how long is a law conversion course

Full Answer

What is a law conversion course?

The course fits three years’ worth of law knowledge into a year and is intended for students who already have an undergraduate degree in a different subject and wish to change their career path towards law. What will I study? During the law conversion course, you will study the seven core foundational areas of law.

How long does it take to complete a law degree course?

The course fits approximately 18 months' worth of content from a three-year law degree into one-year full time or two years part time. Each week you'll have around 45 hours of lectures, tutorials, and self-study culminating in a three-hour final exam on each subject.

What is the GDL (law conversion course)?

The GDL, otherwise known as the Law Conversion Course, is a postgraduate law conversion course for non-law graduates who want to pursue a legal career. Also known as the Common Professional Examination or CPE, the Graduate Diploma in Law is a year-long intensive course for students who have graduated with a non-law degree subject.

How long does it take to complete a course?

The course takes one year if studied full time and two years part time. You'll need at least a 2:2 degree in any subject to be accepted on to a course. Applications for full-time study are made through the Central Applications Board (CAB) in your final year of undergraduate study.

Can you convert GDL to LLB?

The University of Law (ULaw) is offering its Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) students the option to upgrade to a full law degree at no extra cost. The new course will allow GDL students the opportunity bag an LLB, by completing just three additional online modules.

How long does it take to become a lawyer UK?

six yearsHow many years does it take to become a lawyer in the UK? It takes six years to become a lawyer if you choose the LLB degree route. It takes seven years if you choose the BA undergraduate degree route as you will need to complete the GDL conversion course.

Is GDL the same as LLB?

The graduate-entry LLB is a two-year, full-time course which equips you with an LLB rather than a graduate diploma. Both are similar qualifications, but the graduate entry LLB allows for broader study similar to that of a first degree.

What is a conversion course?

A conversion course is a programme of study that trains a graduate in a new subject and (usually) prepares them for a specific profession. These are often (but not always) Masters-level courses.

How old is the youngest barrister?

Cape Town– Nigeria's Esther Chukwuemeka, who was denied admission to study law at Abia State University (ABSU) due to her young age, has at 20 years old, become Africa's youngest barrister (advocate) to be called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

How much do lawyers earn a year UK?

Salaries for newly-qualified lawyers across the rest of the UK are in the region of £27,000 to £60,000. As a newly qualified solicitor in Scotland, you can expect to be paid around £30,000 rising to £38,000, depending on your area of private practice or whether you're working in house.

How hard is a law conversion course?

Essentially, you'll be condensing three years worth of LLB course content into just ten months, so yes, the conversion course is likely to be difficult! Passing it takes huge commitment and academic talent, so graduating with the qualification is a great achievement.

Does GDL make you a lawyer?

Successful completion of the GDL then qualifies you to proceed on to the LPC or BPC to qualify as a solicitor or barrister, respectively.

Can you do LLM after GDL?

What do I need to be eligible? You'll need to have an LLB (undergraduate law degree) or an equivalent approved by your course providers. If you're a non-law graduate, you'll have to have completed the GDL (law conversion course) before you take on an LLM.

Can you become a solicitor without a law degree?

You may be wondering, “can I be a solicitor without a law degree?”. The answer is that you absolutely can. One of the main changes under the SQE system is that to qualify, solicitors do not need a law degree or equivalent.

Are conversion courses respected?

Many employers find a conversion course student more attractive than someone with only a first degree. They are considered more mature and focused about what they want to do. Leaving work to return to studying demonstrates your enthusiasm for that new occupation."

What is a graduate conversion course?

A conversion course enables graduates of one discipline to acquire a qualification in a different discipline at Postgraduate Diploma and Masters Level. Having studied a particular degree you may decide that you wish to change your career path and consider undertaking a conversion programme at TU Dublin.

Who can convert to become a lawyer?

Anyone with an undergraduate, or Bachelor’s, degree can apply to join the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) in England or Wales.

What is covered in a law conversion course?

The Graduate Diploma in Law provides non-law graduates with a solid understanding of all the fundamental aspects of legal theory. It’s the foundation of your legal knowledge and the first step in your legal career.

How long does it take to convert to be a lawyer?

