Questions about the course
You’ve already read a lot about Piddington PLT, but there are a few more questions you might want answered.
Got more questions? Check out our FAQ’s on placements and applications, or email us at plt@pidsoc.org.au.
What is involved in the Piddington PLT course?
Piddington PLT is a unique program designed for law graduates who are committed to access to justice and want to complete their practical legal training as part of a community of peers and mentors who are committed to ethics, professional responsibility, and collegiality.
Piddington PLT is a 10-month program running from mid-January to October, which involves:
450 hours of programmed coursework including in-person workshops, seminars and tutorials; group-based practical activities where you practice developing skills necessary for advising clients; and structured reflective activities); and
80 days of supervised work experience (PLT Work Experience Placement).
As part of the coursework component, our graduates also work on their own “Piddington Justice Project” over the year.
The coursework and supervised work experience requirements in our course have been approved by the Legal Practice Board of WA as meeting the requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of WA, including the Law Council of Australia’s Competency Standards for Entry Level Lawyers.
Why is Piddington PLT such a long course? Can I fast-track my coursework to apply for admission earlier?
Our course has been intentionally designed to be completed over a 10-month period because we believe legal skills take time to develop through ongoing practice with mentoring and coaching from senior practitioners. We don’t think rushing to get admitted straight after you graduate from law school is a good thing because it takes time to transition from being a law student to being a lawyer.
In 12 months’ time, the difference between a June admission and a November admission will not mean much (and in a few years, it becomes irrelevant).
There’s also a pragmatic reason our course takes longer than most, which is that there are some jobs you can no longer apply for once you are admitted as a practitioner (including some graduate programs, and clerking in barristers’ chambers). If you’re not employed as a graduate when you start PLT, we encourage you to spend the first half of the year applying for those roles.
By June, you can start applying for admitted restriction practitioner roles and will also have demonstrated some real on the job graduate experience.
Is there a mid-year in-take?
No - Piddington PLT only has one intake per year. The program runs from January to October, with admission proposed in November. It’s not possible to start the course in the middle of the year because our course is designed for graduates to develop their skills progressively over the year and build relationships with their cohort. We have an intensive in January that focuses on core skills graduates need to transition from law school to legal practice, and everything builds from there.
Can I start PLT in January if I haven’t completed my law degree, but will finish it during the year?
Possibly!
You generally need to have finished your law degree (that is, completed all the units, even if you won’t graduate until later on) before you can start PLT.
However, you can apply to the Legal Practice Board for approval to start PLT before completing your law degree if:
You have less than 2 units to finish your degree;
Those units are elective units that are not part of the Academic Requirements for admission; and
You will be enrolled in those final units (and complete them) during the PLT year (you’ll need to have had your degree completed and conferred in order to be admitted).
For more information about applying for approval for early commencement see the Legal Practice Board’s guidelines.
What are the key dates for the 2025 course?
There are a total of 18 contact days of workshops and seminars over the year including two compulsory intensive weeks. You will need to arrange study leave from your work or PLT placement to attend. We also run evening tutorials for certain activities to support you over the year.
While subject to change, you might want to these key dates in your diary - we will confirm these dates when we’re finalising your enrolment in the course:
January Intensive: 13 to 17 January 2025
Friday 7 February 2025
Friday 7 March 2025
Friday 4 April 2025
Friday 2 May 2025
Friday 6 June 2025
July Intensive: Monday 30 June to Friday 4 July 2025
Friday 1 August 2025
Friday 5 September 2025
Friday 3 October 2025
Admission at the Supreme Court of WA: Friday 7 November 2025 (to be confirmed by the Supreme Court and Legal Practice Board of Western Australia)
In 2025, part of the cohort will be able to complete Piddington PLT on Tuesday evenings in lieu of Fridays.
Are the in-person seminar days and intensives compulsory?
We encourage everyone to be at our face-to-face workshops and seminars as these sessions are a big part of the reason why Piddington PLT is different. The in-person PLT workshops and seminars provide our Graduates with the opportunity to learn how to be a lawyer from amazing practitioners who are passionate about mentoring juniors.
Most importantly, the way the course is designed around The Piddington Society’s core value of “collegiality” means these face-to-face days allows our Graduates to spend time with each other. The PLT cohort will be a hugely important part of their support system over the year, and for the rest of their careers.
We understand that not everyone will be able to attend every session for various reasons and we provide some flexibility, but Graduates are encouraged to arrange for leave from their PLT Work Experience Placement to attend.
Joining the January intensive means you meet the rest of the cohort from day one. People who attend the first intensive generally get the most out of the program. There are some key activities (particularly during the July intensive) that have to be completed in person in order to complete all the requirements for course completion and we strongly recommend all graduates to attend both intensives to make the most out of the PLT program.
Graduates who are employed as associates or orderlies at courts or tribunals can contact us at plt@pidsoc.org.au in order to discuss alternative arrangements regarding the January intensive.
Can I do the course part-time or spread the coursework and work experience placement over a longer period?
Absolutely. We can’t shorten the 10-month timeframe but we can extend it - the only key date is the admission ceremony. If you’re not in a rush to get admitted in November and need more time to manage your placement, other work commitments and the course load, we can make arrangements for you to complete the course at a pace that suits you.
How much does the course cost?
Piddington PLT is the most affordable PLT course in Australia. We will provide more detailed information about fees and scholarships as part of our application guide.
Our program is approved by the Legal Practice Board of WA as meeting the requirements for admission in Western Australia, but our course is not eligible for Graduates wishing to apply for a FEE-HELP loan from the Commonwealth Government.
We understand the considerable challenges that come from volunteering in a CLC and paying course fees for your PLT, and are keen to ensure that no one misses out participating in our program for financial reasons.