Practical Experience

Depending on Stream selection, a student must complete:

1. Stream A - 65 days of Practical Legal Training under the guidance of a Supervisor; or 
2. Stream B - 20 days’ Practical Legal Training under the guidance of a Supervisor.

The conditions and requirements for all days are set out in the Practical Experience Rules and can be found here:

• Rules for students enrolled into subject Practical Experience  (PDF, 207 KB)

The Faculty has developed a webpage to advertise potential Practical Experience opportunities for students:

• Practical Experience Placement Opportunities

In addition, UTS students can search and apply for practical experience positions which suit their expertise and interests via the following webpages:

• CareerHub
• PLT and Practical Experience Forum on Canvas
• The City of Sydney Law Society offers student members assistance finding practical experience placements. Please email your enquiry about practical experience opportunities to info@sydneycitylawyers.com.au; and,
• UTS Law Job Alerts Webpage.

These agencies take PLT students for approved work experience. Each one offers comprehensive and structured immersion with the law, its application and implementation. At each agency, students will learn from highly competent and professional lawyers who are committed to training the next generation of lawyers. Vacancies are advertised via the channels set out above and are posted in Canvas PLT Noticeboard. These are unpaid positions.

Ensure both you and your supervisor read and comply with your relevant rules and read through the following information:

• Introduction for Practitioner Supervisors for Practical Experience (PDF, 148 KB)

Note: the practical experience rules must be reviewed before commencing a placement or when considering a period of work already attended. Your supervisor, upon verifying your details, confirms they're eligible according to the rules relevant to your placement and study plan.

Once enrolled in either Practical Experience subject in My Student Admin, students can access the Practical Experience Workflow via CareerHub. CareerHub is a platform for UTS students to track the practical requirements of their courses, such as PE. When you enrol into this subject you will receive a welcome email covering:

• an introduction to CareerHub
• a Link to our CareerHub Practical Experience workflow walkthrough video
• information about managing your application to the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB); and,
• when to expect your Dean's Certificate for application to the LPAB.

You are required to submit two digital forms for each supervised placement:

• Practical Experience Registration (Form 1); and,
• Practical Experience Log (Form 2).

Practical Experience Registration (Form 1)

This submission provides us with details of your proposed or previous placement(s). Your submission details are sent to your supervisor for verification. They must action this email and conditionally approve your placement before it's assessed by the Practical Experience Committee. It's your responsibility to check they do this; steps are provided in the email they receive. You'll receive an email notification of the outcome.

In this submission we require:

• your enrolment details
• dates of your supervision period
• details of your supervisor
• details of your supervisor's organisation; and,
• details of your supervisor's practising certificate.

Practical Experience Log (Form 2)

This submission provides us with the dates you worked in your supervised placement. This submission goes through the same verification and approval process as Practical Experience Registration (Form 1). 

In this submission we require:

• your enrolment details
• supervisor's contact details
• name of organisation; and,
• Activity Log (PDF, 146 KB) (also available as PDF download in the 75411 Law Practical Experience workflow).

Multiple placements and supervisors

If you have more than one placement:

• Each supervisor and organisation requires a Practical Experience Registration (Form 1) and Practical Experience Log (Form 2).
• If you have two supervisors at the same organisation you need to treat them as totally separate placements.
  • For example: If Jane Smith from Law Organisation supervises you for 20 days, and John Smith from Law Organisation supervises you for 45 days, you are required to submit one Practical Experience Registration (Form 1) and one Practical Experience Log (Form 2) for each supervisor.

If you have already completed legal work before you commence your PLT course at UTS, and you’re enrolled in 75411 Practical Experience in Stream A, you're eligible to have these  days recognised as part of your total 65-day practical experience requirement. There is a cap on the amount of days you can accrue in this way. Refer to the rules which relate to your study plan for more information.

• The approval process is the same as STEP 4. You can submit both a Practical Experience Registration (Form 1) and a Practical Experience Log (Form 2) at the same time for assessment by the Practical Experience Team.
• If you do this, make sure your supervisor actions both emails attached to the forms. It is common that only one is actioned as it looks like a double up communication.

Note: If you have already accrued days before you start subject (75411) Practical Experience, and you will continue with that placement to complete all required days once the session commences, treat these days as one placement and submit your Practical Experience Registration (Form 1) with dates that include the entire duration. Then submit your Practical Experience Log (Form 2) once you have completed all required days. There is no need to submit what you did before the session as a separate submission to the days during, or after, session if you are remaining at the same organisation and with the same supervisor.

Once you have gained approval for all days you can submit Assessment task 1: Reflective Journal through CareerHub. You'll be able to access this form in your CareerHub workflow once you have:

• confirmation that your final Practical Experience Log (Form 2) has been approved; and,
• that your workflow’s total days requirements show as complete.

