The Leo Cussen Practical Legal Training Course

If you’re looking for a professional legal training (PLT)  course then the Leo Cussen Practical Legal Training (PLT) program is for you, designed for JD and LLB graduates seeking admission to the legal profession as an Australian Lawyer.  Graduates of our PLT program are awarded a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP).

When to start your PLT program? Completion of Practical Legal Training is a prerequisite for admission to the Australian legal profession. And should be completed after you earn your law degree, or earlier with approval from your local admitting authority.

With over 40 years of experience in the delivery of legal (PLT) training, Leo Cussen Centre for Law is recognised by the legal profession as a centre of excellence in legal education. Our Practical Legal Training is nationally recognised as one of Australia’s best. 

 

Enrol now

Important Information for Applicants

 

What is your learning style?

Face to Face Learning – designed for those who like more structured support, a more defined schedule of learning and more face to face instruction.  21 weeks of coursework, including 3 days per week face to face learning, plus three weeks’ professional placement*. Starts January 2021.

Blended Learning – designed for those who enjoy self-directed learning and a more flexible schedule.  21 weeks of coursework, including 13 days face-to-face learning, and three weeks’ professional placement*. Starts February 2021.

Part-Time Blended Learning – designed for those who need more time to complete their PLT due to work, family or other commitments, this course is also for those who enjoy self-directed learning and a more flexible schedule.  42 weeks of coursework over 2 semesters, including 15 days face-to-face learning, and three weeks’ professional placement*. Starts February 2021.

100% Online Learning – designed for those who enjoy self-directed learning and a more flexible schedule.  21 weeks of coursework, including 13 days face-to-face learning at distance, and three weeks’ professional placement*. Starts February 2021.

WA Blended Learning – designed for those who enjoy self-directed learning and a flexible schedule.  21 weeks of coursework, including 13 days face-to-face learning, and either:

  1. 4 weeks of professional placement plus a 5-week equivalent additional coursework Career and Profession Ready Module which may be completed concurrently *; or
  2. 9 weeks of professional placement *.

*The requirement for professional placement in all our courses can be substituted by an online component. Starts February 2021

NSW/ ACT Blended Learning – designed for those who enjoy self-directed learning and a more flexible schedule.  21 weeks of coursework, including 12 days face-to-face learning (7 onsite at ANU, 5 at distance) and three weeks’ professional placement*. Starts February 2021.

More information?

If you’re after more info about our Practical Legal Training course, please head to this page for detailed information specific to our PLT courses, including eligibility, face to face learning dates, fee information and much more.

Important Information for Applicants

 

Our Organisation

  • A unique and honourable history of contribution to our profession
  • Training law graduates to become great lawyers since 1972
  • A priceless reputation among legal employers for high quality, comprehensive PLT training

Legal Employers – how you can help

  • Sponsor a graduate to do our PLT program 
  • Provide a three-week placement to a trainee (or four-week placement, if based in WA)
  • Employ a Leo Cussen PLT graduate

Aims of Practical Legal Training

Leo Cussen’s mission is to provide comprehensive and quality practical training to law graduates leading to their admission to the legal profession as Australian lawyers.

We aim to provide best practice legal  training and assessment in skills and substantive law for entry-level lawyers that:

  • goes beyond the National Competency Standards for Entry Level Lawyers
  • provides a broad range of legal training and assessment in general legal skills and ‘how to’ skills for specific areas of legal practice
  • provides transferable skills to support diverse professional workplace contexts

Ever wondered, what is PLT? And why is it important?  Well, we believe that:

  • PLT acts as a bridge between academic learning and legal practice.
  • PLT should have its emphasis in learning by doing and the development of practical skills in the context of matters and situations that will be encountered in legal practice.
  • PLT should integrate the teaching of skills, ethics, substance, practice and procedure in the context of a series of simulated files that are based on routine transactions.
  • PLT should approximate the reality of practice to the fullest extent practicable.

Information Session

Come along to our next Information Session to find out more about our Practical Legal Training (PLT) program.

Register for the next PLT Info Session