Non-Law Students
WHAT IS THE GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN LAW (GDL)?
The GDL is a conversion course into legal study that people with non-law backgrounds typically undertake after their undergraduate degrees - if they want to study law at a postgraduate level or go into a career in law.
Aspiring solicitors no longer need to complete the GDL as they are able to go straight into the SQE route (more information on this can be found on the Solicitors page). However, aspiring barristers from a non-law background still need to complete the GDL before they undertake the BPC (more information on the route to becoming a barrister can be found here).
Many employers favour GDL students in an increasingly competitive legal job market. Through studying another degree subject, and building your career in another discipline, you will have gained many transferable skills. By choosing law at a later stage than some others, you are showing motivation and determination to pursue a new career.
WHAT DOES THE GDL INVOLVE?
In addition to providing non-law students with a basic foundation in legal theory, there are seven core modules covered on the course. These are:
contract law;
criminal law;
equity and trusts;
European Union (EU) law;
land law;
public law;
tort law.
You'll also have to study an eighth subject, which may be determined by the institution or a free choice from a set list. This could include:
directors’ duties;
immigration law;
legal ethics;
patent law.
HOW LONG DOES THE GDL TAKE?
The course fits approximately 18 months' worth of content from a three-year law degree into one-year full time or two years part time.
Each week you'll have around 45 hours of lectures, tutorials, and self-study culminating in a three-hour final exam on each subject.
HOW DO YOU APPLY?
Students apply in the final year of their undergraduate degree. All applications for full-time places are made through the Central Applications Board (CAB), while part-time applications go directly to course providers.
You need to submit your application as early as you can in the autumn term as there is no closing date and applications are dealt with as they are submitted. This means that the later you apply the more flexible you will have to be about where you study.
There is a registration fee of £15 for submitted applications.
HOW MUCH DOES THE GDL COST?
Fees vary depending on where you choose to study.
For example, a full-time course at the University of Law costs between £9,850 and £12,250 depending on which campus you study at. City, University of London charges £12,200 for its full-time GDL, while Birmingham City University School of Law charges £5,900.
Some courses expect you to pay a deposit when you accept your place and then you need to arrange how to pay the remainder of your fees.
IS FUNDING AVAILABLE?
Some law firm's sponsor their future trainees' studies and this will mean looking at the law firms that recruit two years in advance.
Students intending to pursue a career at the Bar can apply for scholarships from the Inns of Court.
Some law schools also provide scholarships. For example, BPP offers four postgraduate law scholarships, including the Career Commitment Scholarship worth up to £2,000 and three other full-fee awards. The University of Law also offer a variety of postgraduate law scholarships including the Business and Law First Scholarship worth £5,000, the Choose Law Scholarship, which includes full-fee awards and the Career Changer Scholarship.
You need to check with an individual institution to see what it offers.
Information found on this page was taken from: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/law-sector/law-conversion-courses
Please contact our Careers Team, which includes the Solicitors' Representative, Mo Rashwan (mr395@student.le.ac.uk) and Barristers' Representative, Ben Follows (bf105@student.le.ac.uk), for more information regarding pursuing a legal career as a solicitor and barrister respectively.
