Practical Legal Training (PLT) in Queensland
The step between finishing your law degree and being admitted as a lawyer in Queensland. This guide walks through how PLT works in QLD, how the Brisbane admission pathway fits together, and how to complete your PLT online from anywhere in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, or regional Queensland.
What is PLT in Queensland?
Practical Legal Training is the structured training stage between academic study and admission to the legal profession. For graduates seeking admission in Queensland, PLT is the practical bridge that develops the skills, values and practice area knowledge required by the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board (Queensland) under the Supreme Court (Admission) Rules 2004 (Qld).
In Queensland, the admission process is administered by the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board, with admission ceremonies held at the Supreme Court of Queensland in Brisbane. Once admitted, lawyers who wish to engage in legal practice in Queensland also need a current Queensland practising certificate, issued by the Queensland Law Society for solicitors.
IOLT's PLT is accredited by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. Under Australia's national admission framework, an IOLT PLT qualification supports admission as a lawyer in Queensland, and Brisbane is one of the cities where IOLT graduates regularly attend their admission ceremony at the Supreme Court of Queensland.
PLT for Brisbane based law graduates
Most Queensland law graduates are based in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, or the Sunshine Coast. For Brisbane graduates in particular, the practical question is usually not whether to do PLT. It is mandatory. The question is how to fit it around the other demands of an early legal career: paralegal work at Brisbane CBD firms, clerkship commitments, commute pressure from Logan or Ipswich, and the rolling deadlines that come with trying to be admitted as soon as possible.
IOLT's online delivery is built around these realities. Because the coursework is fully online and start dates are rolling, Brisbane graduates can begin their PLT on their own timeline rather than waiting for a semester intake, and can study from home, from a coworking space, or from the desk at their paralegal job during quiet periods. There is no requirement to attend a campus anywhere in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast, in regional Queensland, or elsewhere in Australia for the coursework component.
The one in person step for Brisbane based students is the admission ceremony itself, which is held at the Supreme Court of Queensland in Brisbane. That is a single day in your home city, not a recurring commitment.
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Who this page is for
This page is for law graduates and final year students from Queensland universities, and for graduates from interstate or overseas law schools who plan to apply for admission in Queensland.
That includes graduates from Queensland law programs such as:
Whether you studied in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast, in Townsville, Cairns, Toowoomba, online, or interstate, the practical question is the same. What is the clearest route from your academic qualification to Queensland admission? The rest of this guide walks through that pathway.
Can you do PLT online for Queensland admission?
Yes. IOLT's PLT is delivered 100% online from start to finish. The 24 weeks of coursework and the 20 days of workplace experience can all be completed from anywhere in Queensland. The only in person element of the entire pathway, for Brisbane and Queensland graduates, is a single day attending the admission ceremony.
For Queensland graduates, the admission ceremony is held at the Supreme Court of Queensland in Brisbane, which means Brisbane based students do not need to travel at all. Once admitted, you can apply for a Queensland practising certificate through the Queensland Law Society and practise as a solicitor in Brisbane and across Queensland.
IOLT is accredited by the Legal Practice Board of WA. Under the national admission framework, this qualification supports admission as a lawyer in Queensland, and Brisbane is one of the cities where IOLT graduates regularly attend their Supreme Court admission ceremony. For full course details see the PLT course information page.
How the Queensland admission pathway works
The full pathway from law school to practising as a solicitor in Queensland has five steps. PLT is step two of five, an important reminder that finishing PLT and being able to practise are not the same thing.
Complete your academic qualification
Complete your law degree (LLB, JD, or equivalent) or other recognised academic qualification covering the Priestley 11 core areas of knowledge. The Legal Practitioners Admissions Board recognises Queensland law programs and accredited Australian law courses recognised in other jurisdictions.
Complete your Practical Legal Training
Complete an accredited PLT program. For IOLT students, that is the 24 week online course plus 20 days of workplace experience, all of which can be done from anywhere in Queensland. See the full course information for the IOLT program structure.
Apply for admission
Apply for admission as an Australian lawyer through the Queensland admission process. Applications are supported by your PLT completion letter and the other evidence required by the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board.
Attend the Supreme Court of Queensland admission ceremony
Attend an admission ceremony at the Supreme Court of Queensland in Brisbane, take the oath or affirmation, and sign the Supreme Court Roll. At this point you are an Australian lawyer with national portability, but not yet authorised to engage in legal practice.
Apply for your Queensland practising certificate
To practise as a solicitor in Queensland, you then apply to the Queensland Law Society for a Queensland practising certificate. Only once you hold a current Australian practising certificate can you engage in legal practice in Queensland.
Can you start PLT before graduating in Queensland?
In limited circumstances, yes. Under the Queensland admission framework, you can start PLT before completing your law degree only if all of the following apply:
- You have no more than two academic subjects left to complete
- Neither remaining subject is one of the Priestley 11 core academic areas of knowledge
- You are enrolled in those remaining subjects while doing PLT
- You have applied for and received prior permission from the relevant admitting authority
Students applying for early commencement need to lodge an application with the relevant admitting authority, include reasons why approval should be granted, and attach a letter from the Dean of their law school verifying completion of the Priestley 11 areas and enrolment in the final two remaining non Priestley subjects. IOLT can help you understand which process to follow.
