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.

Contact admissionsApply for PLT
Legal work and study

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

AdmissionPractising certificate
Supreme Court admission processRelevant professional regulator or Bar pathway
Makes you an Australian lawyerAuthorises the legal practice covered by the certificate
Normally occurs onceMust be kept current and renewed
Does not alone permit legal practiceMay include supervised practice and other conditions

From PLT to practice

  1. 01

    Complete PLT and other requirements

    Collect the academic, practical training and suitability evidence required for admission.

  2. 02

    Be admitted

    Complete the relevant Supreme Court admission process.

  3. 03

    Apply for the right certificate

    Follow the solicitor or Bar pathway for the jurisdiction and work you intend to undertake.

  4. 04

    Comply with its conditions

    New practitioners commonly begin under supervised practice conditions.

A newly admitted professional in a grey jacket checking paperwork with an older administrator in an ordinary office

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.

Contact admissions

General information only. Admission and practising requirements are set by the relevant authority. Check its current guidance for your own pathway.