PLT Course Information
Everything you need to know about Practical Legal Training. When you can start, how long it takes, what it costs, and how the course is structured.
PLT Course Information
Accredited ProviderPractical Legal Training explained
Practical Legal Training (PLT) is the mandatory vocational training program required to become a practising lawyer in Australia. Completed after a law degree, PLT bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world legal practice. It teaches the day-to-day skills of a junior solicitor: legal drafting, advocacy, client communication, file management, and trust accounting. A standard PLT program has three components.
Practical coursework
Training aligned with the 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 recognised legal environment to gain hands-on experience.
The final qualification
Upon successful completion, graduates receive a Certificate of Completion required to apply for admission to practice law in Australian states and territories.
When can I start my PLT?
IOLT runs on rolling enrolment. There are no strict intake periods or semesters, so you can apply today and commence your coursework as soon as your enrolment is approved. There are two eligibility pathways.
Start after you graduate
Most students begin PLT immediately after finishing their law degree. This is the simplest route and needs no additional approvals.
- LLB, JD, or equivalent Australian law degree completed
- All Priestley 11 core subjects completed
- Enrol and start within days, not months
Start before you finish your degree
Final-year students can commence PLT concurrently with the last subjects of their law degree, subject to approval from the admitting authority.
- No more than two subjects remaining in your degree
- All core Priestley 11 subjects already completed
- Remaining subjects are electives only
- Prior written approval from the Legal Practice Board of WA
Plan your admission date
Pick a start date and we'll calculate your estimated finish date based on the standard 24 week course length.
How the 24 week program is built
The course has two core components: online coursework and supervised workplace experience. Both run concurrently across the same 24 week window.
100% online coursework
The coursework bridges the gap between the theory you learned in your law degree and the daily realities of legal practice. It is delivered entirely online through the IOLT student portal, giving you flexibility to study from anywhere and around a full-time role.
Download course guide →Practical assessments
Drafting leases, statements of claim, and client advice.
No exams
Every assessment mirrors real junior solicitor work.
Paced delivery
Scheduled so you can complete without feeling overworked.
Subject areas
- Lawyer skills
- Ethics and professional responsibility
- Civil litigation
- Commercial and property
- Wills and estates
- Criminal law
Workplace experience
Workplace experience puts you inside a live legal environment, where you apply your drafting and practical legal skills to real client matters under professional supervision. You build confidence with file management, client communication, and day-to-day solicitor work.
Pacing
The 20 days must be completed within the 24 week course window. You can complete them at your own pace. Some students finish all 20 in a continuous four week block; others spread them out across the program.
Placement options
Self-arranged
Complete the 20 days at your current workplace or a firm of your choice.
IOLT arranged
Select 'IOLT arranged' on your application to access our placement service (places limited).
Approved placement environments
- Private law firms (sole practitioners to top-tier)
- In-house corporate legal teams
- Community Legal Centres
- Government legal and policy branches
- Judicial placements (Associate or Tipstaff)
- Professional bodies with substantially legal work
Supervision requirements
- Admitted to the Supreme Court of an Australian jurisdiction
- At least two years post-admission experience
- Current unrestricted practising certificate
- No disqualifying disciplinary proceedings
From graduation to practising certificate
Our PLT is nationally recognised, supporting admission in any Australian state or territory through a transparent three-step process.
Complete your PLT
Finish the 100% online coursework and 20 days of supervised workplace experience within the 24 week course window.
Apply for admission
Attend a Supreme Court admission ceremony in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, or Darwin. The in-person ceremony is a mandatory legal requirement.
Practise anywhere
Apply for a practising certificate in your home state. Admission makes you an Australian lawyer; the practising certificate lets you engage in legal practice.
PLT for international law graduates
Complete your coursework online from anywhere, with visa-aligned structuring and the lowest international student fees in Australia. Our dedicated international pathway handles the additional administrative steps so you can focus on the course.
Lowest international student fees
Australia's most affordable PLT for international students, with no hidden fees.
Visa-aligned structuring
Coursework mapped to meet your student visa conditions where applicable.
Study from anywhere
Complete coursework online from your home country or while travelling.
Frequently asked questions
What is Practical Legal Training (PLT)?
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.
How long does the IOLT PLT course take?
The IOLT program is a 24 week pathway. This includes both the online coursework and the 20 days of supervised workplace experience, completed concurrently within the same 24 week window.
How much does PLT cost at IOLT?
IOLT's PLT course fee is $6,000 all-inclusive. There are no separate admission fees, materials fees, placement fees, or resit fees. Flexible payment plans are available so you can spread the cost across the duration of the course.
How many days of workplace experience are required?
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.
Can I start PLT before I graduate?
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 Legal Practice Board of WA. Full details are in the Early Start section above.
Where will my admission ceremony be held?
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.
Is the coursework delivered online?
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.
Who accredits IOLT's PLT?
IOLT's Practical Legal Training is accredited by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. Under the national admission framework and mutual recognition arrangements, this accreditation supports admission as an Australian lawyer with national portability across all states and territories.