PLT workplace experience

What counts as PLT workplace experience?

IOLT PLT includes 20 days of supervised legal work. Your placement does not have to be in a traditional law firm — what matters is the work you do and the legal practitioner supervising you.

Apply for PLT Check eligibility
Law graduate completing supervised workplace experience with legal colleagues
20 daysSupervised legal workplace experience
Current job may countIf the duties and supervision are suitable
Eligible supervisorAn Australian legal practitioner who can actively supervise
Flexible settingOn-site, hybrid or remote legal work may be suitable

The simple test

What makes a placement suitable?

The workplace name is not the deciding factor. Focus on two things: genuine legal work and active legal supervision.

01

You perform real legal work

For example, legal research, drafting, written advice, client communication, file work, evidence review, negotiation, transaction work or hearing preparation.

02

You are actively supervised

Your supervisor should guide your work, provide feedback, remain accessible and be able to verify the experience you complete.

You do not need to be placed in a large commercial law firm. Government, in-house, community, court and other legal environments may also be suitable.

Where you can complete it

Placements can include

A wide range of legal workplaces may provide suitable experience when the duties are substantive and an eligible practitioner can supervise you.

Law firm

Sole practitioner, boutique, suburban, regional, specialist or national firm.

Government or agency

Department, council, regulator, prosecution office, statutory authority or government legal team.

In-house legal team

A company, not-for-profit, university, insurer, professional body or other organisation with a legal function.

Community legal service

Community legal centre, Legal Aid service, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal service or public-interest organisation.

Court, tribunal or judicial office

A suitable placement involving legal research, case analysis, drafting or matter preparation.

Your current workplace

Paralegal, law clerk, legal operations, claims, policy, compliance or graduate work may be suitable depending on the actual duties and supervision.

The central requirement

Who can supervise me?

The placement setting can vary, but the supervisor must be able to oversee your legal work, provide guidance and feedback, and verify the experience you complete.

On-site, hybrid and remote placements may be suitable where the supervisor remains actively involved and accessible and the work is genuine legal work rather than passive observation or general administration.

Look at the duties, not the job title

What work is likely to count?

A placement can combine different kinds of work. The important question is whether the role gives you substantive legal experience under appropriate supervision.

Strong fit

Substantive legal work

Real legal matters, research, drafting, client or matter communication, legal file management, evidence review, negotiation, transactions or hearing preparation with supervisor feedback.

May count

Depends on the actual duties

Paralegal, compliance, policy, claims, legal operations and similar roles can be suitable when the work is substantially legal rather than mainly administrative.

Usually not enough alone

Observation or general administration

Reception, data entry, passive work shadowing, generic customer service, academic research or unsupervised volunteering will not normally provide sufficient legal experience by themselves.

Already working?

Can my current job count?

It can, if the work itself is suitable. A current paralegal, law clerk, legal operations, claims, policy, compliance or graduate role may provide relevant workplace experience when you perform substantive legal duties under an eligible supervisor.

The job title alone does not determine whether the experience is suitable. IOLT looks at the work you are actually doing and the supervision available.

Common questions

PLT workplace experience FAQs

How many days of workplace experience are required?
IOLT's PLT course includes 20 days of supervised workplace experience completed within the 24-week program.
Can paralegal work count?
Yes, it may count when the actual duties are substantially legal. Research, drafting, client or matter work and legal file management are more relevant than the paralegal job title itself.
Does the placement have to be in a law firm?
No. It can be in a government department, in-house legal team, regulator, community legal service, court, tribunal, professional body or another workplace where an eligible practitioner supervises genuine legal work.
Who can supervise my workplace experience?
The supervisor should be admitted in an Australian jurisdiction, have at least two years of post-admission experience, hold a current unrestricted practising certificate and be able to actively supervise and verify your legal work.
Can I complete the placement remotely?
Yes, remote or hybrid legal work may be suitable where you perform genuine legal tasks, communicate regularly with a supervisor, protect confidentiality and keep an appropriate record of the experience.
Can an unpaid or volunteer placement count?
The paid or unpaid status is not the main issue. The work must provide genuine legal experience, active supervision and enough substantive tasks to develop practical legal skills.
What work generally will not count?
Purely administrative work, reception, data entry, passive work shadowing, generic customer service, academic research and unsupervised volunteering will not normally be enough by themselves.

Ready to complete your PLT workplace experience?

Apply for IOLT PLT and provide your workplace details, or speak with admissions if you are unsure whether your current role or proposed placement is suitable.

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