PLT for International Students

Your overseas law degree needs to be formally assessed by a state Legal Profession Admission Board. The board will compare your degree against the Australian LLB or JD and identify any gap subjects (top-ups) you need to complete. The number of top-ups varies depending on your degree and the jurisdiction you apply to.

The full pathway from initial academic assessment to admission typically takes 12 to 24 months, depending on how many top-up subjects you need to complete and how quickly you can finish them. The PLT component itself is 24 weeks. Students who need fewer top-ups can move through faster.

In many cases, yes. Most jurisdictions allow concurrent study if you have two or fewer academic units remaining and those units are electives (not Priestley 11 core requirements). This can accelerate your path to a practising certificate. Read the full course information.

Yes. IOLT's coursework is 100% online, so you can complete the coursework component from anywhere in the world. However, the 20 days of workplace experience must be completed in a qualifying Australian legal environment, and you will need to attend your admission ceremony in person in Australia.

If you are studying offshore, you may not need a student visa for the online coursework component. If you are onshore in Australia, you must hold a visa with study rights (such as a 500, 485, or certain bridging visas). Visa requirements should always be confirmed with the Department of Home Affairs.

The Priestley 11 are the eleven core law subjects required for admission in Australia: Criminal Law and Procedure, Torts, Contracts, Property, Equity (including Trusts), Company Law, Administrative Law, Federal and State Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, Evidence, and Professional Conduct (Ethics). Assessment boards compare your overseas degree against these subjects to identify any gaps.

English proficiency requirements vary by jurisdiction but generally require an IELTS score of 7.5 overall with 8.0 in writing, or equivalent PTE Academic scores. Exemptions may apply if your law degree was taught entirely in English in a recognised English-speaking country. Always check with the specific admitting authority for their current requirements.

The PLT component with IOLT costs $6,000, the same as domestic students with no international surcharge. The total pathway cost also includes academic assessment fees (varies by state), university top-up unit fees (varies by university and number of subjects), IELTS or PTE test fees, admission application fees, and state practising certificate fees. The PLT component is the most predictable and affordable part of the process.

An Indian law degree is not directly valid for practising law in Australia, but it can form the basis of your pathway to admission. You will need to have your Indian LLB assessed by a state Legal Profession Admission Board, complete any required top-up subjects to cover gaps against the Australian Priestley 11 requirements, meet English proficiency standards, and then complete Practical Legal Training. Many Indian LLB graduates have successfully completed this pathway.

Yes. We provide the framework, supervision guidelines, and mentorship required to ensure your workplace experience meets admissions standards. IOLT-arranged placements are available subject to availability; many students also arrange their own placement at a firm of their choice.