For graduates from a non-law background, our Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) is a uniquely designed law conversion course for those wanting to take the SQE to qualify as a solicitor but do not have a law degree or equivalent experience.

Our GDL programme gives you everything you need to know and puts you on a level playing field with UK law graduates.

The GDL programme has both 20-week full-time or 40-week part-time options, and you can move straight onto a SQE1 preparation course or LLM in Legal Practice at the end. You will also receive a 10% discount on all SQE preparation courses and LLM.

During the GDL programme, you’ll develop technical and practical proficiency in relation to six foundation subject areas of Law of England and Wales.

The programme begins with a module on the Introduction to Law, which is designed to help you develop the knowledge and skills that underpin, and are applied in, the foundation subjects.

You will then study the following modules:

• Contract Law
• Criminal Law
• Land Law
• Public Law
• EU Law
• Tort Law
• Trusts 

This Graduate Diploma in Law Programme is built upon and replaces the College's first law conversion course, the Graduate Foundation in Law (GFL).

Course details

Admissions Criteria

• UK undergraduate degree with minimum 2:2 classification or equivalent qualification or experience, OR 3 A-Levels (or equivalent qualification), alongside at least two years work experience in legal services (for example, as a paralegal)
• Applications are still invited from those with a third-class degree, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You may be invited to an informal interview with our Academic Team to determine suitability for admission.
• If English isn’t your first language, English language qualifications equivalent to IELTS at level 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6 in each component (writing, listening, speaking, reading). You can be exempt from this requirement if you have a qualification which is equivalent to a UK undergraduate degree which was taught in English. Please refer to our Admissions Guidance for full entry criteria details.

Click here to see our Admissions Guidance.

Credits

This programme carries 90 credits at FHEQ level 6. You need to achieve a pass in each of the 7 module to be awarded a Graduate Diploma in Law. 

Course Options

Full-time 20-week course (30-35 hours of study per week, with more hours in the first two weeks)

Part-time 40-week course (15-20 hours of study per week, with more hours in the first two weeks)

Course Fees

£3,250

A deposit is required to secure your place and you can pay via instalments, please see the fee schedule for details.

Once you have accepted your place, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on all preparation courses for the SQE and courses within the Developing Legal Professionals Programme, please see the fee schedule for details.

Timing

Go to the Course Schedule for all programme dates.

How to Apply

Applications are open for courses starting in 2024.

Frequently asked questions

Does it include an SQE prep course as well or do you need to do it separately?

The GDL is a separate programme from the College’s SQE prep courses. But it is designed to prepare non-law graduates, or those who have no knowledge of the English & Welsh legal system, for a seamless transition onto our SQE prep courses or LLM in Legal Practice.

What are the key differences between the GDL and the LLM in Legal Practice?

The GDL is a short and focused law conversion course for non-law graduates and sits at Level 6. It covers the basic foundations of law for students, that they would have covered if they had taken an undergraduate LLB.

Whereas the LLM in Legal Practice is a Masters (Level 7) programme, so next level up and allows students to study the College’s SQE prep courses as two modules, and modules on particular areas of practice in more depth. It is a much longer programme (1-2 years) and gives you a strong platform in legal practice for you to be an effective NQ solicitor.

Can I take the LLB/LLM top-up after completing your GFL course?

The admission criteria for our LLM in Legal Practice (Level 7) includes that you must have an undergraduate degree (FHEQ level 6 or above) or equivalent. The GDL is a focused law conversion course for non-law graduates and sits at Level 6. Therefore after completion you would be eligible to register for the LLM in Legal Practice or one of our SQE preparation courses.

How do you assess the GDL course? Exam or assignment?

At the end of each module, you will complete two assessments.

For the Introduction to Law module only, this will be comprised of a MCQ (Multiple Choice Question) and SAQ (Short Answer Question) assessment, and a separate assessment on legal research and analysis.

For each of the other six modules, you will have one assessment split into two parts. The two parts are a legal issues assessment and a legal scenario assessment.

What is the difference between this and other Masters conversion courses?

The GDL is for focussed, career minded students who are looking to progress quickly to start their SQE route to qualification. It is much more reasonably priced and takes less time than a full Masters course. It is also at an undergraduate level (Level 6), to reflect the “undergraduate” nature of the foundations of law content.

The College of Legal Practice’s GDL students can progress to their LLM in Legal Practice straight afterwards and will be well positioned to do so with the knowledge they’ve gained in the GDL.

Say you pass SQE1, do you need to secure a training contract in order to pass SQE2?

No, you don’t need to secure a training contract to pass SQE2. But, to become a solicitor via the SQE route, you will need two years Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), which can be done inside or outside of a “training contract”. QWE is much more flexible than a training contract as it can be done before, during or after your SQE assessments and you can undertake QWE in up to four organisations, see the College’s QWE hub for more details.

Student experiences