The early commencement rules vary by jurisdiction, so the position above applies to graduates seeking admission in Queensland. If you are considering admission in another state, the relevant admitting authority in that state sets its own early commencement rules.
What happens after you finish PLT in Queensland?
Finishing PLT does not automatically mean you can start practising. Completing PLT simply makes you eligible to apply for admission. Admission itself is a separate step, and is what makes you an Australian lawyer.
The full sequence is: law degree, then PLT, then admission application, then Supreme Court of Queensland admission ceremony in Brisbane, then Queensland Law Society practising certificate. Only at the final step are you authorised to practise as a solicitor in Queensland.
Admission applications need to be lodged in advance of the ceremony date, usually several weeks before. If you have a particular Brisbane admission date in mind, start thinking about timing well before your PLT finishes, not after. IOLT can help you map this out.
How much does PLT cost for Queensland admission?
IOLT's PLT course fee is $6,000, the same regardless of which Australian state or territory you are being admitted in. No separate fee applies for using the Queensland pathway. The course is the same course whether you are being admitted in Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, or anywhere else in Australia. Full details of what is included are on the PLT course information page.
Note that there are separate admission application fees charged by the Queensland admission process, and the Queensland Law Society charges a separate fee for your Queensland practising certificate. These are admission and certification costs rather than PLT course costs, and they apply regardless of which PLT provider you use. Current fees are published on the relevant authorities' websites.
Frequently asked questions about PLT in Queensland
Is IOLT accepted for Queensland admission?
Yes. IOLT's PLT is accredited by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia, and under the national admission framework this qualification supports admission as a lawyer in Queensland. IOLT graduates regularly attend their admission ceremony at the Supreme Court of Queensland in Brisbane.
Can I do PLT fully online in Queensland?
Yes. IOLT's coursework is delivered 100% online with rolling start dates, so Brisbane based graduates and students across the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and regional Queensland can complete their PLT coursework and 20 days of workplace experience from anywhere in Queensland. The only in person requirement in the entire pathway is the admission ceremony itself.
Can I do PLT in Brisbane online with IOLT?
Yes. Brisbane based law graduates can complete the full 24 week IOLT PLT course online from anywhere in Brisbane, including home, a coworking space, or a Brisbane CBD paralegal role. There is no campus attendance requirement for coursework. Workplace experience (20 days) can be completed at a Brisbane law firm, in house legal team, community legal centre, or other recognised legal environment.
Where is the Queensland admission ceremony held?
Queensland admission ceremonies are held at the Supreme Court of Queensland in Brisbane. For Brisbane based students this is a one day commitment in your home city, with no interstate travel required. Attendance is mandatory to be sworn in and sign the Supreme Court Roll.
Can I start PLT before I graduate in Queensland?
In limited circumstances. Early commencement is permitted only if you have two subjects or fewer remaining in your law degree, neither is a Priestley 11 core subject, you are enrolled in those remaining subjects while doing PLT, and you have obtained prior permission from the relevant admitting authority. Early commencement requires a formal application supported by a letter from your law school's Dean.
How long does IOLT PLT take?
IOLT's PLT is a 24 week program. The 20 days of workplace experience are completed within the same 24 week window, either in a continuous block or spread throughout the program, whichever works better for your circumstances. Students working full time typically choose the spread out option. See the course information page for more detail.
How many days of workplace experience do I need for Queensland admission?
IOLT's program 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, and can be self arranged or arranged through IOLT. Brisbane students typically arrange placements at a Queensland firm where they already work or want to work.
Can I do my workplace experience on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast?
Yes. Workplace experience can be completed at any qualifying legal environment in Queensland, which includes firms on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, in Townsville, Cairns, Toowoomba, or anywhere else in regional Queensland. IOLT does not require you to do your placement in Brisbane.
What if I studied overseas or interstate?
Overseas qualified applicants and interstate law graduates follow the same PLT pathway as Queensland graduates once their academic qualification has been recognised or topped up to meet the Priestley 11 requirements. IOLT's online delivery is well suited to overseas qualified applicants because it does not require relocation or attendance at a physical campus. See our international students guide for more detail on the overseas pathway.
Is PLT the same as admission in Queensland?
No. PLT is the practical training stage that satisfies part of the eligibility requirements for admission. Admission itself is a separate step that requires applying through the Queensland admission process and attending a Supreme Court of Queensland ceremony in Brisbane. Admission is separate again from the practising certificate you need to practise as a solicitor in Queensland.
How much does PLT cost for Queensland admission?
IOLT's PLT course fee is $6,000, the same regardless of which state you are being admitted in. There are separate admission application fees charged by the Queensland admission process, and a separate Queensland practising certificate fee charged by the Queensland Law Society. These are admission and certification costs rather than PLT course costs.
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This page summarises publicly available guidance on the Queensland admission pathway, including information from the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board (Queensland), the Supreme Court of Queensland, and the Queensland Law Society. It is general information only and is not legal advice about your individual admission application. Always confirm current requirements, fees, and timelines with the relevant Queensland admitting authority before lodging any admission application. Last reviewed 2026.