Practical Legal Training (PLT) Program Structure in Australia

Leo Cussen runs a highly reputable PLT course in Australia. To find out more about our program, see our PLT course structure below.

Full-Time PLT

Leo Cussen’s Full Time Practical Legal Training is a 24-week course, comprising:

21 weeks of coursework (approximately 25 hours per week) and
3 weeks’ professional placement (4 weeks in WA).

Professional placements may be at private law firms, community legal centres, government agencies, public interest organisations or in-house. Placement can currently be completed via Leo Cussen’s online module at no additional cost and without adding additional time to our 24 week course (25 weeks in WA).

Part-Time PLT

Leo Cussen’s Part Time Practical Legal Training is a 42-week course, comprising:

42 weeks of coursework (approximately 15 hours per week) and
3 weeks’ professional placement.

Professional placements may be at private law firms, community legal centres, government agencies, public interest organisations or in-house. Placement can currently be completed via Leo Cussen’s online module at no additional cost and without adding additional time to our 42 week course

PLT Course Dates

Find out all of our important PLT dates, here.

Topics covered in Leo Cussen PLT program

All PLT trainees complete the following 13 topic items in addition to professional placement.

SKILLS

Topic	Topic comprises instruction in:	How topic is practised and assessed
Topic 1. Trust and Office Accounting	Topic comprises instruction in: Trust and Office Accounting, Costing	How topic is practised and assessed Assessed as part of the client file program
Topic 2. Representing a client in a legal forum (Advocacy)	Topic comprises instruction in: Procedure; etiquette, preparation and analysis, evidence; Examination; Submissions	How topic is practised and assessed Hearing component of client file work: County/District Court (Interlocutory), Family or Admin, and Crime client files Appearances in bail application, sentencing plea
Topic 3. Lawyer’s Skills	Topic comprises instruction in: Lawyer’s Skills Letter writing & Drafting Interviewing & Drafting Dispute Resolution	How topic is practised and assessed Skills applied in client file program and the Client Lawyer Interview Program
Topic 4. Work Management and Business Skills	Topic comprises instruction in: Work Management & Business Skills, Intro to Legal Practice, Legal Practice Review	How topic is practised and assessed Setting up Practice Skills applied in client file program and professional placement and additional competency-based assessment for risk management
Topic 5. Problem Solving	Topic comprises instruction in: Problem Solving (Practical Legal Research, Statutory Interpretation, and Analysis)	How topic is practised and assessed Problem Solving file Skills applied in client file program and the client file task

CORE PRACTICE AREAS

Topic	Topic comprises instruction in:	How topic is practised and assessed
Topic 6. Civil Litigation Practice	Topic comprises instruction in: Civil Litigation Practice	How topic is practised and assessed Civil file Magistrates/Local Court, Civil Interlocutory file
Topic 7. Commercial and Corporate Practice	Topic comprises instruction in: Commercial and Corporate (Commercial Practice, Trusts, Company Practice)	How topic is practised and assessed Commercial client file
Topic 8. Property Law Practice	Topic comprises instruction in: Property Law Practice	How topic is practised and assessed Property client file
Topic 9. Criminal Law Practice	Topic comprises instruction in: Criminal Law Practice	How topic is practised and assessed Crime client file

VALUES

Topic	Topic comprises instruction in:	How topic is practised and assessed
Topic 10. Ethics and Professional Responsibility	Topic comprises instruction in: Ethics and Professional Responsibility	How topic is practised and assessed Values applied in client file Program & additional competency-based assessment single; and group assessments

ELECTIVES (must complete 2)

One of:

Topic	Topic comprises instruction in:	How topic is practised and assessed
Topic 11. Administrative Law Practice	Topic comprises instruction in: Administrative Law Practice	How topic is practised and assessed Admin client file
Topic 11. Family Law Practice	Topic comprises instruction in: Family Law Practice	How topic is practised and assessed Family client file

PLUS One of:

Topic	Topic comprises instruction in:	How topic is practised and assessed
Topic 12. Consumer Law Practice	Topic comprises instruction in: Consumer Law Practice	How topic is practised and assessed Consumer file
Topic 12. Employment and Industrial Relations Practice	Topic comprises instruction in: Employment and Industrial Relations Practice	How topic is practised and assessed Employment file
Topic 12. Planning and Environmental Law Practice	Topic comprises instruction in: Planning and Environmental Law	How topic is practised and assessed Planning file
Topic 12. Wills and Estates Practice	Topic comprises instruction in: Wills & Deceased Estates	How topic is practised and assessed Wills client file, Probate file tasks

CAREER PLANNING AND PROFESSION READY (CPR)

This Topic includes The Legal Practice Project and Presentations – a collaborative group project presenting on a contemporary development in the legal profession including technological innovation.

THRIVING IN YOUR CAREER AND SELF MANAGEMENT (Thriving)

This Topic known simply as ‘Thriving’ comprises online activities that must be completed. The topic addresses the ‘Resilience and Wellbeing’ National Competency Standard for Entry Level Lawyers and focusses directly on your career goals and your career management.

15. PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT

Victoria: 3 weeks in a legal practice or other legal environment must be completed.

NSW/ACT, QLD: 3 weeks in a legal practice or other legal environment must be completed.

Western Australia: 4 weeks of professional placement and completion of the CPR over 5 weeks (OR 9 weeks professional placement if an exemption from the CPR topic is granted).

During 2021 the professional placement may be substituted by the Professional Placement in ISO module.

Areas of Practice Covered in Practical Legal Training

The areas of practice covered in the PLT include those prescribed in the National Competency Standards for Entry Level Lawyers as required by the Legal Profession Uniform Admission Rules 2015. Training at Leo Cussen Centre for Law goes beyond the minimum requirements so that you are well equipped with knowledge, skills and confidence to exercise choice as you enter the legal profession.

Core mandatory practice areas

The following practice areas are mandatory according to the National Competency Standards for Entry-Level Lawyers.

Civil Litigation Practice
Commercial and Corporate Practice
Property Law Practice

Choice of practice areas

Our course provides trainees with a choice of practice areas to accommodate their career interests. See the choice of streams table above.

Skills and values

Compulsory skills and values training include:

Lawyer’s Skills (communication skills, interviewing, letter writing, drafting, negotiation and advocacy)
Problem Solving (problem analysis, statutory interpretation, practical legal research)
Trust and Office Accounting
Work Management and Business Skills (including professional placement, file management and risk management)
Ethics and Professional Responsibility.

Are you ready for day one?

Read our latest course guide to preview the journey all graduates must take to become a lawyer, and how Leo Cussen can help you on your path.

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Your guide to PLT