IOLT / GUIDE
Admission and permission to practise
PLT is part of the pathway to admission. A practising certificate is a separate step before you begin the legal practice it authorises.
Know what each step allows
Admission makes you an Australian lawyer. The relevant practising certificate, conditions and supervision requirements govern the legal work you can then perform.
Admission and practising certificates
| Admission | Practising certificate |
|---|---|
| Supreme Court admission process | Relevant professional regulator or Bar pathway |
| Makes you an Australian lawyer | Authorises the legal practice covered by the certificate |
| Normally occurs once | Must be kept current and renewed |
| Does not alone permit legal practice | May include supervised practice and other conditions |
From PLT to practice
- 01
Complete PLT and other requirements
Collect the academic, practical training and suitability evidence required for admission.
- 02
Be admitted
Complete the relevant Supreme Court admission process.
- 03
Apply for the right certificate
Follow the solicitor or Bar pathway for the jurisdiction and work you intend to undertake.
- 04
Comply with its conditions
New practitioners commonly begin under supervised practice conditions.
Check the supervision requirement
The required period and the process for removing a supervised-practice condition depend on your jurisdiction and pathway. Ask the regulator that issues your certificate.
Do not assume a condition disappears automatically when the time has elapsed.
PLT workplace experience and supervised practice
The 20-day workplace experience component is part of IOLT PLT before admission. Supervised legal practice after admission is a separate requirement associated with a practising certificate.
Do not assume that completing the PLT workplace component removes a later practising certificate condition. Check the regulator’s requirements for your jurisdiction and proposed work.
Frequently asked questions
Can I call myself a lawyer after admission?
Admission makes you an Australian lawyer. You must still avoid suggesting that you are entitled to engage in legal practice if you do not hold the required practising certificate.
Can I give legal advice without a practising certificate?
Engaging in legal practice generally requires a current practising certificate, subject to limited statutory exceptions. Check the regulator before performing legal work.
How long does supervised legal practice last?
The period depends on the jurisdiction and pathway. Check the current requirements of the regulator that will issue your practising certificate.
Does a practising certificate renew automatically?
No. Practising certificates operate for a defined period and renewal requirements apply. Follow the process set by your regulator.
Contact Admissions
Contact Admissions with questions about the course, entry requirements or fees. Include your qualification and intended admission jurisdiction so we can assist with your enquiry.
General information only. Admission and practising requirements are set by the relevant authority. Check its current guidance for your own pathway.