Practical Legal Training under the microscope
The Society recently responded to the Law Council of Australia’s request for feedback on a Discussion Paper from the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) on Practical Legal Training (PLT) reform.
This follows the report of the LPAB survey of the NSW legal profession, published in April 2025, and comments of Chief Justice Bell of the NSW Supreme Court.
Justice Bell expanded on his concerns about the current PLT framework in an address to guests of a Specialist Accreditation Conference hosted by the Law Society of NSW.
The Discussion Paper proposes a preferred option for PLT reform in NSW that includes (noting the requirements in South Australia are slightly different):
- delivery of three weeks of face-to-face in-person teaching, with compulsory attendance requirements;
- a reduction in the number of days of work experience from 75 days to 15 days;
- a review of the skills and competencies needed, separating those generic skills essential for admission, and those best learned post admission;
- introduction of embedded practical legal training into Priestley 11 courses and introduction of a mandatory capstone PLT course as part of the degree program;
- the introduction of restricted practice CPD requirements taught by the relevant Law Societies, self-funded by participants or paid for by their employers; and
- a requirement for enhanced employer and supervisor involvement in mentoring.
In response to this consultation, our Members raised concerns about the current PLT model’s cost, relevance, accessibility and effectiveness. Feedback from Members emphasised the importance of maintaining high standards of training, particularly through face-to-face delivery, and ensuring that graduates are genuinely practice-ready. Comments from Members reflected on the quality of supervision, queried the financial accessibility of both the current and proposed PLT, and recommended that PLT include more training in Artificial Intelligence and Alternative Dispute Resolution and integrating more practical components into undergraduate law degrees, including through the Universities’ legal advice clinics.
The Legal Services Council has now issued a survey for a national review of PLT, and we encourage the profession to participate in the survey if you have:
- completed PLT in the last 10 years (including those who have undertaken PLT as supervised legal training or legal traineeships in states where that is available), and/or
- supervised an early career lawyer (an admitted lawyer during their initial two years of practice – the mandatory supervision period).
The Society welcomes reform efforts that enhance the transition from academic study to legal practice. The Society recognises the importance of fully understanding and analysing current PLT and supervision issues before formulating solutions, so that we ensure reforms are inclusive, durable and responsive to the evolving needs of legal practice.
Read the Society’s submission on PLT reform.