Civics Education and Practical Legal Training under review
In March, the Society made a submission to the Law Council of Australia on Civics Education. The Society advocated for civics education as a practical access-to-justice reform: building not only knowledge of institutions, but the critical reasoning, ethics, and rights-consciousness needed for meaningful democratic participation. It argues that stronger civics education can counter misinformation and improve public discourse by grounding community understanding in core legal principles such as the right to a fair trial, the presumption of innocence, and the way that democratic and legal institutions are intended to operate.
A key advocacy theme is that civics education must be deep, properly resourced, and co-designed with educators and the legal profession to avoid becoming superficial. The Society supports educational content that builds legal capability from an early age, including everyday civil and administrative law, and that clearly explains real-world pathways so that access to justice is understood as a community-wide benefit rather than a service only for those who can afford it.
The submission also advocates for truthful and culturally safe civics education that confronts systemic racism. It frames inclusion of First Nations perspectives as essential to legitimate civic participation and long-term justice outcomes, particularly given disproportionate disengagement from schooling and its downstream effects on confidence and trust in institutions.
PLT reform consultation
The focus on education continues with proposals for reform of Practical Legal Training (PLT). Reform to PLT continues to be the subject of consultation and has attracted interest across the profession. Several concurrent reviews and consultations are underway. These initiatives commenced in 2025 in NSW, prompted by concerns that existing arrangements are costly, fragmented, and insufficiently prepare graduates for practice.
In October 2025, the Legal Practitioners Admission Board (LPAB) released a discussion paper on proposed reforms to PLT. Also in October 2025, the Legal Services Council issued a national survey to recent graduates and supervisors.
The Society provided a comprehensive response to the LPAB Discussion paper, informed by significant feedback from our Committees and Members. That response identified a long list of concerns with the current PLT offering.
In March 2026, the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) issued a 339-page Interim Report on PLT Reform outlining proposed changes to PLT in NSW, intended to commence in 2028.
The Legal Services Council (LSC) Admissions Committee and the Law Admissions Consultative Committee (LACC) have issued a Consultation Paper: Review of Practical Legal Training in April 2026, together with findings of a national survey conducted in relation to PLT.
A consistent theme was low confidence in the value, quality, and relevance of existing PLT. Most graduate respondents considered their PLT coursework was not practical or relevant to real legal work, and only a small minority regarded PLT fees as reasonable.
Cost and accessibility were central concerns. Graduates reported that PLT fees, coupled with extended and often unpaid workplace experience requirements, represented a significant barrier to entry, particularly for those employed in small firms, public sector roles or community legal services.
Both the LPAB Interim Report and LACC Consultation Paper propose a redesigned education continuum involving:
- greater integration of practical skills within university law degrees;
- a significantly shorter (potentially four weeks), predominantly face-to-face PLT program prior to admission;
- and the introduction of structured post-admission legal training in the first two years of practice.
These proposals represent a fundamental reconfiguration of pre and post admission training. The Society has received significant feedback on this proposal from Committees and Members and will provide a submission to the Law Council.
Separately, a Senate Inquiry is looking at the quality and job opportunities for Australian University graduates. The Inquiry will consider the quality of university education in Australia, the state of the entry-level job market for university graduates and whether graduates are being taught the skills that employers are looking for.