PLT Course Information Australia
A clear guide to Practical Legal Training with IOLT: course duration, fees, eligibility, online coursework, workplace experience, admission steps, and how to apply.
IOLT PLT course at a glance
Applications open year-roundHow to apply for IOLT PLT
The application process is designed to be straightforward. Check your eligibility, prepare your evidence, then submit your online application.
Application steps
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01Check your entry pathway Confirm whether you are applying after graduation, through early start, or as an overseas-qualified applicant.
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02Prepare your evidence Have your transcript, Priestley 11 evidence, and any early-start or admission assessment documents ready.
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03Submit your application Complete the online application and choose whether you will self-arrange workplace experience or ask about IOLT-arranged options.
Apply online and the IOLT admissions team will assess your application and let you know the outcome.
- Academic transcript
- Priestley 11 evidence
- Early-start approval, if required
- Workplace experience details, if known
Course fee and payment plan
Total IOLT PLT course fee for eligible applicants.
Spread the course fee across the 24-week program with 6 instalment payments.
What is Practical Legal Training?
Practical Legal Training (PLT) is the vocational training stage between completing a law degree and applying for admission as an Australian lawyer. It turns academic legal knowledge into the practical skills, professional habits, and supervised experience expected of an entry-level solicitor.
Practical coursework
Online activities and assessments aligned with entry-level lawyer competencies, including drafting, advising, file work, ethics, and trust accounting.
Workplace experience
20 days of supervised professional experience in a recognised legal environment, completed within the same 24 week course window.
Completion evidence
After successfully completing PLT, graduates receive completion evidence used as part of their application for admission.
When can I start Practical Legal Training?
IOLT accepts applications year-round. There are no strict intake periods or semesters, so eligible students can apply when they are ready and begin once their application is approved. There are two common entry pathways.
Start after you graduate
Most students begin PLT immediately after finishing their law degree. This is the simplest route and generally needs no early-start approval.
- LLB, JD, or recognised academic qualification completed
- All Priestley 11 core subjects completed
- Ready to complete the practical training stage
Start before you finish your degree
Final-year students may be able to commence PLT while finishing the last subjects of their law degree, subject to approval from the relevant admitting authority.
- No more than two subjects remaining in your degree
- All core Priestley 11 subjects already completed
- Remaining subjects are electives only
- Prior written approval from the Legal Practice Board of WA
Plan your admission date
Pick a start date and we'll calculate your estimated finish date based on the standard 24 week course length.
How the 24 week program is built
The course has two core components: online coursework and supervised workplace experience. Both run concurrently across the same 24 week window.
100% online coursework
The coursework bridges the gap between the theory you learned in your law degree and the daily realities of legal practice. It is delivered entirely online through the IOLT student portal, giving you flexibility to study from anywhere and around a full-time role.
Download course guide →Practical assessments
Drafting leases, statements of claim, and client advice.
No exams
Every assessment mirrors real junior solicitor work.
Paced delivery
Scheduled so you can complete without feeling overworked.
Subject areas
- Lawyer's Skills
- Problem Solving
- Work Management and Business Skills
- Trust and Office Accounting
- Civil Litigation Practice
- Commercial and Corporate Practice
- Property Law Practice
- Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Workplace experience
Workplace experience puts you inside a live legal environment, where you apply your drafting and practical legal skills to real client matters under professional supervision. You build confidence with file management, client communication, and day-to-day solicitor work.
Pacing
The 20 days must be completed within the 24 week course window. You can complete them at your own pace. Some students finish all 20 in a continuous four week block; others spread them out across the program.
Placement options
Self-arranged
Complete the 20 days at your current workplace or a firm of your choice.
IOLT arranged
Select 'IOLT arranged' on your application to access our placement service (places limited).
Approved placement environments
- Private law firms (sole practitioners to top-tier)
- In-house corporate legal teams
- Community Legal Centres
- Government legal and policy branches
- Judicial placements (Associate or Tipstaff)
- Professional bodies with substantially legal work
Supervision requirements
- Admitted to the Supreme Court of an Australian jurisdiction
- At least two years post-admission experience
- Current unrestricted practising certificate
- No disqualifying disciplinary proceedings
From graduation to practising certificate
Our PLT is nationally recognised, supporting admission in any Australian state or territory through a transparent three-step process.
Complete your PLT
Finish the 100% online coursework and 20 days of supervised workplace experience within the 24 week course window.
Apply for admission
Attend a Supreme Court admission ceremony in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, or Darwin. The in-person ceremony is a mandatory legal requirement.
Practise anywhere
Apply for a practising certificate in your home state. Admission makes you an Australian lawyer; the practising certificate lets you engage in legal practice.
International and overseas-qualified law graduates
If you studied law overseas or need PLT as part of an Australian admission assessment, IOLT can help you understand the course component. Visa, residency, and admission requirements depend on your circumstances and the relevant authority, so check those requirements before applying.
Frequently asked questions about PLT course information
What is Practical Legal Training (PLT)?
Practical Legal Training is the structured training stage between finishing a law degree and being admitted as a lawyer in Australia. Every law graduate needs to complete an accredited PLT course to satisfy the practical training prerequisite for admission. PLT covers the practical skills, values and practice area knowledge required by the national Competency Standards for Entry-Level Lawyers.
How long does the IOLT PLT course take?
The IOLT program is a 24 week pathway. This includes both the online coursework and the 20 days of supervised workplace experience, completed concurrently within the same 24 week window.
How much does PLT cost at IOLT?
IOLT's PLT course fee is $6,000. Students can pay in 6 instalments over the 24-week program.
How do I apply for IOLT PLT?
Check your entry pathway, prepare your academic transcript and Priestley 11 evidence, then submit the online application form. The IOLT admissions team will assess your application and let you know the outcome.
Are payment plans available?
Yes. Students can pay the $6,000 IOLT PLT course fee in 6 instalments over the 24-week program.
Who can apply for the IOLT PLT course?
Law graduates who have completed an LLB, JD, or recognised academic qualification and the Priestley 11 subjects can apply. Final-year students may be able to start early with approval, and overseas-qualified graduates should check their admission assessment before applying.
How many days of workplace experience are required?
IOLT 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. Placements can be self-arranged or arranged through IOLT.
Can I start PLT before I graduate?
In limited circumstances, yes. If you have completed all Priestley 11 core subjects and have no more than two electives remaining, you can apply for early commencement with prior approval from the Legal Practice Board of WA. Full details are in the Early Start section above.
Where will my admission ceremony be held?
IOLT graduates attend a Supreme Court admission ceremony in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, or Darwin. It is a single day, and you choose the city that works best for you. Once admitted, you have national portability and can apply for a state practising certificate to practise as a solicitor anywhere in Australia.
Is the coursework delivered online?
Yes. The IOLT curriculum is delivered 100% online with rolling start dates, so you can complete the coursework from anywhere in Australia without attending a campus.
Can overseas-qualified or international law graduates complete PLT?
Often, yes, if PLT is required as part of your Australian admission pathway. Overseas-qualified applicants should first check their academic assessment, admission requirements, and visa or residency position with the relevant authority.
Who accredits IOLT's PLT?
IOLT's Practical Legal Training is accredited by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. Under the national admission framework and mutual recognition arrangements, this accreditation supports admission as an Australian lawyer with national portability across all states and territories.