The College of Law - a brief history
The College of Law is the UK’s longest-established specialist provider of legal education and training – we’ve been shaping developments in this field since we were established in the 1960s.
Leaders of change: 1962-1967
The College was created by the Law Society from an amalgamation of its long-running School of Law and tutorial firm Gibson and Weldon. Beginning with ‘crash courses’ for qualified legal practitioners in 1967, it has continued to provide professional development training for the whole profession.
Major breakthroughs: 1975
The College of Law submitted proposals which changed the face of legal education, recommending a 36-week Final Examination course for aspiring solicitors and a Common Professional Examination (CPE) or law conversion course for non-law graduates. It became a major provider of – and examining body for – the CPE (now known as the Graduate Diploma in Law).
New study modes: 1981
In the 1980s, the Law Society asked the College to produce a scheme for additional tuition in accounts for articled clerks, combining distance learning with one-day’s attendance at lectures. The course became compulsory for those taking the Final Examination, which meant the College was able to develop distance learning study on other courses over the coming years.
A vocational focus: 1993-1999
The skills-based Legal Practice Course replaced the Final Examination, giving students a more vocational education. Student numbers grew to around 4,500 a year by the mid 1990s. A few years later, the College severed its links with the Law Society and, when the Council for Legal Education lost its monopoly, was able to run the new Bar Vocational Course for aspiring barristers.
New opportunities: 2000-2003
The College of Law pioneered the establishment of pro bono clinics, with students undertaking legal advice work for free under the guidance of practitioners. It also forged international links, introducing young European lawyers to the English legal system for the British Council.
From strength to strength: 2003-2007
The College has remained the leading UK provider of legal education. It has restructured its Legal Practice Courses to give students more choice and won a contract to develop firm-specific LPC programmes for three top magic-circle firms - Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and Linklaters.
In 2006 the College made history by becoming the first independent institution to be granted degree awarding powers by the Privy Council. This led to the development of the College’s Bachelor and Master of Law degree programmes. We also opened our impressive London Moorgate centre – the UK’s largest corporate-specific law school.
