What is your learning style?
There are currently two formats available to students located in WA:
Blended Learning at Murdoch
Mostly self-paced online, plus 12 days of interactive face-to-face learning onsite
Location: 90 South St, Murdoch WA 6150
Receive instant, in-person feedback from your instructors as well as socialise with other PLT trainees in WA with the flexibility of online training.
The 12 days of interactive face-to-face learning are mandatory and held on specific dates at Murdoch University. To find the attendance dates, please check the Course Duration and Attendance Requirements section below.
100% Online Learning (VIC)
Mostly self-paced online, plus 13 days of interactive face-to-face via Video Conferencing
Location: 100% Online (state laws/courts are based in VIC)
Our online course gives you the flexibility to work at your own pace wherever you are located. While state laws/courts are based in the Victorian jurisdiction, this course qualifies you for admission in every state and territory of Australia.
The 13 days of interactive face-to-face learning are mandatory and held on specific dates via video conferencing. To find the attendance dates, please check the Course Duration and Attendance Requirements section below.
Dates
Blended Learning Course | Course Dates | Enrolments open |
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Blended Learning Course Full time - July |
Course Dates 18 July – 2 December 2022 |
Enrolments open Enrolments Closed. |
100% Online Learning (VIC) Course | Course Dates | Enrolments open |
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100% Online Learning (VIC) Course Full time - July |
Course Dates 25 July – 9 December 2022 |
Enrolments open Enrolments Closed |
100% Online Learning (VIC) Course Full time - August |
Course Dates 8 August – 16 December 2022 |
Enrolments open Intake Full |
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Course Duration and Attendance Requirements
Leo Cussen’s Full Time Practical Legal Training is a 25-week course in WA, comprising:
- 21 weeks of coursework (approximately 25 hours per week) and
- 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.
WA Blended Course Intake
Mandatory Attendance WA Blended Mandatory Attendance 1st Intensive
WA Blended Monday 18 July – Friday 22 July
Mandatory Attendance 2nd Intensive
WA Blended Wednesday 21 September – Friday – 23 September
Mandatory Attendance 3rd Intensive
WA Blended Tuesday 29 November – Friday 2 December
100% Online Learning (VIC) Course Intake
Mandatory Attendance July Intake August Intake Mandatory Attendance 1st Intensive
July Intake Monday 25 July – Friday 29 July
August Intake Monday 8 August – Friday 12 August
Mandatory Attendance 2nd Intensive
July Intake Saturday 10 September
August Intake Saturday 1 October
Mandatory Attendance 3rd Intensive
July Intake Friday 14 October – Saturday 15 October
August Intake Friday 27 October – Saturday 28 October
Mandatory Attendance 4th Intensive
July Intake Friday 11 November – Saturday 12 November
August Intake Friday 25 November – Saturday 26 November
Mandatory Attendance 5th Intensive
July Intake Friday 9 December – Saturday 10 December
August Intake Friday 16 December – Saturday 17 December
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Fees
2022 Fees
The fees applicable to specific categories of students are:
International Students Fee International Students Blended Learning and 100% Online
Fee $15,860.00
Domestic Students Fee Domestic Students Blended Learning and 100% Online
Fee $10,770.00
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.
Fee type Cost Fee type Withdrawal Penalty (prior to Census Date)
Cost $500
Fee type Transfer between courses
Cost $300
Fee type Deferring to a future course
Cost $300
For more on Withdrawal Penalties, go to:
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Course Overview
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.
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Course Content & Placements
Topics covered in Leo Cussen PLT program
All PLT trainees complete the following 12 topic items in addition to mandatory career development which includes 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
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 pleaTopic: 3. Lawyer’s Skills
Topic comprises instruction in: Lawyer’s Skills
Letter writing & Drafting
Interviewing & Drafting
Dispute ResolutionHow 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 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 two)
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 Practice
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
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)
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Payment Options
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.
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Admission to Practice
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.
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Careers
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.
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International Students
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.
Meet our mentors
Leo Cussen's mentors are highly experienced, dedicated lawyers who will support you throughout the PLT course and prepare you for your legal career.
Want to have a quick chat?
Book 1-1 Call"Julie was beyond amazing; her overwhelming support and guidance throughout the course helped me to focus and develop the necessary skills for the legal profession. Moreover, her constant support and individual feedback helped in building my confidence and skill set."
Tory T - Leo Cussen PLT Graduate & Paralegal at Kingston Reid
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