Can You Start PLT Before Graduating?
In many cases, yes. But not automatically.
Across Australia, the usual rule is that you complete your law degree first and then begin Practical Legal Training (PLT). However, some admitting authorities allow early commencement of PLT if you are in the final stage of your degree and meet specific conditions.
The short answer
You may be able to start PLT before graduating if you satisfy all of the following:
- You have completed all Priestley 11 academic requirements
- You only have one or two subjects left to finish
- Those remaining subjects are not part of the Priestley 11
- The relevant admitting authority gives you prior approval where required
So the practical answer is: yes, some students can start PLT before graduation, but only if they are at the very end of their law degree and satisfy the rules in their jurisdiction.
What are the Priestley 11?
The Priestley 11 are the core academic subjects required for admission in Australia. Early commencement rules generally focus on whether those core subjects have already been completed. If you still have a Priestley 11 subject outstanding, early commencement is usually not available.
State rules at a glance
Western Australia
The Legal Practice Board says a student may commence a non-integrated PLT course before completing their law degree only if they have no more than two academic subjects left, neither of which is a Priestley 11 subject, they remain enrolled in those subjects while doing PLT, and they obtain prior permission from the admitting authority.
New South Wales
The NSW Legal Profession Admission Board states that if your PLT course is not integrated with your law degree, you must not commence PLT until after completing your academic qualification. NSW allows early commencement in limited cases where the requirements are met and prior approval is obtained.
Queensland
The Queensland Legal Practitioners Admissions Board states that permission may be granted where the law student has completed all academic requirements for admission and has only two academic subjects outstanding from the law program.
You cannot simply enrol early because you are close to finishing. You need to fall within the rule and obtain approval first.
What this means for students
Early commencement can be useful if you are in your final semester and want to keep moving toward admission without waiting for formal graduation. But it is not a shortcut around the academic requirements.
You still need to complete your law degree, complete your PLT, satisfy character and suitability requirements, and then apply for admission in the relevant jurisdiction.
A simple way to think about it
A good rule of thumb:
- If you still have substantial academic study left, it is probably too early for PLT
- If you have completed all Priestley 11 subjects and only have one or two non-core electives left, early commencement may be possible
Before you enrol
Before starting PLT early, you should check:
- Whether you have completed all Priestley 11 subjects
- How many subjects you still have left
- Whether those remaining subjects are electives only
- Which admitting authority you expect to apply to
- Whether that authority requires formal permission before you start
How IOLT fits in
If you are close to finishing your law degree, IOLT may be an option for students who want to move into PLT as soon as they are eligible. IOLT is also the lowest cost PLT in Australia at $6,000 total. The Practical Legal Training program is:
- 100% online
- Start anytime
- Designed to be completed over 24 weeks (6 months)
- Structured so coursework and workplace experience can be completed concurrently
Whether you can start before graduation will still depend on the rules of the admitting authority relevant to your pathway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you start PLT before graduating?
In many cases yes, but not automatically. Some students can start PLT before graduation if they have completed all Priestley 11 academic requirements, only have one or two non-core subjects left, and obtain prior approval from the relevant admitting authority.
What are the Priestley 11?
The Priestley 11 are the core academic subjects required for admission in Australia. Early commencement rules generally focus on whether those core subjects have already been completed. If you still have a Priestley 11 subject outstanding, early commencement is usually not available.
Can I start PLT early in Western Australia?
The Legal Practice Board of WA allows a student to commence a non-integrated PLT course before completing their law degree only if they have no more than two academic subjects left, neither of which is one of the academic requirements for admission, they remain enrolled in those subjects while doing PLT, and they obtain prior permission from the admitting authority.
Can I start PLT early in New South Wales?
The NSW Legal Profession Admission Board states that if your PLT course is not integrated with your law degree, you must not commence PLT until after completing your academic qualification. NSW allows early commencement in limited cases where the requirements are met and prior approval is obtained.
Can I start PLT early in Queensland?
Queensland allows early commencement in limited circumstances. The Queensland Legal Practitioners Admissions Board states that permission may be granted where the student has completed all academic requirements for admission and has only two academic subjects outstanding from the law program.
What should I check before starting PLT early?
Before starting PLT early you should check whether you have completed all Priestley 11 subjects, how many subjects you still have left, whether those remaining subjects are electives only, which admitting authority you expect to apply to, and whether that authority requires formal permission before you start.
The bottom line
Yes, some students can start PLT before graduating, but only in limited circumstances. In practice, this usually means you must have completed all Priestley 11 subjects, have only one or two non-core subjects remaining, and obtain approval from the relevant admitting authority where required.
IOLT is the lowest cost PLT in Australia at $6,000 total, with 100% online coursework, start-anytime enrolment, and a 24 week program designed to help graduates move efficiently toward admission.
Apply now