Discover our GDLP at Murdoch with Leo Cussen

Leo Cussen’s Full Time Practical Legal Training is a 25-week course in WA, comprising:

1. 21 weeks of coursework (approximately 25 hours per week) and
2. 4 weeks professional placement and completion of the CPR over 5 weeks (or 9 weeks professional placement if an exemption from the CPR topic is granted)

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 25 week course.

Attendance Requirements 

Our Blended Course will be our usual weekday option for 12 days, with intensives delivered in the building on Thursdays and Fridays and;

100% Online will be our usual weekend option with 12 days, with intensives delivered by video conference on Friday and Saturday.

2022 Fees

The fees applicable to specific categories of students are:

The balance of the full tuition fee for non-FEE-HELP applicants is payable in full no later than two weeks before the commencement of the relevant course (the enrolment date).

If you expect to have difficulty in paying your PLT fees, then you should discuss the matter with the Director PLT well in advance of the enrolment date.

Additional Fees

Incidental fees are charged principally as a fine or penalty and imposed as a disincentive and not in order to raise revenue or cover administrative costs – as per 7.5.1 (d) of the Higher Education Provider Guidelines under the Higher Education Support Act 2003.

For more on Withdrawal Penalties, go to:

Important Information for Applicants 

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. Our course covers compulsory practice areas, electives, skills and values together with placements.

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

In addition to the above, our course provides trainees with a choice of practice areas to accommodate their career interests.  See our course content table.

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.

In addition to the above, trainees must complete the following career development topics: 

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.  

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.  For WA students, CPR must be completed over a period of 5 weeks. 

Professional Placement

4 weeks in a legal practice or other legal environment must be completed (or 9 weeks of professional placement if an exemption from the CPR topic is granted)

FEE-HELP

FEE-HELP is available for PLT applicants. However, please note that FEE-HELP is available only if you are an Australian citizen or a student on a permanent humanitarian visa. If you are an overseas practitioner on a permanent visa for the purposes of bridging study, then you are NOT eligible for FEE-HELP for PLT.

For eligible students, the tuition fee can be fully or partially covered by FEE-HELP. If you are not an Australian citizen or do not have a permanent humanitarian visa, then you will be required to pay the tuition fee upfront. All applicants wishing to access FEE-HELP loans must select FEE-HELP as your funding option on your online enrolment form.

You will receive an Electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF) via email at least one month prior to commencement of the course. The email will contain information on how to complete your eCAF.

After you apply for FEE-HELP, if you disagree with a decision about re-crediting or remitting then please read the Centre’s FEE-HELP Review Procedures below.

Students without access to FEE-HELP

Please note that students without access to FEE- HELP may apply to pay the course fee by instalments.  An application for permission to pay the fee by instalments must be made in writing to the Director PLT no later than two weeks before the commencement of the course (the enrolment date). Payments may be made by direct deposit, bank cheque/money order or credit card.

There are different pathways to becoming an Australian lawyer and your PLT qualification is a key step in the journey. Depending on whether you have undertaken your academic study in Australia or overseas, there will be different steps that lead to your application for admission to the legal profession and your right to practise law.

We have put together an easy flow chart to describe these pathways. You can find our flow chart and additional information on our Admissions Page.

Learn as a Lawyer, with Lawyers

Practical Legal Training at Leo Cussen is a specialist course designed to enhance the skills of law graduates. While a law degree is mainly focused on academic knowledge, PLT is a unique opportunity to apply that knowledge to real-world situations, guided by skilled and supportive lawyer mentors.

During our course, you will practice several tasks that lawyers carry out in legal offices. This is in the form of running cases and files in a stimulated law firm setting. You will also complete a professional placement, which is a valuable opportunity to apply all the skills you learnt in the PLT to the real world.

Throughout your time at Leo Cussen, you will also have access to our knowledgeable careers team who can support you with your career planning and advice.

More Information:

As the Manager of Industry Engagement & Careers, Alex Giannopoulos provides insights into helping law graduates understand what employers are looking for right now in their junior lawyers. Click on the link below to find out more. 

What are employers looking for in graduate lawyers?

Leo Cussen Centre for Law offers extensive support for our international students, ensuring a productive and enjoyable experience. To find out more about applying for our course and your visa requirements, visit our International Student page.