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law.uts.edu.au

PRACTICAL

LEGAL

TRAINING

(PLT) Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice

Maxine Evers Associate Dean (Education) BA (Macq), LLB, GradCertHEd (UTS), MDR Hons (UTS)

UTS CRICOS PROVIDER CODE: 00099F

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WHAT IS PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING (PLT)?

• Practical Legal Training (PLT) is a compulsory program of study

(the other being an academic qualification, e.g. the LLB or JD) in

order to practise law in NSW.

• Completion of PLT is a requirement of the NSW Legal Profession

Admission Board (LPAB) for admission as a lawyer to the

Supreme Court of New South Wales and by mutual recognition to

the Supreme Courts of other Australian jurisdictions.

• PLT provides students with the key skills and knowledge that form

the Competencies required by the LPAB as the essential base for

legal practice.

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PLT AT UTS

• Supported by a strong professional network and noted for its

interactive content and flexible delivery, the UTS PLT program

provides an entry-level lawyer with the requisite competence in the

skills, practice areas and values required of a law student to be

admitted to practise law.

• Graduates will have developed advanced knowledge and skills for

legal professional work and will be able to apply the knowledge

and skills to demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgment,

adaptability and responsibility as an ethical practitioner.

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WHY STUDY PLT AT UTS?

• UTS was the first and is the only university provider of PLT

in Sydney.

• ‘One-stop’ legal education for admission to practise law.

• University quality teaching and facilities.

• Study with your UTS peers and meet new students.

• Competitive fees. FEE-HELP available.

• At UTS you can concurrently undertake your Practical Experience

with your PLT coursework subjects.

• Flexible delivery.

• LPAB Accredited.

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PLT RULES & STUDY MODES VICTORIA VASQUEZ FACULTY OPERATIONS MANAGER

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WHEN YOU CAN COMMENCE PLT

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• PLT may be undertaken as a stand-alone postgraduate course, the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (GCPLP).

UTS Students

• Students may commence the GCPLP in the final semester of, or following, a combined Law degree or Juris Doctor version 2 or 3 degree (JD students commenced 2012 onward).

Students from other Universities:

• Concurrently with final 1 or 2 electives or following completion of law degree

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GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN PROFESSIONAL LEGAL PRACTICE

This Graduate Certificate course comprises the following subjects:

NOTE: University law graduates receive automatic credit recognition for the 6

credit point Law Option Elective, and only complete the remaining 3 subjects +

Practical Experience, to attain the Graduate Certificate.

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WHAT ARE THE PLT SUBJECTS?

PLT consists of the following subjects:

1. Legal and Professional Skills

2. Transactional Practice

3. Litigation & Estate Practice

4. Practical Experience Work Placement (PE)

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TWO NEW LPAB RULES FROM 1 JANUARY 2015

1. PLT Commencement Rule

• Affects students wishing to commence their Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice before completing their LLB combined degree or JD.

• It will not affect students who have PLT integrated in their Law degree.

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NEW LPAB RULES FROM 2015 (CONT.)

PLT Commencement Rule

A student wishing to commence PLT must have successfully completed

all core Law subjects and have only 1 or 2 electives remaining,

AND The student must be enrolled in these 1 or 2 electives concurrently with commencing PLT.

Any student wishing to commence PLT with 1 or 2 outstanding electives must obtain written consent from the LPAB:

Request a Dean’s Letter from the Faculty by lodging an Online

Enquiry through ASKUTS.

Make an application through the LPAB at a fee of $70, attaching

the Dean’s Letter.

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NEW LPAB RULES FROM 2015 (CONT.)

2. Stale Learning Clause

• Requires students applying for admission as a lawyer to have completed both their academic requirements for admission (their LLB or JD) and their PLT within 5 years of their application for admission.

• Students who have exceeded this five year timeframe for either their law degree or their PLT will need to have their qualifications assessed by the LPAB at a fee of $250 (current fee).

• Further information is available on the LPAB website.

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PLT AT UTS (CONT.)

PLT General Info –

• PLT must be undertaken after any UTS Exchange study.

• Academic subjects can be taken 0.5 year F/T or 1 year P/T.

• Intake in Summer, Autumn and Spring semesters.

• All subjects are offered every semester.

• PLT subjects can be taken either via on-campus or off-campus

(distance) modes.

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MODES OF STUDY

• Students may choose their preferred mode of delivery on a subject-

by-subject basis.

• PLT is offered by on-campus (standard) and off-campus delivery

(distance or block). Block off-campus is defined as off-campus study

with some limited compulsory on-campus attendance.

