UNSW Law, ranked 14th in the world is one of the University of New South Wales flagship faculties. UNSW's Practical Legal Training (PLT) program, the Graduate Diploma in Legal Professional Practice (GDLPP), the newest of UNSW Law's offerings is a distinctive, practice-ready program intending to seek admission to the legal profession. UNSW's innovative approach to PLT is designed to develop both practical skills and proficiency in the day-to-day practice of law and to ensure graduates don't just satisfy the competency standards for entry-level lawyers but surpass them.
The GDLPP aims to equip the next generation of lawyers to lead and reimagine the legal profession of tomorrow. The program, comprised of a combination of coursework and workplace experience has been designed from the ground up with subject matter experts from across the legal profession. The GDLPP commenced in February 2020 and has two intakes per year (February and September). The program begins with five days of practical and engaging sessions led by law experts. The sessions include innovations such as legal project management as well as the staples of practice such as interviewing, problem solving, values and professionalism, negotiation and dispute resolution and advocacy. Substantive sessions are interspersed with social functions and info-presentations by industry and regulatory bodies.
Students also complete 40 days of workplace experience, 25 of which may be recognised if completed prior to starting the PLT coursework and provided it satisfies the criteria. UNSW PLT has sourced and negotiated a number of work experience opportunities exclusively for UNSW PLT students.
UNSW PLT also offers an innovative alternative to Workplace Experience 2, the Practicum, offering opportunities to acquire additional specialised experience, skills, and knowledge with the guidance of UNSW PLT. The Practicum involves areas of innovation, wellbeing and transformative lawyering (with a UNSW PLT consultant psychologist), or specialised social justice, through a combination of placements, simulated workplaces, technical learning spaces, law-related projects, continuing legal education and structured reflective practice.
Students also receive support from the Law Careers team including access to one on one career counselling with experienced lawyers, an exclusive Jobs Board which includes positions only available to UNSW students and online resources to help students identify the best career pathway and apply for their dream job.
The GDLPP in a recent survey conducted of its first intake of students received a satisfaction rate of over 90%. Graduates from UNSW Law are actively recruited by national and International law firms because of UNSW Law's reputation for providing the best education and preparation for students transitioning to careers in the legal profession and beyond.
For more information please see: https://www.law.unsw.edu.au/unsw-plt-brochure