The GDL condenses all the content covered by an undergraduate degree in law, which takes three years to complete, into either one year full-time or two years part-time of study.

How do you apply to a law conversion course?

The GDL is provided by a number of universities across England, all of which offer a top-quality legal education covering the above core modules of the GDL.

Will I be a qualified lawyer after a law conversion course?

The Graduate Diploma in Law is a fast-tracked law degree; your first step into a legal career. However, just as undergraduates in law aren’t able to immediately go into practising law, completion of the GDL does not grant you the ability to practise law immediately.

How much does a law conversion course cost?

The £20.00 you pay to the Central Applications Board is just the first cost in your journey to converting to becoming a lawyer.

Will I be at a disadvantage over law graduates?

There’s no reason that someone from a non-law degree should be subject to any sort of discrimination or disadvantage just because they studied a non-law undergraduate course.

How many months is a law degree?

The course fits approximately 18 months' worth of content from a three-year law degree into one-year full time or two years part time.

How many modules are there in the law school?

In addition to providing non-law students with a basic foundation in legal theory, there are seven core modules covered on the course. These are:

When will the solicitors qualification be available in 2021?

Aspiring solicitors starting a degree in September 2021 will study for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), which will effectively replace the GDL and Legal Practice Course (LPC).

How far in advance do law firms recruit?

Some law firm's sponsor their future trainees' studies and this will mean looking at the law firms that recruit two years in advance.

Does the University of Law offer a scholarship?

The University of Law also offer a variety of postgraduate law scholarships including the Business and Law First Scholarship worth £5,000, the Choose Law Scholarship, which includes full-fee awards and the Career Changer Scholarship. You need to check with an individual institution to see what it offers.

How long does it take to become a barrister?

To become a barrister, you will have to complete the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). This is a one-year, practical course which helps to provide the training specific to a junior barrister. You will then have to complete a pupilage – a work placement which lasts twelve months.

What is the difference between a GDL and an LLM?

The difference between a GDL and an LLM is essentially your career aspirations. If you want to be a lawyer (a solicitor or a barrister) then you need to either complete a bachelor’s degree in law or have studied another subject at undergraduate level and completed the GDP. If you want to specialize in the legal area of the subject you have studied ...

Can solicitors deal with conveyancing?

Alternatively, solicitors can deal with conveyancing, the drawing up of wills and other legal matters. The path you decide is right for you will influence what you do next.

What is the secret of a high-pace course?

The little known secret is that the material taught is rarely complicated or difficult; it’s more a case of quantity.

Can I get rejected from law school?

For most law schools, as long as you can pay the fees (and have a 2.2 or above) you should have a place. I say this only anecdotally, but I’ve never heard of anyone be rejected from a law school upon applying for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

Is the conversion course jam packed?

As jam-packed as the conversion course is, it still only scratches the surface of law. You’ve got the LPC or BPTC to look forward to next…

What is the beauty of law conversion?

The real beauty of the conversion course route into law is that you are given the space to pursue an undergraduate degree which is free from the particulars of your future career. I am an English graduate and so spent three years pondering the realms of Shakespeare, Gothic and the carnivalesque. Law was always in the back of my mind, but I knew that I wanted to study something purely academic – something theoretical and vibrant – after school. Whilst it probably wasn’t a very principled decision at the time, with hindsight I can say that it was in fact a tactical jackpot.

What is the GDL in law?

Choose the LLB and each one of these remains open to you. The GDL is a fantastic way to condense essential knowledge into a year of studying. It’s a route towards becoming a solicitor or a barrister, but it doesn’t command much respect in any other field.

Is it easier to get a job with a law degree?

I attended dozens of interviews as a candidate with a philosophy degree, and dozens more after receiving my law degree, and there was a chasm between these experiences, and the results. Rightly or wrongly, it is much easier to get an interview, and a job, if you have a law degree.

Is there any flexibility in British jurisprudence?

Obviously, therefore, there isn’t time to dwell on the subtleties hiding in the small corners of British jurisprudence. There also isn’t any flexibility or elasticity in the course to pursue the academic topics which interest you, save for perhaps your research elective.