Practical Legal Training, (75411) Practical Experience rules, steps, resources and information for students and supervisors.
Practical Experience
About PLT at UTS
Practical Legal Training (PLT) is an essential requirement for admission as a lawyer in Australia. As an accredited PLT provider, UTS offers a PLT program comprised of three coursework subjects and one practical subject (75411) Practical Experience (0cp).
Students may only enrol into (75411) Practical Experience according to their course progression - as set out in the UTS Handbook. Students must refer to the UTS Handbook relevant to the year they commenced their course. Previous versions of the handbook are available in the Handbook archives.
How to complete subject (75411) Practical Experience
Use the information below to learn how to complete (75411) Practical Experience. Where there is reference to "rules" students should download a copy of the rules relevant to their study plan.
(75411) PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE RULES
Students enrolled in Practical Experience must complete 65 days of Practical Legal Training under the guidance of a Supervisor.
The conditions and requirements for those 65 days are set out in the Practical Experience Rules which can be found here:
STEP 1: FIND A PLACEMENT AND ENGAGE WITH A POTENTIAL SUPERVISOR
UTS students can search and apply for practical experience positions which suit their expertise and interests via:
- CareerHub
- PLT and Practical Experience Forum on Canvas
- The City of Sydney Law Society offers student members assistance finding practical experience placements. Please email your enquiry about practical experience opportunities to info@sydneycitylawyers.com.au; and,
- UTS Law Job Alerts Webpage.
Additionally, the Faculty has established connections with three legal agencies within the University. These are:
These agencies take PLT students for approved work experience. Each one offers comprehensive and structured immersion with the law, its application and implementation. At each agency, students will learn from highly competent and professional lawyers who are committed to training the next generation of lawyers. Vacancies are advertised via the channels set out above, and are posted in Canvas PLT Noticeboard. These are unpaid positions.
STEP 2: REVIEW PROPOSED PLACEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ALL UTS PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE RULES
Ensure both you and your supervisor read and comply with your relevant rules and read through the following information:
Introduction for Practitioner Supervisors for 75411 Practical Experience (PDF, 203 KB)
Note: the practical experience rules must be reviewed before commencing a placement or when considering a period of work already attended. Your supervisor, upon verifying your details, confirms they're eligible according to the rules relevant to your placement and study plan.
STEP 3: ACCESS CAREERHUB
CareerHub is a platform for UTS students to track the practical requirements of their courses, such as subject (75411) Practical Experience. When you enrol into this subject you will receive a welcome email which covers:
- an introduction to CareerHub
- a Link to our Welcome to CareerHub Workflow 75411 Law Practical Experience video
- information about managing your application to the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB); and,
- when to expect your Dean's Certificate for application to the LPAB.
STEP 4: PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE REGISTRATION (FORM 1) AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE LOG (FORM 2)
You are required to submit two digital forms for each supervised placement:
- Practical Experience Registration (Form 1); and,
- Practical Experience Log (Form 2).
Practical Experience Registration (Form 1)
This submission provides us with details of your proposed or previous placement(s). Your submission details are sent to your supervisor for verification. They must action this email and conditionally approve your placement before it's assessed by the Practical Experience Committee. It's your responsibility to check they do this, steps are provided in the email they receive. You'll receive an email notification of the outcome.
In this submission we require:
- your enrolment details
- dates of your supervision period
- details of your supervisor
- details of your supervisor's organisation; and,
- details of your supervisor's practising certificate.
Practical Experience Log (Form 2)
This submission provides us with the dates you worked in your supervised placement. This submission goes through the same verification and approval process as Practical Experience Registration (Form 1).
In this submission we require:
- your enrolment details
- supervisor's contact details
- name of organisation; and,
- Activity Log (PDF, 146 KB) (also available as PDF download in the 75411 Law Practical Experience workflow).
Multiple placements and supervisors
If you have more than one placement:
- Each supervisor and organisation requires a Practical Experience Registration (Form 1) and Practical Experience Log (Form 2).
- If you have two supervisors at the same organisation you need to treat them as totally separate placements.
- For example: If Jane Smith from Law Organisation supervises you for 20 days, and John Smith from Law Organisation supervises you for 45 days, you are required to submit one Practical Experience Registration (Form 1) and one Practical Experience Log (Form 2) for each supervisor.
STEP 4A: RECOGNITION OF PRIOR WORK
If you have already completed work before you commence your PLT course at UTS you're eligible to have these recognised as part of your total practical experience day requirement. There is a cap on the amount of days you can accrue in this way. Refer to the rules which relate to your study plan for more information.
- The approval process is exactly the same as STEP 4. You can submit both a Practical Experience Registration (Form 1) and a Practical Experience Log (Form 2) at the same time for assessment by the Practical Experience Team.
- If you do this, make sure your supervisor actions both emails attached to the forms. It is common that only one is actioned as it looks like a double up communication.
