The board proposed a shorter, two to three-week in-person capstone course
The Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) of NSW has released findings from a review of the Practical Legal Training (PLT) program.
During the release of the Discussion Paper on PLT Reform last month, chief justice Andrew Bell said the review’s goal was “to increase the quality and reduce the cost of PLT.” The paper was authored by justices Tony Payne and Jeremy Kirk with emeritus professor Michael Quinlan and outlined options for reform developed through consultations with practitioners, law schools and public sector representatives across NSW.
The results of the LPAB’s survey, which received more than 4,500 responses from recent graduates and supervising practitioners, showed mixed views on the effectiveness of current PLT delivery. Only 43% of graduates considered assignments practical and career relevant, while 40% found teaching methods satisfactory. Just 13% of respondents regarded the course as reasonably priced.
The review followed reports that the main provider, the College of Law, had accumulated reserves of about $180 million, prompting a 13.7% fee reduction to $9,200 for its base course. Despite this adjustment, cost remained a concern for many graduates who had already accrued significant education debt.
The authors indicated that PLT “is no longer fit for purpose,” citing the duplication of university coursework and limited preparation for varied areas of legal practice. They also said the 75-day work experience component was “burdensome” and often did not come with compensation; employment outcomes were limited as well.
To address these concerns, the LPAB proposed a shorter, two to three-week capstone course conducted face to face to strengthen practical skills before admission. The board also suggested expanding post-admission training through continuing professional development, spreading the cost of education and aligning training with workplace practice.
The LPAB said the review process “strongly suggests that too much is currently being sought to be achieved under the existing PLT framework with the consequence that too little is achieved in terms of meaningful skills training and education.”
Legal professionals have been invited to provide feedback on the proposals by 30 October. A public consultation session led by Bell, Payne, Kirk and Quinlan, will be held on 5 November at the Banco Court to discuss the preferred reform option and the next steps for the review.
The PLT program must be completed by all aspiring lawyers before admission to practice.
