Should You Do PLT Straight After Your Law Degree?

In many cases, yes. Doing Practical Legal Training (PLT) straight after your law degree is a smart move because it helps you move toward admission sooner, keeps your qualifications current, and avoids losing momentum after university.

In Australia, admission generally requires both approved academic qualifications and approved practical legal training, so PLT is the next formal step after your law degree.

That does not mean every student must start immediately. Some graduates choose to work first, take a short break, or wait for the right practical training option. But if your goal is to become an admitted lawyer as efficiently as possible, there is a strong case for doing PLT soon after graduation rather than leaving it for years.

Why many law graduates do PLT straight after university

PLT sits directly between academic study and admission. The Legal Practice Board of Western Australia says that to become a lawyer in WA, a person must complete approved academic qualifications, complete a PLT program, be accepted as fit and proper, be admitted, and then receive a practising certificate. Victoria likewise states that eligibility for admission requires appropriate academic qualifications and practical legal training.

That is why many students choose to move straight from their law degree into PLT. It keeps the pathway moving and reduces the gap between graduation and admission. Most students begin PLT after finishing their law or double degree, and they do not need to wait for their graduation ceremony to start.

One major reason not to wait too long: stale qualifications

A big reason to consider PLT soon after your law degree is the risk of qualifications becoming "stale".

The Victorian Legal Admissions Board says that any applicant relying on an academic or PLT qualification that is more than five years old must be assessed by VLAB. Queensland also publishes a stale qualifications guide for applicants seeking assessment of academic qualifications and PLT requirements.

That does not mean your law degree automatically expires after five years. But it does mean that leaving the pathway unfinished for too long can create an extra assessment step and potentially more complexity before admission. For students who already know they want to practise, that is a strong reason to complete PLT and move toward admission without an extended delay.

Doing PLT straight after law school helps you keep momentum

There is also a practical advantage to timing. After finishing a law degree, students are already in study mode. Their legal knowledge is current, their routine is established, and they are often ready to move quickly into the final practical training step.

Starting PLT soon after university can be easier than trying to restart years later once work, family, or other commitments have taken over. This is consistent with the way major providers describe the normal sequence: law degree first, then PLT, then admission.

Can you start PLT before you officially graduate?

Sometimes, but it depends on the jurisdiction. Western Australia says you cannot commence PLT until you have completed the academic requirements for admission. By contrast, in many other Australian states early commencement may be available once the Priestley 11 subjects are complete and only a small number of electives remain, subject to approval from the admitting authority.

So if you are asking whether you should start PLT before graduation, the answer is: sometimes, but you must check the rules of the state or territory where you intend to be admitted.

Is there any reason to delay PLT?

Sometimes there is. A student may choose to delay PLT because they want to work first, save money, organise workplace experience, or take time after finishing a demanding degree. Those can all be understandable reasons. But the trade-off is that the longer you wait, the more likely it is that life becomes busier and the harder it becomes to return to the admission pathway.

That is especially relevant where admitting authorities may require assessment of older academic or PLT qualifications. So delaying PLT is possible, but for many students it is not the easiest option.

Why doing PLT sooner can make admission faster

If your goal is admission, doing PLT sooner usually means you can reach the next step sooner.

IOLT's PLT is a 24 week program with 100% online coursework and a 20 day workplace experience component completed concurrently, and students can start anytime. That kind of structure can make it easier for graduates to move straight from academic study into practical training without waiting for a semester-based intake.

Why many graduates choose IOLT straight after their law degree

For new graduates, the appeal is usually simple: they want a practical next step that fits around work and life. IOLT is also the lowest cost PLT in Australia at $6,000 total. The program offers:

• 100% online coursework
• Start-anytime enrolment
• A 24 week duration
• Workplace experience completed during the course

That makes it a strong option for graduates who do not want to lose momentum after finishing their law degree.

So, should you do PLT straight after your law degree?

For many graduates, yes. If you already know you want to become an admitted lawyer, doing PLT straight after your law degree usually makes sense because:

• PLT is the next required step toward admission
• It helps you avoid a long gap in your training pathway
• It reduces the risk of extra complications associated with older qualifications
• It gets you closer to admission and practice sooner

That does not mean every student must do it immediately. But for students who want a clean, efficient path to admission, starting PLT soon after graduation is often the better option.

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