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'One thing that is great about QUT’s PLT program is the level of technical knowledge you gain. It is very practical and hands-on in both modes of delivery: online and on campus. You work a lot with other students, and the assessment is designed to give you the skills you’ll use every day in your job. The academics are there to mentor you, which was really beneficial for the start of my career and made the transition much easier. '
Associate at Results Legal
Support. Guidance. Inspiration.
“The practical assessments really pushed me out of my comfort zone. At the same time we had support and guidance from the staff. They treated us as equals, they treated us as colleagues and they also inspired us.”
Helping you succeed
I was taught by legal practitioners, Barristers and academic staff. The advocacy assessment, for example, was overseen by Barristers in a mock trial setting. The lecturers and support staff were always available to answer questions. It was clear from day one that the course co-ordinators and support staff truly cared about the students and wanted us to succeed in our legal careers.
Choose a PLT with firm connections
‘I chose to study my undergraduate degree at QUT based on the strength of its reputation in both teaching staff and graduate outcomes. I connected with my current employer, Stephens & Tozer, through QUT’s graduate employment register which is circulated for PLT students. I undertook my four week placement with the firm, and was offered a position after the conclusion of the placement period.’
Work placements
'We host practical legal training (PLT) students because we believe we can offer them a well-rounded experience. We can allow students to actually do the work that creates an important springboard into legal practice.'
Landing a dream job
'QUT sourced a placement for me in a Brisbane city law firm. I completed my placement to make sure I filled the requirements for admission and then I was offered a role at the firm.'
Support. Guidance. Inspiration.
“The practical assessments really pushed me out of my comfort zone. At the same time we had support and guidance from the staff. They treated us as equals, they treated us as colleagues and they also inspired us.”
Undertake a four week placement
'As part of my Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice studies, I undertook a four week work experience placement at an Australian law firm, Auslaw Partners. Throughout this experience, I acquired a wealth of knowledge from the firm's professionals. Working closely with my supervisor was an invaluable experience, as her mentorship and guidance not only expanded my legal knowledge but also provided deeper insights into the practical aspects of legal practice. My work placement experiences have truly contributed to my professional development and have set a high standard for me to aspire to in my future endeavours within the legal field.'
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice graduate
Helping you succeed
I was taught by legal practitioners, Barristers and academic staff. The advocacy assessment, for example, was overseen by Barristers in a mock trial setting. The lecturers and support staff were always available to answer questions. It was clear from day one that the course co-ordinators and support staff truly cared about the students and wanted us to succeed in our legal careers.
Highlights
The Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice provides you with the practical legal training (PLT) that you need for admission to the legal profession in Australia.
- Learn in-demand skills from experienced lawyers.
- Complete the required coursework in as little as 16 weeks full-time if you have relevant real-life workplace experience.
- We can source a 4-week placement for you in a law office in the Brisbane metropolitan area or assist you in finding a placement elsewhere in Australia.
- Choose full-time or part-time study modes and online or on-campus (full-time only) study modes.
- Our courses include a compulsory 5 day on campus intensive to satisfy professional admission requirements.
Highlights
The Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice provides you with the practical legal training (PLT) that you need for admission to the legal profession in Australia.
- Learn in-demand skills from experienced lawyers.
- We can source a 4-week placement for you in a law office in the Brisbane metropolitan area or assist you in you finding a placement elsewhere in Australia.
- Study full time on campus.
- Our courses include a compulsory 5 day intensive to satisfy professional admission requirements.
Explore this course
During your PLT, you will:
- develop professional skills such as client counselling, advocacy, negotiation, and drafting legal documents.
- acquire practical know how in core areas of legal practice and choose disciplines of your choice.
- undertake a 4-week placement at a law office, which we can find for you in the Brisbane area. If you want a placement outside that area, we can assist you in finding one but we cannot guarantee we will be able to find one for you.
Our course delivery includes:
- professional skills taught over 4 weeks, mostly online, which includes a 5-day intensive on campus.
- practice areas taught over 12 weeks either full-time online or on campus, or over 24 weeks part-time online.
- a 4-week placement and career preparation unit – credit available for real-life workplace experience
- 4 weeks' work experience at a law office (unless you have credit for this component). You must undertake your placement in Australia to comply with professional admission requirements.
During your PLT, you will:
- develop professional skills such as client counselling, advocacy, negotiation, and drafting legal documents.
- acquire practical know how in core areas of legal practice and choose disciplines of your choice.
- undertake a 4-week placement at a law office, which we can find for you in the Brisbane area. If you want a placement outside that area, we can assist you in finding one but we cannot guarantee we will be able to find one for you.
Our course delivery includes:
- professional skills taught over 4 weeks, which includes a 5-day intensive on campus.
- practice areas are taught over 12 weeks full-time on campus.
- a 4-week placement and career preparation unit – credit available for real-life workplace experience
- 4 weeks' work experience at a law office (unless you have credit for this component). You must undertake your placement in Australia to comply with professional admission requirements.
Work Integrated Learning
During this course, you are required to complete 4 weeks (equivalent to 146 hours) of professional work placement at a law office.
Professional recognition
The course is approved by the Queensland Legal Practitioners Admissions Board as satisfying the practical legal training requirements for admission to the legal profession in Queensland.
Possible careers
- Barrister
- Crown law officer
- In-house lawyer
- Solicitor
The Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (PLT) consists of 8 units totalling 96 credit points.
Our PLT is structured into 4 components: skills, practice areas, career preparation and a work placement.
