Practical Legal Training (PLT) in Australia
PLT Course Information
Start Sooner. Pay Less. Study Anywhere.
Rolling Intakes
Don't wait months for an intake period to begin. Our rolling intake means you can start your 24-week journey the moment you enrol.
Most Cost Effective
At $6, 000, IOLT is the most affordable PLT in Australia. We offer flexible payment plans so you can focus on your career, not your debt.
100% Online
Keep your full-time job. Designed for busy grads working full-time. Complete your coursework after hours on your own schedule.
What is Practical Legal Training (PLT)?
Practical Legal Training is the structured training stage between finishing your law degree and being admitted as a lawyer in Australia.Every law graduate needs to complete an accredited PLT course as part of the pathway to admission, regardless of which Australian state or territory they ultimately want to practise in.
PLT covers the practical skills, values and practice area knowledge set out in the national Competency Standards for Entry-Level Lawyers, including civil litigation, commercial practice, property law, ethics, and trust accounting. IOLT's program is fully online, runs for 24 weeks, and includes 20 days of supervised workplace experience. It is accredited by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia and supports admission as an Australian lawyer with national portability across all states and territories.
Chair of the Academic Board
When I look back on my legal career, from advising the Australian Banking Royal Commission to helping international governments implement complex regulatory frameworks, one truth stands out: the law is only as effective as the practitioners who wield it.
Law is the fundamental architecture of our society. Through my work with institutions such as the European Parliament and the World Bank, I have been driven by a singular passion: ensuring that our legal and financial systems serve the community. Achieving that requires lawyers who possess sharp intellectual precision, practical competence, and a profound sense of ethical duty.
Whether you are drafting your first affidavit, advising a corporate client on regulatory compliance, or standing up in court, the foundation you build here will dictate the kind of Australian Legal Practitioner you become. I invite you to embrace the rigour of our Programs and join us in shaping the future of the legal profession.
Program Overview & Entry
Our PLT course is a streamlined 24-week pathway for law graduates. The program integrates 100% online coursework with a 20-day workplace experience component, both of which are completed concurrently to fast-track your admission to practice.
Coursework
Structured online learning through our Virtual Law Firm. Focus on mastering core legal competencies with flexible, skills-based modules.
View the IOLT PLT curriculum →Workplace Experience
Complete 20 days of workplace experience in a law firm, community legal centre, or barrister's chambers. This can be self-arranged or arranged by IOLT.
Read placement guidance →Eligibility: When can I start?
- Graduates:Start immediately upon completing your LLB or JD.
- Current Students:Start now if you have 2 or fewer electives remaining (Early Start).
- Prerequisites:Must have completed all core 'Priestley 11' subjects.
How to become a lawyer in Australia
Complete Law Degree
Get an LLB or JD from an accredited Australian university.
Practical Legal Training
Complete your PLT program and 20 days of workplace experience in 24 weeks.
Admission & Practising Certificate
Get admitted to the Supreme Court, then apply for a state practising certificate to begin practising as a solicitor.
Read the full guide to becoming a lawyer in Australia →What Our Graduates Say
Studying at IOLT has changed the way I manage my time and goals. The flexible learning environment made it more realistic for me to work, study, and manage a healthy personal life. [IOLT has] offered me the confidence to progress my legal career while continuing my other commitments.
Practical Legal Training
Built Around Your Career
Built Around Your
Other Commitments
Designed for graduates working full-time or balancing other commitments. Complete your PLT on a schedule that fits your life.
The Skills You'll Use
From Day One
Practical training in drafting, file management, client communication, and the day-to-day work of a junior solicitor.
From Law School
to Admission
A clear, accredited pathway from finishing your law degree to being sworn in as an Australian lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Practical Legal Training is the structured training stage between finishing a law degree and being admitted as a lawyer in Australia. Every law graduate needs to complete an accredited PLT course as part of the pathway to admission. PLT covers the practical skills, values and practice area knowledge required by the national Competency Standards for Entry-Level Lawyers, including civil litigation, commercial practice, property law, ethics, and trust accounting.
The IOLT program is a 24-week pathway. This includes both the online coursework and the 20 days of supervised workplace experience, which are completed concurrently within the same 24-week window. Students working full-time typically spread the workplace experience across the program rather than completing it as a continuous block.
Practical Legal Training in Australia typically costs between $6, 000 and $14, 000 across accredited providers. IOLT is the lowest-cost accredited PLT provider in Australia at $6, 000, with no separate admission, materials, or placement fees. Flexible payment plans are available so you can spread the cost across the duration of the course.
IOLT requires 20 days of supervised workplace experience as part of the 24-week course. Placements can be at a private law firm, in-house corporate legal team, community legal centre, government legal branch, or other recognised legal environment. Workplace experience can be self-arranged or arranged through IOLT.
Yes, in limited circumstances. Law students who have completed all core Priestley 11 subjects and have no more than two electives remaining can often commence PLT with prior approval from the relevant admitting authority. Early commencement requires a formal application supported by a letter from your law school's Dean. Read the full course information →
IOLT graduates attend a Supreme Court admission ceremony in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, or Darwin. It is a single day, and you choose the city that works best for you. Once admitted, you have national portability and can apply for a state practising certificate to practise as a solicitor anywhere in Australia.
Yes. The IOLT curriculum is delivered 100% online with rolling start dates, so you can complete the coursework from anywhere in Australia without attending a campus.
For a full breakdown of subjects, fees, workplace experience requirements, and enrolment, visit our dedicated page on PLT course information.