Practical Legal Training (PLT)

The UTS PLT program comprises of two core components:

• a blended program with 15 days on-campus attendance* complemented by online materials and discussion. On-campus attendance enables you to complete assessments
• practical work experience placement of 15 days. For more information, see the Practical Experience Rules.

* 15 days on-campus attendance is a requirement of the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board. Exemptions based on disabilities, medical conditions or extreme financial hardship that prevent on-campus attendance will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Documents supporting an application for an exemption will be required. 

Subjects you need to complete: 

• 75424 Skills and Wills Practice 

• 75422 Property and Commercial Practice

• 75423 Litigation Practice

• 75427 Practical Experience - 15 days

Accessibility

Students seeking an exemption based on disability or medical grounds should contact the UTS Accessibility Service.  

More information about fees

• Further information on fees, the fee calculator and the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)
• Fee assistance for local students
• Fee assistance for international students

EXTREME FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS

If you identify as a person experiencing 'extreme financial hardship' you will be required to complete a confidential assessment process through the UTS Financial Assistance Service.

Extreme financial hardship will be evidenced by:

1. Personal difficulties in meeting the payment of bills and essentials, including rent/housing; food; utilities; medical costs; transport; and insufficient resources or savings to draw on to meet current and the deemed cost of attending on-campus PLT training program.

 Financial thresholds considered:

2. Students may be in receipt of a Centrelink payment plus additional earnings or income which can be identified as necessary to cover essential course-related and living costs. Individual budgetary needs and financial vulnerabilities may be considered.
3. Students not in receipt of a Centrelink income will be assessed using a similar income threshold to a Centrelink payment which would be relevant to your circumstance (per example; Single Parenting Payment; Austudy or other Student Support Payment) and take into account your individual cost scenarios for covering essential course-related and living costs. 

Students seeking an exemption based on extreme financial hardship should book an initial telephone or Zoom consultation with Financial Assistance by calling SSU Reception on 02 9514 1177, to discuss your circumstances and register your intent to be assessed for 'extreme financial hardship'.  The follow-up assessment process will require the provision of supporting documentation. All consultations and documentation remain confidential.

In some circumstances, it is possible for students to commence PLT before they have completed their legal studies. Please note that the early start rule ONLY applies to students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (GCPLP). If PLT is integrated into your Bachelor of Laws, or you are enrolled in the Juris Doctor GCPLP, this does not apply to you (as enrolment in the PLT subjects is based on access conditions).

To take advantage of the early start rule, you must have completed all your core law subjects and have no more than two electives remaining in your degree. For LLB combined degree students, this is a total of two electives remaining across the whole of the degree, including the law and non-law sides of the program. You must be enrolled in and complete your remaining elective(s) in the same session that you commence early PLT. You must also have written consent from the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB). The process of applying for early commencement of PLT is as follows:

1. In the session prior to commencing early PLT, UTS students can email the Faculty of Law’s Academic Programs Officer (APO), james.mallen@uts.edu.au, noting that you would like to commence PLT early, and are requesting the confirmation of subjects remaining (students from other Australian law schools must contact their law school for a confirmation of subjects).    
   
   a. In accordance with LPAB requirements, the APO may only provide the required confirmatory information upon results release in the session prior to commencement of PLT. Once this has been done, you will receive an email from the APO, which will confirm that the information was sent to the LPAB.
2. Apply to the PLT program by submitting an application to the GCPLP. You do not need to wait for LPAB approval, as you may be made a conditional offer into the GCPLP program.  This will allow you to accept the offer and enrol in subjects.
3. Once you receive the email from the APO confirming that they have provided the LPAB with the number of subjects remaining in your law degree, you can then apply to the LPAB to seek approval to undertake early PLT study. Details as to the application process is on the Board’s website*.   
   
   a. If approved by the LPAB, the Board will notify UTS Admissions directly of the outcome.   
   
   b. In the event the LPAB refuses your application or if you fail a subject, you must withdraw from PLT subjects before Census date. It is your responsibility to ensure you have met the requirements of the early start rule, and it is recommended you read the LPAB Guide for Applicants for Admission as a Lawyer before you apply to start PLT early.

All other student enquiries should be lodged through ASK UTS.

*Please note that Item 1 on the early PLT application form states you need a letter from the Dean of your Law School. At UTS, this has been replaced by the APO confirming the number of subjects remaining in your law degree with LPAB directly, so please do not request a letter from the Dean. On Item 7, please include a note that the Faculty confirmation of your remaining law subjects has been sent.

UTS Bachelor of Laws students opting to complete PLT in their degree need to enrol in the PLT Options (CBK92385) in CBK92210.

Current UTS students wishing to enrol in the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice apply online via My Student Portal. 

NB: UTS students do not need to supply an academic transcript with the application.

External applicants apply through the Future Students application portal.

Once you have completed the PLT program, including practical experience, you are eligible to apply for admission with the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB).

The LPAB website has details on admission dates and application via the Online Admission Portal.

To support your application, UTS Law will provide:

• An original academic record (transcript)
• Statement of Practical Legal Training PLT completion (Dean's Certificate); and,
• An academic misconduct report, if required, under the rules for admission with the LPAB. These reports can be requested via Law.PE@uts.edu.au.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have met all the requirements to be admitted as a lawyer, it is recommended you read the LPAB Guide for Applicants for Admission as a Lawyer before you start your application for admission as a lawyer.