PLT Course Information: Structure, Cost, Duration & Admission | IOLT

Practical Legal Training (PLT)
Everything you need to know

When can I start? How long is the course? How much does it cost? What is the course structure?

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PLT Course Information
Complete 100% online
Start anytime (No waiting)
Designed for busy graduates. Work full-time while completing your PLT.
$6,000 Lowest cost PLT in Australia
Workplace Experience
20 Days (Arranged by us or you)
PLT Course Length
24 Weeks
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What is Practical Legal Training?

What is Practical Legal Training (PLT)?

Practical Legal Training (PLT) is the mandatory vocational training program required to become a practicing lawyer in Australia. Completed after a law degree, PLT bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world legal practice by teaching essential day-to-day skills like legal drafting, advocacy, and trust accounting. A standard PLT program involves:

Practical Coursework

Training aligned with National Competency Standards, covering daily legal tasks like drafting affidavits, running property settlements, and managing client trust accounts.

Workplace Experience

A mandatory period of supervised professional placement in a recognized legal environment to gain hands-on experience.

The Final Qualification

Upon successful completion of PLT graduates receive a Certificate of completion, which is required to officially apply for admission to practice law in Australian states and territories.

When Can I Start My Practical Legal Training?

Start Anytime

Unlike traditional universities, IOLT operates on a rolling admissions basis. There are no strict intake periods or semesters to wait for. You can apply today and commence your coursework immediately.

Choose Your Eligibility Pathway

Pathway 1: Standard Entry

Most students begin their PLT immediately after finishing their law degree.

Requirement: You must have completed an academic qualification in law (LLB, JD, or equivalent) that leads to admission to the legal profession.

Pathway 2: Early Commencement (Concurrent Study)

Eager to get started? You can begin your PLT while completing the final subjects of your law degree if you meet the following conditions:

  • You have no more than two subjects remaining.
  • You have successfully completed all core Priestley 11 subjects.
  • Your remaining subjects are purely electives.

Course Duration & Timeline

This 24-week course consists of two core components: Online Coursework and Workplace Experience. Detailed information on both parts of the program is provided below.

Law student studying in a bright, contemporary PLT library

Course Structure

100% Online Coursework

Your PLT coursework bridges the gap between the theory you learned in your law degree and the daily realities of legal practice. All coursework is delivered and managed entirely online via the PLT portal, giving you the flexibility to study from anywhere.

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Subject Areas

  • Lawyer Skills
  • Ethics and Professional Responsibility
  • Civil Litigation
  • Commercial Property
  • Wills and Estates
  • Criminal Law

Practical Assessments

Assessed through tasks that mirror real lawyer work. Drafting leases, statements of claim, and client advice.

No Exams

There are no exams. Every assessment is a practical task you'd encounter as a junior solicitor.

Optimised Pacing

Assessments are scheduled and paced so you can cover ground without feeling overworked.

Workplace Experience

Workplace Experience immerses you in a live legal environment, where you apply your drafting and practical legal skills to real client matters under professional supervision. This allows you to build confidence with file management, client communication, and day-to-day solicitor work.

Pacing

Your Workplace Experience must be completed during the 24 week course. You can complete the 20 days at your own pace throughout the 24 weeks. Some students choose to complete them all in a 4-week block, while others prefer to spread them out.

Placement Options

Self-Arranged

Complete your 20 days at your current workplace or a firm of your choice.

IOLT Arranged

Select 'IOLT Arranged' on your application form to access our placement arrangement service (places are limited).

What counts as a valid placement?

Many students assume they must work in a traditional private law firm, but the definition of a valid legal environment is much broader. You can complete your required days in a variety of settings, including:

  • Private law firms (boutique, mid-tier, or top-tier)
  • In-house corporate legal teams
  • Community Legal Centres (CLCs)
  • Government roles (e.g., legal and policy branch within a department)

The IOLT Advantage

Lowest Cost PLT

No hidden fees or bloated academic costs. Just the training you need for admission.

Optimised Timeline

Complete in 24 Weeks. Designed to fit around full time work and commitments.

Start Anytime

No semester intakes. Once you've applied and are approved, you can start immediately.

National Admission Pathway

Our PLT is fully national, allowing you to gain admission in any Australian state or territory with a simple, transparent process.

1

Complete PLT

Finish your 100% online coursework and 20 days of Workplace Experience.

2

Apply for Admission

Travel to Sydney (NSW), Canberra (ACT), Brisbane (QLD), Perth (WA), or Darwin (NT) for your formal admission ceremony. This in-person event is a mandatory legal requirement.

3

Practice Anywhere

Once admitted, you apply for your practicing certificate in your home state. Being admitted makes you an Australian lawyer, but to engage in legal practice you generally need a current Australian practising certificate.

NSW VIC WA QLD SA TAS ACT NT

Practical Legal Training for International Students

Complete your coursework online from anywhere. Lowest Cost International Student Fees, with visa-aligned structuring. Read our International Students PLT Webpage:

International Student Guide →
Student studying law

Lowest Cost PLT for International Students

Australia's most affordable PLT for international students. No hidden fees.

Visa-Aligned

Coursework is specifically mapped to meet your student visa conditions.

Study from Anywhere

Complete your coursework online from your home country or while travelling.

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 to satisfy the practical training prerequisite for admission. PLT covers the practical skills, values and practice area knowledge required by the national Competency Standards for Entry-Level Lawyers.

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.

IOLT's PLT course fee is $6,000 all-inclusive. There are no separate admission fees, material fees, placement fees, or resit 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. Placements can be self-arranged or arranged through IOLT.

In limited circumstances, yes. If you have completed all Priestley 11 core subjects and have no more than two electives remaining, you can apply for early commencement with prior approval from the relevant admitting authority. This requires a formal application supported by a letter from your law school's Dean.

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.

IOLT's Practical Legal Training is accredited by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. Under the national admission framework, this accreditation supports admission as an Australian lawyer with national portability across all states and territories.