Note: If you have already accrued days before you start subject (75411) Practical Experience, and you will continue with that placement to complete all required days once the session commences, treat these days as one placement and submit your Practical Experience Registration (Form 1) with dates that include the entire duration. Then submit your Practical Experience Log (Form 2) once you have completed all required days. There is no need to submit what you did before the session separate to the days during or after session if you are remaining at the same organisation and with the same supervisor.
STEP 5: SUBMIT REFLECTIVE JOURNAL THROUGH CAREERHUB
Once you have gained approval for all days you can submit Assessment task 1: Reflective Journal through CareerHub. You'll be able to access this form in your CareerHub workflow once you have:
- confirmation that your final Practical Experience Log (Form 2) has been approved; and,
- that your workflow’s total day requirements show as complete.
If your reflective journal is approved you'll be notified via email. This email encourages you to go back to CareerHub and read through both the resources stages and the "Congratulations and Next Steps" stage. Doing this provides you with:
- an understanding of the types of documentation you need to apply to the LPAB; and,
- knowledge of when and how you can expect to get the documentation.
Note: the Congratulations and Next Steps stage is only accessible upon confirmation your reflective journal is approved.
- Do not submit a Reflective Journal through Canvas, it will not be assessed.
STEP 6: COMPLETION OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
Completion
You will receive an email confirming your completion of subject (75411) Practical Experience and that a Dean’s Certificate has been mailed to the LPAB once:
- You have completed and passed all subjects in the course you complete (75411) Practical Experience within.
- The release of results date has passed for the last session on your study plan.
- Your reflective journal is approved; and,
- You have gained approval for all required days for (75411) Practical Experience in accordance with the rules which are relevant to your study plan.
If you require a copy of this certificate please reply to the email and ask for one.
Results
- Your results will be updated on the UTS Principal Dates Release of Results date for the session you are enrolled in Practical Experience. If you complete Practical Experience after this date your grades will manually be changed within 10 business days of your Reflective Journal approval.
STEP 7: UTS SUPPLIED DOCUMENTS AND ADMISSION TO THE LPAB
To apply to the LPAB you will need from UTS (information taken from Guide for Applicants for Admission as a Lawyer in NSW):
- Evidence of completion of PLT; and,
- Evidence of completion of Australian law course.
Evidence of completion of PLT
UTS Faculty of Law supplies a copy of your Dean’s Certificate directly to the LPAB via email upon your completion of the course you complete (75411) Practical Experience in. This acts as your “Evidence of completion of PLT".
Evidence of completion of Australian law course
This is your academic record. UTS Faculty of Law does not assist students to obtain this, and the LPAB only accept an academic record provided via My eQuals. To obtain this you can either:
- Wait until your degree is conferred, check the conferral schedule on UTS's graduations webpage; or,
- Purchase one directly from the Student Centre.
The second option is useful for students whose conferral dates don't provide enough time to supply documentation to the LPAB for their desired admission ceremony date. This purchase can be made when results are finalised for all subjects and your academic record lists your degree as "complete". Get in touch with the Student Centre for any academic record questions.
International students: Please read through your relevant rules carefully as your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) date should be used to determine when your results must be finalised. Reach out to the if you need clarification on the process.Law.PE@uts.edu.au
Essential information
STUDENT CONDUCT REPORT
If you have completed Practical Experience and require an academic report under the rules for admission with the LPAB, then please submit details of your request to which includes your:Law.PE@uts.edu.au
- Full Name,
- Date of Birth; and,
- Student Number.
Keep in mind that your degree must be complete and all results finalised before a conduct report is requested. Conduct reports prepared beforehand won't meet LPAB requirements, as it can't speak to the full duration of your course. Conduct reports are only valid for 6 months, so please request when you're preparing documentation for your application.
N.B. Please allow a minimum of 10 working days for your conduct report to be processed. This process cannot be expedited. If you have any questions, get in touch with Law.PE@uts.edu.au
INFORMATION FOR SUPERVISORS
The UTS Faculty of Law is grateful for your interest in supervising one of our students. The following information addresses the most frequently asked questions to best assist legal practitioners offering placements with our students:
- Introduction for Practitioner Supervisors Letter (PDF, 145 KB)
- Practical Experience Rules (PDF, 203 KB)
INSURANCE COVER
Practical Legal Training students within approved placements are covered by UTS insurance. Upon request, the Practical Experience Committee can provide UTS indemnity and public liability certificates. Please email Law.PE@uts.edu.au for queries relating to this.
ADVERTISING A PLT POSITION AT UTS
CareerHub is our free online portal where you can advertise PLT opportunities to UTS students. Through CareerHub vacancies can be viewed by students and recent graduates. If you require assistance with your advertisement, please get in contact with industry@uts.edu.au. Please note there is no charge to advertise part-time, casual or internship roles.
KEY CONTACTS
Practical Experience Team
Director of Professional Programs (previously Head of PLT), Dr Maxine Evers
Dr Karen Lee, Acting Director of Students
Available for appointments via Law.STUDENTReception@uts.edu.au
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