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MODES OF STUDY FAQS

Are assessments the same in both delivery modes?

For the most part, yes. Where on-campus students have seminar presentation

requirements, distance students will be assessed on participation in online

discussion groups, etc.

As an off campus student, do I have to attend on-campus intensives?

Yes you will be required to attend face-to-face instruction and assessment for the

subjects, Legal & Professional Skills, and Litigation & Estate Practice.

Can I undertake off campus PLT subjects while overseas?

Yes, so long as you can attend the compulsory on-campus components (1-2 days

per semester for Distance subjects).

If I am an off campus student do I have to come into UTS to undertake the

formal subject examinations?

If you reside in Sydney then yes you are required to attend the formal

examination for Transactional Practice at UTS. If you will be based outside

Sydney, you can apply to undertake the examination for this subject at an

external location.

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SUMMER SESSION 2015/2016

We will offer PLT in Summer in off-campus/block mode only with only

2 compulsory attendance days and optional workshops.

Students may elect to undertake any or all of the following subjects

provided you meet progression requirements:

75424 Legal and Professional Skills

75423 Litigation and Estate Practice

75422 Transactional Practice

75411 Practical Experience

Enrolment for Summer session 2015/16 opens 6/10/15.

Dates for assessments and compulsory attendance

requirements for summer session will be available online

closer to the end of the year.

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HOW TO APPLY

UTS Students

• submit a Direct Application Form available from the Haymarket Student Centre (free to apply for UTS students).

• No academic transcript required

Students from other Universities:

• By attending a UTS:LAW Postgraduate Information Evening and submit a direct application at no charge

• Need to bring an original transcript or certified copy

• via the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) (UAC application fee $62)

• No transcript required, UAC will access your results

electronically

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APPLICATION DEADLINES

Summer session 2015-2016 (begins Monday 30 November 2015)

• Applications open 3 September 2015

• Applications close 30 October 2015

Autumn semester 2016 (begins Monday 7 March 2016)

• Applications open 3 September 2015

• Applications close 29 January 2016

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PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE MONICA READE ACADEMIC SERVICES MANAGER

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PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE – 75411

• Practical Experience (PE) is a 0 credit point subject and is a

component of the PLT Program. It is a compulsory requirement of

the LPAB.

• PE requires every student undertaking the Practical Legal

Training program to complete 16 weeks (80 days at a maximum

of 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday) of practical experience

with an approved Supervisor.

• A maximum of 10 weeks (50 days) of work experience may be

undertaken in the 18 months prior to the commencement of

studies in the semester in which students are actively enrolled in

the subject Practical Experience (75411).

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PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE – 75411 (CONT.)

• When enrolling in Legal and Professional Skills, you may also

enrol in Practical Experience.

• Students have 2.5 years from the semester that their enrolment in

Practical Experience commences to complete all 16 weeks (80

days) of their approved placement. For example, if a student

enrols in Practical Experience in Autumn 2015, they have 2.5

years from Autumn 2015 to complete this subject. Failure to do

so will result in a fail grade recorded against the subject.

• NOTE: the 2.5 years refers to domestic students. International

students please contact the Student Program (Practical

Experience) Coordinator.

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• For assessment of accrual of practical experience:

• Full time study in the PLT program is considered more than 18

credit points. Full time students (on- and off-campus) can accrue

up to 14 hours of practical experience per week while undertaking

the academic component of the course. (Monday to Friday only,

maximum 7 hours per day)

• Part–time (18cp or less) students (on- and off-campus) can accrue

up to 35 hours of practical experience per week while undertaking

the academic component of the course (Monday to Friday only,

maximum 7 hours per day).

• For enquiries Law.PE@uts.edu.au

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PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE – 75411 (CONT.)

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PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE – 75411 (CONT.)

For more information:

• Practical Experience Rules

• Form 1 (“Application for Practical Experience Placement Approval”)

• Form 2 (“Notification of Completion of Practical Experience Placement -

Supervisor’s Report”)

Introduction to Practitioner Supervisors.

All forms are accessible on the UTS:Law website (accessible here).

NB: PE forms must be submitted in original to the UTS:Law Student

Programs Coordinator by COB the Wednesday prior to each PE Committee

Meeting.

A list of 2016 PEC meeting dates will be made available on the UTS:Law

website (accessible here) in November ‘15.

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law.uts.edu.au

Q & A

If you require further detailed advice

specific to your needs, please contact:

UTS Haymarket Student Centre:

Block C, Level 1 (just near the Art of Food Café)

Phone: 1300ASKUTS

Email: http://ask.uts.edu.au