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student experiences
Camilla della Giustina
Academic Researcher, Graduate Diploma in Law student
Hi, I’m Camilla Della Giustina. I am taking the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) with the College of Legal Practice to develop my legal knowledge specific to the UK, as I studied for my undergraduate Law degree in Italy. I also work full time as an academic researcher.
Finding The College of Legal Practice
When I decided I needed to build on my knowledge of UK law to become a solicitor in the UK, I needed to find an academic course that was online and flexible. I work full time as a researcher, so it had to work around that.
The College’s GDL course is ideal for that. I can decide how to manage my time between employment, personal life, studying, learning, all of it.
What’s the support been like at the College?
I have found the support on the GDL to be great. I keep up to date with lecturers and supervisors, but there have also been peer Whatsapp groups that help me stay engaged with the course.
My supervisor, Charlotte Johnson, has been brilliant. She has supported me in every way and is excellent. She read my assessment pieces and provided brilliant feedback, spotted things to improve on, even down to typos! It is the best quality support I’ve ever received academically.
Reflections on the College’s GDL course
I have had a great experience from the GDL so far. The supervisors and lecturers are brilliant, as is the wider College community. We have town halls, seminars, sessions, and a fantastic network, so it’s great to make use of those opportunities to connect, network and learn.
I found the online learning platform, Canvas, is a great way to keep everything in one place. You have your calendar, inbox, news updates and work all in one place, so it’s straightforward and easy to manage the technology side of things.
Managing studies alongside full-time work
If you’re completing the GDL alongside other life commitments, like work, family and so on, you need to have very good organisational skills and time management. A graduate diploma is a very intensive course, especially around other commitments, so you have to have a clear plan, meet your deadlines, and stay totally engaged.
I also think it’s key to stay in touch with your supervisor and wider College network. Keep them updated with your progress and use them, they are a fantastic resource.