Why choose our GDL?
Our GDL is much more than an academic conversion course - it’s designed to meet the realities of today’s legal market and provide the practical skills to create highly marketable lawyers.
Preparing you for practice
Law firms and barristers’ chambers welcome the broad experience non-law graduates can bring to the profession. Our GDL has been designed to build the knowledge and skills essential to legal practice – to a standard that more than matches a law degree.
Through our unique ‘preparing for practice’ module you’ll develop your commercial awareness, learn about the law as it is applied in real work situations and what it’s like to work with clients in practice, not just in theory. Workshops and practice-related activities such as mooting or pro bono are designed to develop your problem solving and research skills and help you think like a lawyer
Learning by doing
You’ll benefit from state-of-the art course design and a unique blend of study methods to ensure you get the most from the course:
- dynamic workshops to put your learning into practice in a supportive yet challenging environment
- inspiring lectures to help review, summarise and advance your understanding
- multi-media resources including interactive i-Tutorials, podcasts, e-forums and online test and feedback exercises
- tutor feedback so you can assess how you are doing and how you can improve
Guidance and support
Our GDL is delivered by qualified lawyers with hands-on experience. To make sure you're fully prepared for exams you’ll be able to track your progress throughout the course via mock assessments, regular oral and written feedback, and one-to-one meetings with personal tutors. All of our tutors are also contactable by phone or e-mail, so they’re available to offer support when you need it.
Your stepping stone
If you want to become a solicitor on successful completion of your GDL, you’re guaranteed a place on our LPC as long as you apply within two years of completing the course.
If you want to become a barrister, the Bar Standards Board doesn’t allow institutions to give guarantees, but if you make us your first choice, in most cases we can offer you a place on our BVC.
The GDL isn’t just about the law though – it can also open up all kinds of doors in the wider business world.
Either way, once you’ve successfully completed your LPC or BVC at the College, you’ll graduate with an LL.B law degree without any additional study. So, as well as gaining the vocational qualifications you need to enter the legal profession, you’ll have another meaningful qualification to add to your CV and a clear demonstration of your abilities to prospective employers.
"The structure of the course is excellent. The particular methods used such as a mixture of independent study, lectures and group work definitely improves learning."
James Spencer
GDL Student 2007/08
