Becoming A Lawyer > Practical Legal Training Requirements

Practical Legal Training Requirements

For the legislative provisions relating to PLT please refer to section 17 of the  Legal Profession Uniform Law (WA) and the Legal Profession Uniform Admission Rules 2015.

You cannot commence practical legal training (PLT) in Western Australia until you have completed the Academic Requirements for Admission.

If you have completed all of the requirements for the award of your law degree and only have one or more electives to complete, you may be able to apply for written approval to commence PLT prior to the completion of your academic qualification.

Refer to the guidelines outlining the circumstances under which early commencement of PLT will be approved and detailing the manner in which an application for approval may be made.

Approved practical legal training in Western Australia is completion of:

1. The WA  College of Law PLT Course OR
2. The Leo Cussen Centre for Law WA PLT Course OR
3. The Piddington Society Inc. PLT Course OR
4. Curtin University Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

A law graduate completing a PLT course may not use the title “articled clerk”. You may only use the title of “articled clerk” if you are formally registered with the Board as an articled clerk.

On completion of one of the above PLT courses you will be eligible for admission. You must apply for admission at least 2 months prior to the anticipated ceremony date. Refer to information on the formal process of applying for admission

A person who has completed a PLT course in another Australian jurisdiction may apply for admission in Western Australia. The PLT course will be accepted as specified practical legal training if it meets admission requirements in the Australian state or territory in which it was completed. 

Overseas qualified or admitted applicants should refer to their assessment statement for information about their PLT requirements.

Application for Accreditation and Re-accreditation as a Practical Legal Training Provider

Practical Legal Training (PLT) Providers are required, under Legal Profession Uniform Admission Rules 2015 (Rules) [Rules 7 and 8], to apply to the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia for accreditation to provide approved practical legal training for persons in the process of becoming legal practitioners. And, after a period of 5 years, to apply for re-accreditation.
 
Applications for accreditation and re-accreditation as a practical legal training provider must be made on LPB Form 21.
 
Having completed all sections of this application and attached the required information referred to in Section D; the application should be sent by email to enquiries@lpbwa.com marked “Attention: PLT Provider”. Attached documents reffered to in (e) and (d) will be made available on submission to the Board.