Once your reflective journal has been approved, you'll be notified via email. This email encourages you to go back to CareerHub and read through both the resources stages and the "Congratulations and Next Steps" stage. Doing this provides you with:

• an understanding of the types of documentation you need to apply to the LPAB; and,
• knowledge of when and how you can expect to get the documentation.

Note: the Congratulations and Next Steps stage is only accessible upon confirmation your reflective journal is approved. 

• Do not submit a Reflective Journal through Canvas, it will not be assessed.

Completion

You will receive an email confirming your completion of subject PE, and that a Dean’s Certificate has been mailed to the LPAB. This will occur once:

• You have completed and passed all subjects in the course. 
• The release of results date has passed for the last session on your study plan.
• Your reflective journal is approved; and,
• You have gained approval for all required days for PE in accordance with the rules relevant to your study plan.

If you require a copy of this certificate, please reply to the email and ask for one. 

Results

• Your results will be updated on the UTS Principal Dates Release of Results date for the session you are enrolled in PE, if you complete all components of PE 10 days prior to the release of results date.
• If you complete PE after this date, your grades will manually be changed within 10 business days of your Reflective Journal approval.
• If you have not finalised your results 10 days before the Principal Dates Release of Results, your enrolment for PE will be changed to “Results Pending” until all documentation is submitted and approved.

To apply to the LPAB you will need from UTS (information taken from Guide for Applicants for Admission as a Lawyer in NSW):

• Evidence of completion of PLT; and,
• Evidence of completion of Australian law course.

Evidence of completion of PLT

Upon your PLT course completion, UTS Faculty of Law supplies a copy of your Dean’s Certificate directly to the LPAB via email. This acts as your “Evidence of completion of PLT". For example, if you complete a Bachelor of Laws and finish PE in your second last session, your Dean’s Certificate will not be sent to the LPAB until you have completed your last session and satisfied all credit point requirements.

Evidence of completion of Australian law course

This is your academic record. The LPAB only accept an academic record provided via My eQuals. To obtain this you can either:

• Wait until your degree is conferred for a free copy, check the conferral schedule on UTS's graduations webpage; or,
• Purchase one directly from the Student Centre.

The second option is useful for students whose conferral dates don't provide enough time to supply documentation to the LPAB for their desired admission ceremony date. This purchase can be made when results are finalised for all subjects and your academic record lists your degree as "complete". Get in touch with the Student Centre for any academic record questions.

International students

Please read through your relevant rules carefully as your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) date should be used to determine when your results must be finalised. Reach out to the Practical Experience Team if you need clarification on the processLaw.PE@uts.edu.au

If you have completed Practical Experience and require an academic report under the rules for admission with the LPAB, then please submit details of your request to Law.PE@uts.edu.au that includes your:

• Full Name,
• Date of Birth; and,
• Student Number.

Keep in mind that your degree must be completed and all results finalised before a conduct report is requested. Conduct reports prepared beforehand won't meet LPAB requirements, as it can't speak to the full duration of your course. Conduct reports are only valid for 6 months, so please request when you're preparing documentation for your application.

N.B. Please allow a minimum of 10 working days for your conduct report to be processed. This process cannot be expedited. If you have any questions, get in touch with Law.PE@uts.edu.au

The UTS Faculty of Law is grateful for your interest in supervising one of our students. The following information addresses the most frequently asked questions to best assist legal practitioners offering placements with our students:

• Introduction for Practitioner Supervisors Letter (PDF, 148 KB)
• Practical Experience Rules  (PDF, 207 KB)

INSURANCE COVER

Practical Legal Training students within approved placements are covered by UTS insurance. Upon request, the Practical Experience Committee can provide UTS indemnity and public liability certificates. Please email Law.PE@uts.edu.au for queries relating to this.

ADVERTISING A PLT POSITION AT UTS

CareerHub is our free online portal where you can advertise PLT opportunities to UTS students. Through CareerHub, vacancies can be viewed by students and recent graduates. If you require assistance with your advertisement, please get in contact with industry@uts.edu.au. Please note there is no charge to advertise part-time, casual or internship roles.

FEEDBACK

We welcome feedback on your experience as a supervisor.  Please contact the Director of Professional Programs, Maxine Evers, to discuss your experience.

Practical Experience Team 

Law.PE@uts.edu.au

Director of Professional Programs (previously Head of PLT), Associate Professor Maxine Evers

 Maxine.Evers@uts.edu.au

Director (Students), Maria Abertos

Available for appointments via Law.STUDENTReception@uts.edu.au