to 30 Weeks Duration · Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP)
Successful completion qualifies you to apply for admission to the legal profession across all Australian states and territories.
Why do you need to complete Practical Legal Training?
PLT bridges the gap between university and legal practice.
Practical Legal Training is a requirement for admission as a lawyer in Australia. It helps you develop the practical skills needed to work in the legal profession, building on the knowledge you've gained during your law degree.
While university teaches you legal principles, legislation and case law, PLT focuses on applying that knowledge to real-world legal situations.
You'll learn how to work with clients, prepare legal documents, manage legal matters and navigate the professional responsibilities of being a lawyer.
In short: law school teaches you the law. PLT helps you learn how to practise it.
What does Practical Legal Training involve?
Practical Legal Training combines coursework, work experience and continuing professional education to help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to work as a lawyer.
There are three main components:
01. PLT Coursework
You'll complete five compulsory subjects and two electives, covering essential legal skills, professional responsibilities and different areas of legal practice.
Unlike university, PLT focuses on practical legal tasks rather than traditional exams or academic essays. You'll practise skills such as:
- Drafting court documents, contracts and letters of advice
- Interviewing clients and witnesses
- Preparing for court appearances
- Negotiating on behalf of clients
- Managing client files and legal matters
02. PLT Work Experience
Work experience gives you the opportunity to apply your legal knowledge and practical skills in a professional legal environment, working under the supervision of an approved legal practitioner.
03. Continuing Professional Education
Continuing professional education introduces you to the importance of ongoing learning and professional development throughout your legal career.
What do you learn during Practical Legal Training?
During PLT, you'll develop the practical legal skills needed to work with clients, manage legal matters and navigate the day-to-day responsibilities of a lawyer.
You'll complete five compulsory subjects and choose two electives based on your interests.
Compulsory PLT Subjects
The five compulsory subjects cover essential legal skills, professional responsibilities and key areas of legal practice:
- Lawyer's Skills, Problem-Solving and Work Management
- Ethics and Professional Responsibility
- Civil Litigation Practice
- Property Practice
- Commercial and Corporate Practice
PLT Elective Subjects
You'll choose two electives from eight available practice areas to match your career direction:
- Administrative Law Practice
- Banking and Finance Practice
- Consumer Law Practice
- Criminal Law Practice
- Employment Law Practice
- Family Law Practice
- Planning and Environment Law Practice
- Wills and Estates Practice
All eight electives are available with every College of Law PLT course, so you can choose subjects that interest you regardless of your course start date.
Throughout your coursework, you'll apply what you learn to practical legal tasks, such as drafting documents, advising clients, negotiating agreements and preparing legal submissions.
How is PLT different from law school?
While law school focuses on understanding and analysing the law, Practical Legal Training focuses on applying that knowledge to the work lawyers do every day.
Rather than writing academic essays or sitting traditional exams, you'll complete practical legal tasks based on real-world scenarios. For example, you might:
- Interview a client and provide practical legal advice
- Draft a commercial contract or prepare court documents
- Negotiate a dispute or commercial settlement on behalf of a client
- Prepare and present persuasive legal submissions
- Work through complex ethical issues you will encounter in day-to-day legal practice
You'll also receive continuous feedback from experienced legal practitioners, helping you develop your professional competence and confidence before entering practice.
The goal isn't to teach you the law all over again. It's to help you learn how to use it.
When should I do Practical Legal Training?
You can generally start Practical Legal Training once you've completed the academic requirements of your law degree (or double degree).
However, you may be eligible to start PLT before you've officially finished university, depending on your circumstances and the admission rules in your state or territory.
Can you start PLT before finishing your law degree?
Yes, many students start PLT before completing their law degree through early commencement.
Eligibility requirements vary between states and territories, but typically depend on how many subjects you have remaining, whether you've completed the Priestley 11 core law subjects, and whether you receive approval from the relevant admitting authority.
You can also apply for a PLT course before receiving your final university results, provided you meet the relevant enrolment deadlines.
If you're approaching the end of your degree, check your state's admission requirements and upcoming PLT course dates to plan your transition.
How long is Practical Legal Training?
Practical Legal Training can take as little as 15 weeks to complete the coursework component, depending on your preferred study format.
At the College of Law, study options are designed around your schedule:
| Course option | Coursework duration | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 15 weeks | An intensive study schedule designed to complete your coursework sooner and get admitted faster. |
| Balanced | 18 weeks | A gradual study schedule offering additional breathing room to complete your coursework. |
| Part-time | 30 weeks | A flexible schedule structured to help you balance PLT coursework with full-time work and personal commitments. |
Course formats and workshop attendance options vary by jurisdiction. In NSW, for example, the standard course runs across 15 weeks with full-time and blended attendance modes.
Alongside coursework, you will complete the required work experience and continuing professional education units to finish your qualification.
What is the difference between PLT and a GDLP?
Practical Legal Training (PLT) is the program you complete to develop practical skills for admission as a lawyer in Australia. A Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) is the formal academic qualification you receive upon graduating from an accredited PLT course.
At the College of Law, you will graduate with a nationally recognised GDLP when you successfully complete your PLT course.
Summary: PLT is the training you undertake; GDLP is the qualification you earn.
What happens after completing Practical Legal Training?
Once you've successfully completed your Practical Legal Training at the College of Law, you'll receive your Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP).
Your next step is to apply for admission as a lawyer through the legal admitting authority in your state or territory.
To be admitted, you'll need to satisfy statutory requirements, including proving you are a fit and proper person to practise law.
Once admitted to the roll of practitioners, you can apply for a practising certificate, empowering you to practise law as a qualified solicitor or barrister.
READY TO START YOUR PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING?
Explore upcoming intake dates across Australia, download the PLT course guide, or learn more about course options that fit your schedule.
