Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice

This course targets graduates aiming to fulfil the Practical Legal Training (PLT) requirement for legal practice in NSW. As the first university in Sydney to offer this qualification, UTS will ensure you are well-prepared for admission to the legal profession.

Opt for this course to engage in university-level teaching enriched with interactive content and practical exercises that effectively translate legal theory into professional competence. You will develop advanced skills including judgement and adaptability, while cultivating an ethical approach to legal practice.

Available both online and on-campus, with minimal on-site assessment commitments, this flexible course culminates in eligibility for admission to the Supreme Court of NSW as a legal practitioner.

Upon completion of PLT, you'll be equipped to pursue a career as a lawyer, assuming all other academic prerequisites are met.

Students in the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice experience university-standard teaching combined with interactive content and practice-oriented exercises that bridge the gap between legal knowledge and professional practice. They develop the advanced knowledge and skills required for a legal career, including judgement, adaptability and an ethical mindset.

This course is offered online (with minimal attendance for assessments) and on campus. On completion of this course, students are eligible for admission as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of NSW, provided they have also completed a relevant academic qualification.

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.

Applicants must have one of the following:

• Completed Australian Bachelor of Laws, Australian Juris Doctor, or NSW Legal Profession Admission Board Diploma in Law within the past 5 years

OR

• Completed Australian Bachelor of Laws, Australian Juris Doctor, or NSW Legal Profession Admission Board Diploma in Law more than 5 years ago AND A written assessment of the legal qualification from the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) to ensure the qualification meets the current LPAB admission requirements

OR

• Completed overseas legal qualification AND A written assessment from the NSW Legal Profession Admissions Board (LPAB) indicating equivalency of the overseas legal qualification for the purpose of admission as a legal practitioner in NSW and the list of subjects necessary to be completed to meet the requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW

OR

• Completed a legal qualification that enables admission to practise as a legal practitioner in NSW

OR

• Completed all core law subjects and still need to complete no more than 2 law elective subjects in an Australian Bachelor of Laws, Australian Juris Doctor, or NSW Legal Profession Admission Board Diploma in Law AND Written permission from the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board to enrol in a course of practical legal training concurrently with the final session of the legal qualification

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL iBT: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.

To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.

Applicants must have one of the following:

• Completed Australian Bachelor of Laws, Australian Juris Doctor, or NSW Legal Profession Admission Board Diploma in Law within the past 5 years

OR

• Completed Australian Bachelor of Laws, Australian Juris Doctor, or NSW Legal Profession Admission Board Diploma in Law more than 5 years ago AND A written assessment of the legal qualification from the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) to ensure the qualification meets the current LPAB admission requirements

OR

• Completed overseas legal qualification AND A written assessment from the NSW Legal Profession Admissions Board (LPAB) indicating equivalency of the overseas legal qualification for the purpose of admission as a legal practitioner in NSW and the list of subjects necessary to be completed to meet the requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW

OR

• Completed a legal qualification that enables admission to practise as a legal practitioner in NSW

OR

• Completed all core law subjects and still need to complete no more than 2 law elective subjects in an Australian Bachelor of Laws, Australian Juris Doctor, or NSW Legal Profession Admission Board Diploma in Law AND Written permission from the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board to enrol in a course of practical legal training concurrently with the final session of the legal qualification

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

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