Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

Yes. The Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice fulfils the Practical Legal Training requirement for admission as a practitioner by the Supreme Court of Western Australia, and is approved by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. It was also the first PLT program to be delivered by a WA university.

Students are required to undertake either 75 days (15 weeks) of work experience within a Curtin-approved legal workplace, or a 40-day (10-week) work placement at the John Curtin Law Clinic (limited places by application). All students must also complete a one-week placement with the John Curtin Law Clinic.

You may be able to start this course before completing your Bachelor of Laws in certain circumstances. Students who have less than 50 credits of optional units remaining in their undergraduate degree and have received written approval from the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia may be enrolled to commence the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice concurrently with enrolment in those optional units. You should contact Curtin.PLT@curtin.edu.au to discuss eligibility for early commencement.

This course focuses on practical learning activities and does not include any exams. Classes are delivered through regular, face-to-face seminars and workshops with experienced members of the legal profession, offered in the early evenings to help students better manage work and family commitments. Assessment extensions may also be requested if affected by work commitments outside of your control.

The course is delivered in the heart of the Perth CBD and legal precinct. The minimum duration is 33 weeks, with coursework components undertaken across three study periods, plus a workplace experience component of either 15 weeks within a Curtin-approved legal workplace or 10 weeks of clinical experience in the John Curtin Law Clinic, totalling approximately 7 months full-time.