Why do gdl

If you manage to secure your training contract, the LPC will have been worth more than its weight in tuition fees and long study nights. Though the LPC is a postgraduate course, it is not classed as a Masters qualification. Aspiring solicitors will most frequently gain a Masters qualification in law by studying a year-long LLM course, perhaps before beginning their training contract.

Sponsorship from a Law Firm Generally, law firms will not only pay your LPC costs, but also provide you with a maintenance grant or loan to help you with your living costs while you study. The course is designed to provide a bridge between academic study and training in a law firm. Tutors rarely detect any difference between students from GDL and LLB backgrounds once they reach the penultimate stage of their training.

According to the U. You do not have to have a law degree before becoming a qualified solicitor. You do not need to have any degree before becoming a solicitor. However, that does not mean that you can become a solicitor without any recognised qualifications as that is not the case. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Ben Davis May 11, Is doing a GDL worth it? How do you get a distinction in LPC?

Is GDL equivalent to Masters? Is the GDL as good as a law degree? What comes after a GDL? What is a GDL equivalent to? How much does the GDL cost? Around half of current solicitors — and half of trainees — come from a non-law background and did the GDL. The GDL is essentially a crash law degree designed to bring you up to the required standard in the core legal subjects that are typically taught in the first two years of an LLB — that's two years condensed into one.

Taken full-time it lasts a minimum of 36 weeks and can demand up to 45 hours of lectures, tutorials and personal study each week. It's possible to take the course part-time over two years, and you'll find course providers offer a surprisingly wide range of flexible study options, from distance learning to weekends and evening-only classes.

The GDL is essentially a crash law degree designed to bring you up to the required standard in the seven core legal subjects that are typically taught in the first two years of an LLB. The standard requirement for admission is a degree from a university in the UK or Republic of Ireland. Now individual providers decide whether to admit overseas applicants.

Assessments tend to be written exams taken at the end of the academic year. These make up the bulk of your final grade, so make sure you're prepared. If nothing else, they give you an indication of your progress and the chance to receive feedback from tutors. Coursework allows for a degree of flexibility, meaning students can write about areas that aren't necessarily explored in depth on the course, such as copyright or competition law.

Depending on the institution, there is more or less emphasis on academic essays, written problem questions and practical preparation for classroom debates. Because the institutions that offer the GDL vary in perceived quality, approach and composition of their student bodies, it's well worth doing your research before you apply. City Law School and Nottingham Law School are renowned for offering more academic courses, thought to be ideally suited to students headed to the Bar.

By contrast BPP and the University of Law are packed with plenty of City types and place special emphasis on helping you gain practical legal skills. Be aware that an increasing number of City firms are appointing a particular law school as their preferred provider. Be aware that many City firms have appointed a particular law school as their preferred GDL provider.

What this means is that individuals who've won a training contract with that firm are asked to undertake the course with a certain provider. It does not mean that doing the GDL with a certain provider will get you into the firm's good books. However, going to that provider might give you the chance to attend certain events or mingle with peers who have a training contract with your chosen firm, which could give you a leg up.

If you have your heart set on doing your training contract with a certain law firm, do your research and find out whether they have a preferred provider before you apply to the schools. Try to work out a study timetable early on, and stick to it. That said, it's important that you gain an overall understanding of how the law works, so avoid studying each subject in isolation. Perhaps the best use of your creativity is to come up with amusing ways of remembering case names.

Above all else, attend classes! 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. Discover more about funding postgraduate study.

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