I have completed a JD in Australia and am wanting to complete the PLT program in order to practice.

However, I do not wish to undertake the PLT full-time. Rather, I would like to work alongside studying part-time, as Australian law graduates normally would.

Does anyone have experience with doing this? Is there a visa I should be looking at?

I'm eyeing a 485 visa, however it does not appear that I am eligible for either stream. The graduate stream requires a suitable skills assessment (which requires completion of PLT +admission) and the post-study stream requires your student visa to have been granted after November 2011 (my visa was granted June 2011).

I'd talk to a migration person or get legal advice on this. Sadly the stupid Australian rules on the 485 Visa means recent graduates can be ineligible. It really is asinine and people have pushed for it to be changed but it doesn't seem anything will be done.

I thought you can find a work permit after doing a JD in Australia? Has it changed?