1. Skills component
You will build professional skills such as negotiation, drafting and ethics.
Delivery:
- 4 weeks for all students – mostly online
- 5-day on campus intensive
2. Practice areas component
There are 5 compulsory practice units. You may be eligible for credit for Interaction if you have recent law office experience. In Electives you choose 2 areas for study from: criminal, administrative, family law practice, wills and estates, planning and environment, employment and industrial relations, consumer law and banking and finance.
Delivery:
- 12 weeks full-time or 24 weeks part-time (excluding breaks)
- Full-time or part-time online
- Full-time on campus (January/July entries)
3. Career preparation
This 4-week component helps you develop key attributes that employers say they look for in new lawyers. If you have real-life workplace experience, you are likely to be eligible for credit for this unit.
4. Placement
We will find a 4-week work placement for you at a law office, unless you have credit for your real-life legal workplace experience.
The Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (PLT) consists of 8 units totalling 96 credit points.
Our PLT is structured into 4 components: skills, practice areas, career preparation and a work placement.
1. Skills component
You will build professional skills such as negotiation, drafting and ethics.
Delivery:
- 4 weeks for all students – mostly online
- 5-day on campus intensive
2. Practice areas component
There are 5 compulsory practice units. You may be eligible for credit for Interaction if you have recent law office experience. In Electives you choose 2 areas for study from: criminal, administrative, family law practice, wills and estates, planning and environment, employment and industrial relations, consumer law and banking and finance.
Delivery:
- 12 weeks full-time on campus
3. Career preparation
This 4-week component helps you develop key attributes that employers say they look for in new lawyers. If you have real-life workplace experience, you are likely to be eligible for credit for this unit.
4. Placement
We will find a 4-week work placement for you at a law office, unless you have credit for your real-life legal workplace experience.
- Course code
- LP41
- CRICOS code
- 009034F
-
- Online
- Gardens Point
-
- Gardens Point
- 24 weeks full-time
- 34 - 38 weeks part-time
- 24 weeks full-time
- January, March, July and August
- January and July
Australian law qualifications
- A recognised bachelor degree (or higher qualification) in law (or equivalent study) which is approved for admission by the Australian legal profession; or
- Currently studying for bachelor degree (or higher qualification) in law (or equivalent study) with no more than two units to complete by the date the course commences and neither of those units is a unit commonly known as the "Priestly 11"; plus
- You have the permission of the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board (LPAB) (Queensland) to commence the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice while you complete those units.
Overseas law qualifications
- A recognised bachelor degree (or higher qualification) in law (or equivalent study); plus
- You have the permission of the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board (LPAB) (Queensland) to commence the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. You will need to submit the LPAB letter as part of your application. Please refer to the instructions on the Queensland Law Society website.
Minimum academic requirements
Applicants with Australian law qualifications
A completed bachelor degree, higher award or equivalent study in law, which is approved for admission to the Australian legal profession; or
Currently studying for such a degree, award or equivalent with no more than two units to complete by the date the course commences and neither of those units is a unit commonly known as the "Priestly 11"; and
You have the permission of the Queensland Legal Practitioners Admissions Board to commence the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice while you complete those units.
Applicants with overseas law qualifications
A recognised completed bachelor degree, higher award or equivalent study in law, which is approved for admission to the Australian legal profession.
Applicants with law degrees completed overseas will need to have their degree assessed by the Legal Practitioners Admission Board (LPAB) in Queensland before applying to QUT. Please refer to the instructions on the Queensland Law Society website.
The LPAB will assess your qualification and provide you a letter outlining the law undergraduate/Priestly 11 units you must study prior to commencing LP41 Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. You must include this letter with your application to study at QUT.
International students wishing to study in Australia, will receive a package offer with U096 International Transfer Year or U084 International Transfer Semester depending on the number of units the LPAB has identified you must study.
| Priestley 11 units | QUT Equivalent subjects |
|---|---|
| Criminal Law and Procedure | Criminal Law (LLB106) |
| Torts | Torts (LLB102) |
| Contracts (Need both QUT units) | Contract Law (LLB202) and Commercial Remedies (LLB304) |
| Property (need both QUT units) | Real Property Law (LLB301) and Commercial and Personal Property Law (LLB204) |
| Equity | Equity and Trusts (LLB205) |
| Company Law | Corporate Law (LLH305) |
| Administrative Law | Administrative Law (LLH206) |
| State and Federal Constitutional Law | Constitutional Law (LLB203) |
| Civil Procedure | Civil Procedure (LLB306) |
| Evidence | Evidence (LLB303) |
| Ethics and Professional Responsibility | Ethics and the Legal Profession (LLH302) |
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests undertaken in a secure test centre. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.
| English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic / IELTS One Skills Retake | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
|
Cambridge English Score
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website. |
176 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
| PTE Academic | 58 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| TOEFL iBT / Paper | 79 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2025 fees
2025: $15,300 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2025 fees
2025: $29,000 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2024 fees
2024: Either $14,200 (indicative) full course based on seven units (we do not charge you for our placement unit) or $10,150 if you are eligible for advanced standing for our Interaction unit based on your past or current work place experience
2024 fees
2024: Either $26,800 (indicative) full course based on seven units (we do not charge you for our placement unit) or $19,200 if you are eligible for advanced standing for our Interaction unit based on your past or current work place experience
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
FEE-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a FEE-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
QUT and Auslaw Multicultural Work Integrated Learning Scholarship
- Scholarship eligibility
- From a non-English speaking background
QUT Real World International Scholarship
A scholarship to cover tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
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