PLT eligibility

Practical Legal Training entry requirements

Find the entry pathway that applies to you and see what to provide with your application, whether you have completed an Australian law degree, are finishing your final subjects or qualified overseas.

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Law graduates discussing Practical Legal Training requirements
Australian LLB or JDThe standard academic pathway
Priestley 11 completeRequired for the early-start pathway
Early start is limitedPrior written approval is required
Overseas degree?Obtain an academic assessment first

Start here

Which PLT entry pathway applies to you?

Your requirements depend mainly on where you studied and whether your academic law qualification is complete.

Standard entry

Your Australian law degree is complete

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

PrepareAcademic transcript and completion evidence
Limited pathway

You are still finishing your Australian law degree

Early commencement may be available only where the academic conditions are satisfied and prior written approval has been obtained.

CheckEarly-start conditions below
Assessment first

Your law degree is from overseas

Obtain an academic assessment from the relevant Australian admitting authority and complete any Australian law subjects or other conditions identified in that assessment.

PrepareCurrent assessment and top-up evidence

Early commencement

Can I start PLT before I finish my degree?

Usually you complete your law degree first. A limited early-start pathway may apply if all of the required conditions are met.

Important: early commencement is not automatic. You need the required written approval before you begin.
01

Complete the Priestley 11

All prescribed academic areas of legal knowledge must be complete.

02

No more than two electives remaining

You may have no more than two non-prescribed law electives left to complete.

03

Obtain prior written approval

The required approval must be obtained before commencing PLT.

Application documents

What should I provide with my application?

Provide clear, current documents showing your academic history and the basis on which you are seeking entry. IOLT may ask for further material if the documents do not resolve your pathway.

Academic transcript

An official or otherwise verifiable record of your completed law subjects and results.

Completion evidence

Evidence that your Australian LLB or JD has been completed, where applicable.

Priestley 11 evidence

Your transcript or assessment should show that the prescribed academic areas have been satisfied.

Early-start approval

Provide the written approval required for early commencement, where this pathway applies.

Overseas academic assessment

Provide the current assessment from the admitting authority relevant to your intended admission pathway.

Top-up evidence

Include evidence of any Australian law subjects or other academic requirements completed in response to an overseas assessment.

Overseas-qualified applicants

If your law degree is from overseas

An overseas law degree may form part of your Australian admission pathway, but the relevant admitting authority must first assess your academic qualifications.

01

Choose your intended jurisdiction

Apply to the admitting authority relevant to where you intend to seek admission.

02

Obtain an academic assessment

The assessment identifies any Australian academic subjects or other requirements you need to complete.

03

Complete any required top-up study

Satisfy the academic requirements identified in your assessment before relying on a PLT pathway.

04

Apply to IOLT

Include your current assessment and evidence that the relevant conditions have been completed.

After you apply

What happens next?

IOLT reviews the documents relevant to your entry category before confirming your commencement pathway.

01

We review your documents

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

02

We clarify anything missing

You may be asked for a clearer transcript, an updated assessment or evidence that a condition has been satisfied.

03

We confirm your next step

If the entry requirements are met, 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.

Not sure which entry pathway applies?

Use the eligibility checker to identify the academic documents or approvals likely to be relevant before you apply.

Check your eligibility Apply now