PLT eligibility

Practical Legal Training entry requirements

See which academic documents and approvals apply to Australian law graduates, eligible final-year students and overseas-qualified applicants.

Standard entry LLB or JD Australian academic law qualification
Core subjects Priestley 11 Required academic areas of knowledge
Early start Limited cases Prior written approval is required
Overseas study Assessment first Follow the admitting authority's pathway
Find your category

Which entry pathway applies to you?

The correct documents and approvals depend on your academic background and whether your law degree is complete.

Australian law graduates

You will generally need a completed Australian LLB or JD covering the prescribed academic areas of knowledge.

Eligible final-year students

Early commencement is limited and requires the academic conditions and prior written approval to be satisfied.

Overseas-qualified applicants

Obtain an academic assessment from the relevant admitting authority and complete any required Australian law subjects before relying on a PLT pathway.

Application documents

What should you prepare?

Provide clear, current documents that show your academic history and the basis on which you are seeking entry. The team may request further material where a transcript or assessment does not resolve the pathway.

Overseas-qualified applicants should use the current assessment from the admitting authority relevant to where they intend to seek admission.

Not sure which pathway applies? Use the eligibility checker before applying. It is designed to identify the documents and approvals most likely to be relevant to your circumstances.
After you apply

What happens next

Entry is an assessment process. A complete application gives IOLT the best basis to confirm whether you can be offered a place.

Document review

IOLT checks the academic evidence, approvals and any conditions relevant to your category.

Clarification if needed

The team may ask for a clearer transcript, updated assessment or evidence that a condition has been satisfied.

Offer and commencement

If you meet the entry requirements, IOLT can issue an offer and confirm the steps required before you begin.

Common questions

PLT entry requirement FAQs

Do I need to finish my law degree before starting PLT?

Usually, yes. A limited early-start pathway may be available where all Priestley 11 subjects are complete, no more than two non-prescribed electives remain and prior written approval has been obtained.

What are the Priestley 11?

They are the prescribed academic areas of legal knowledge required for admission in Australia. Your academic transcript or assessment should show how those areas have been satisfied.

Can an overseas law degree qualify me for PLT?

It may form part of your pathway, but you should first obtain an academic assessment from the relevant Australian admitting authority and complete any required Australian law subjects or other conditions.

Can I apply if my final transcript has not been issued?

You can check your pathway, but IOLT will need sufficient academic evidence to assess entry. If completion evidence is pending, the team can tell you what interim documents may be considered.

Does completing IOLT PLT guarantee admission?

No. PLT is one part of the admission pathway. The relevant admitting authority determines whether all academic, practical training, character and documentary requirements have been met.

Who approves IOLT's PLT course?

IOLT's Practical Legal Training course is approved by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. Admission remains subject to the relevant admitting authority.

Check your entry pathway

Answer a few eligibility questions before applying so you know which academic documents or approvals to prepare.