Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice

Admissions information

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• Course description

  This course targets graduates aiming to fulfil the Practical Legal Training (PLT) requirement for legal practice in NSW. As the first university in Sydney to offer this qualification, UTS will ensure you are well-prepared for admission to the legal profession.

  Opt for this course to engage in university-level teaching enriched with interactive content and practical exercises that effectively translate legal theory into professional competence. You will develop advanced skills including judgement and adaptability, while cultivating an ethical approach to legal practice.

  This course leads to eligibility for admission to the Supreme Court of NSW as a legal practitioner.

  Upon completion of PLT, you'll be equipped to pursue a career as a lawyer, assuming all other academic prerequisites are met.

  Students in the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice experience university-standard teaching combined with interactive content and practice-oriented exercises that bridge the gap between legal knowledge and professional practice. They develop the advanced knowledge and skills required for a legal career, including judgement, adaptability and an ethical mindset.

  On completion of this course, students are eligible for admission as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of NSW, provided they have also completed a relevant academic qualification.

• Important dates

  Find out more about application dates relating to this course

• Scholarships and prizes

  Discover our scholarships for undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. Our scholarships celebrate diversity and academic excellence. Use the scholarship search tool to find the right scholarship for you.

  Scholarships for domestic students

  Scholarships for international students

• Course duration

  The course can be completed in one session of full-time or one year of part-time study. As part of these students must undertake 65 days of full-time (or equivalent part-time) approved practical experience.

  Further information regarding practical experience completion requirements is available from the practical experience guidelines and rules.

• Admission requirements

  To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.

  Applicants must have one of the following:

  • Completed Australian Bachelor of Laws, Australian Juris Doctor, or NSW Legal Profession Admission Board Diploma in Law within the past 5 years

  OR

  • Completed Australian Bachelor of Laws, Australian Juris Doctor, or NSW Legal Profession Admission Board Diploma in Law more than 5 years ago AND A written assessment of the legal qualification from the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) to ensure the qualification meets the current LPAB admission requirements

  OR

  • Completed overseas legal qualification AND A written assessment from the NSW Legal Profession Admissions Board (LPAB) indicating equivalency of the overseas legal qualification for the purpose of admission as a legal practitioner in NSW and the list of subjects necessary to be completed to meet the requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW

  OR

  • Completed a legal qualification that enables admission to practise as a legal practitioner in NSW

  OR

  • Completed all core law subjects and still need to complete no more than 2  elective subjects in an Australian Bachelor of Laws (including combined degrees), Australian Juris Doctor (including combined degrees), or NSW Legal Profession Admission Board Diploma in Law AND Written permission from the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board to enrol in a course of practical legal training concurrently with the final session of the qualification

  Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

  English language requirements

  IELTS Academic: overall 6.5, writing 6.0 TOEFL iBT: overall 79, writing 21 UTS College AE5: Pass Pearson PTE: overall 58, writing 50 Cambridge C1A/C2P: overall 176, writing 169

• Domestic course fees

  2026 Indicative tuition fees for domestic students

  As a postgraduate student, you'll be responsible for covering your own tuition fees.

  2026 Tuition Fee

  • Indicative first-year tuition fee:  $13,063.00
  • Indicative total tuition fee:  $13,063.00

  You can choose to pay your fees upfront per session, or if you’re eligible, you can defer them using a government FEE-HELP loan. This loan helps you cover all or part of your tuition fees. Keep in mind that applications for this loan are specific to each course.

  Additional Costs 

  Your tuition fees do not include:

  • The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), which supports student services and activities. If eligible, you can defer this fee using SA-HELP.
  • Textbooks, materials, and other course-related costs.
  • Any applicable payment processing fees (e.g., credit card surcharges).

  Important Information 

  • Fees are shown in Australian Dollars (AUD).
  • The indicative tuition fees above are based on full-time study (1 year = 48 credit points).
  • Your actual fees depend on the year you enrol, your study load and the subjects you choose. Some subjects fall into different student contribution bands.
  • You can calculate your student contribution based on the amounts listed in the student contribution table

  Alumni Advantage Program 

  As a UTS graduate, you can enjoy a 10% discount on your course fees. Just apply for the course you're interested in, and if you're accepted, the discount will automatically be applied to your enrolment invoice. Learn more about the Alumni Advantage Program. 

  If you have any questions about course fees, please feel free to make an enquiry.
 

  Information for Masters by Research students: Government-funded scholarship places available

  As a recipient of the Australian Government’s Research Training Program (RTP) Fees Offset Scholarship, you do not have to pay tuition fees for up to the maximum period of candidature. However, even with this scholarship, you should expect ongoing costs that aren’t covered, like travel, training, and professional development. These costs can vary for each person, so it’s important to plan accordingly. Additionally, scholarships are available to help with your living expenses.

  Important details: The RTP Fees Offset Scholarship covers your tuition fees, but please note that it doesn’t include additional costs related to studying or conducting research. Additional fees for domestic students. For more information visit Research student fees.

• Inherent requirements

  Inherent requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential for successfully completing a course at UTS. You can find the inherent requirements for your course via the inherent requirements directory.

• Professional recognition

  This course satisfies the practical requirements for admission as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of NSW.

• Recognition of prior learning

  University law graduates complete three core subjects (18cp), plus a choice of 13 weeks of full-time (or equivalent part-time) practical experience (0cp) OR 4 weeks of full-time (or equivalent part-time) practical experience (0cp) and a work integrated learning subject (6cp).

  While all students must complete the compulsory core subjects including practical experience, university law graduates choosing 13 weeks of practical experience are given automatic recognition of prior learning for CBK90399 Law Options (6cp).

  Graduates of the Diploma in Law through the Legal Profession Admission Board may apply for 6cp of recognition of prior learning.