Should Practical Legal Training Be Cut From Three Months to Three Weeks? NSW Chief Justice Weighs In

The future of how lawyers enter the profession in New South Wales could be about to change. NSW Chief Justice Andrew Bell has called for sweeping reforms to the state’s Practical Legal Training (PLT) program – the mandatory final step before a law graduate can practise as a solicitor.

NSW legal training reforms aim to make entry into the profession faster, cheaper, and more accessible for future lawyers.

Currently, the PLT runs for around three months and costs students upwards of $10,000, plus 75 days of work experience. Many law graduates report that these requirements add financial pressure and, in some cases, force them into large corporate firms that can cover the cost. This creates shortages in areas like community law, criminal defence, and legal aid.

Chief Justice Bell has suggested a radical overhaul: reducing the PLT course to just two or three weeks of in-person training and cutting the required work experience to 15 days. He has also flagged that law schools, the Law Society, and even law firms could deliver the training – creating more competition and reducing the near-monopoly currently held by the College of Law.

Why the Change?

• High costs: Students can pay more than $10,000 for the course, not including months of unpaid work experience.

• Quality concerns: Feedback from surveys suggests issues with course content, teaching quality, and even reports of cheating.

• Unnecessary duplication: Many subjects are taught both in university law degrees and again in PLT, increasing costs without much benefit.

• Barriers to entry: Students without financial support are disproportionately affected, with some starting their legal careers already burdened by six-figure HECS debts.

What the Proposed Reforms Look Like

Chief Justice Bell’s three-stage reform model includes:

1. Shifting core learning into university degrees – moving practical subjects like ethics towards the end of study, when they are more relevant.

2. An intensive PLT course – compressed into a two or three-week period, covering only core skills required for most lawyers.

3. Reduced work experience – from 75 days down to 15 days, with credit for placements completed during study.

Additionally, a system of tax-deductible short courses after admission would ensure lawyers continue to receive relevant, practical training in their specific areas of practice.

Bell has also proposed that the College of Law – which holds over $80 million in reserves – should subsidise the costs or provide bursaries to support wider access to the profession.

What This Means for the Legal Profession

If adopted, these reforms could make entry into the profession faster, cheaper, and more accessible. For young lawyers, this could mean less debt, less unpaid work, and more freedom to choose career paths outside of the big corporate firms.

For the legal sector as a whole, it could also encourage more graduates to pursue roles in under-served areas like family law, criminal defence, and legal aid – areas critical to access to justice in Australia.

So What?!

Whether these reforms are implemented remains to be seen, but the debate highlights an important point: the way we train lawyers impacts not only graduates, but also the broader community that relies on affordable and accessible legal services.

Important Note: Bane Legal Services is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We are Australia’s trusted legal matchmaker, connecting businesses and individuals with the right commercial lawyers. With over 30 years of business experience, we understand the pressures of navigating Australia’s legal landscape and can help you find the right lawyer to protect your interests.

You can read the original article from the Australian Financial Review here: Cut legal training from three months to three weeks: NSW chief justice.