how much is a law conversion course

by Floyd Stroman 8 min read

How much does a law conversion course cost? Well it depends on where you take the course and whether you do it part time or full time, but on this page we aim to give you a general idea of how much you can expect to pay. Essentially it’s like adding another year onto your academic fees, and can cost anywhere between £7,000 and £11,000.

Full Answer

Is the law conversion course competitive?

How much does the GDL cost? Fees vary depending on where you choose to study. For example, a full-time course at the University of Law costs between £9,850 and £12,250 depending on which campus you study at. City, University of London charges £12,200 for its full-time GDL, while Birmingham City University School of Law charges £5,900.

Can a non-law student do a law conversion course?

Law Conversion Course Structure. The structure of the law conversion course varies from provider to provider, but generally, the course is formed by a combination of lectures and tutorials. GDL students generally have 14 contact hours per week on full-time UK GDL courses, with significantly fewer hours on part-time courses.

How much does a law degree cost in the UK?

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 ...

What is the GDL (law conversion course)?

How long is a law conversion course UK?

one-yearWhat is the GDL? The Graduate Diploma in Law, known more widely as the GDL, is a one-year full time law conversion course (or two years part time) which brings students up to date with the knowledge they need to become a lawyer. The course may also be referred to as the Common Professional Exam (CPE).

How long is a conversion course?

Full-time, these law conversion courses fit a three-year qualifying law degree into one year. When studied part-time, these courses span two years.Dec 17, 2021

Is a conversion course good?

Conversion courses are great options for students who have had a change of heart and now want to focus on a career which may be unrelated to their initial field of study.

How much does a law conversion cost UK?

Fees vary depending on where you choose to study. For example, a full-time course at the University of Law costs between £9,850 and £12,250 depending on which campus you study at. City, University of London charges £12,200 for its full-time GDL, while Birmingham City University School of Law charges £5,900.

Is a law conversion course hard?

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.

Can I take a law conversion course?

The GDL is specially designed as the conversion course into legal study. It is one of the pathways into practice for non-law graduates. If you have completed an undergraduate degree in a non-law field and want to study law at a postgraduate level you'll first need to complete this conversion course.

Is it better to do a law degree or law conversion?

Studying law is the quicker way to a legal career. To put it simply, completing a conversion course takes up more of your time, while navigating the fairly complicated field of vacation scheme and training contract applications is arguably easier to do from a law degree.Oct 22, 2013

Is it worth doing a law degree?

A law degree is a great qualification to obtain employment – law graduates have the 6th highest employment rate - and bear in mind up to 60% of all law graduates chose to use their law degree to gain jobs other than in the legal profession.

Is a GDL better than a law degree?

You might consider the LLB if you want a less intensive academic experience and would like extra time to apply for vacation schemes and training contracts. The benefit of the GDL is its shorter timeframe - it enables you to complete the course in half the time and save considerably on costs.Jan 12, 2021

How do I become a solicitor without a law degree?

You can become a lawyer without a law degree. Once you have completed your undergraduate degree, you will need to complete a 1-year law conversion course known as a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)or Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), which is mainly exams-based.Jun 30, 2021

Is the GDL being scrapped?

After September 2021, the GDL will cease as a qualification route and you'll need to take an SQE1 preparation course. For non-law graduates, qualifying under the new system may look something like this: study for a three-year non-law degree. take an SQE1 preparation course.

How long does it take to become a lawyer UK?

six yearsHow long does it take to become a lawyer? If you study full time, it will take about five or six years to qualify as a solicitor. This includes a three-year law degree, the SQE assessments and two-years of qualifying legal work experience.

College of Law

The fees do seem to vary a lot depending on where you take your GDL course. For example in London the GDL fees are as much as £9,310. In other major cities like Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol it costs £7,370. The cheapest location seems to be York and Chester at £6,930.

BPP Law School

BPP Law School are slightly more expensive than the CoL, but not by much. For the London school it costs £9,400 and in Birmingham, Bristol and Cambridge it costs £7,620. Dublin, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester are all slightly cheaper at £7,510. Doing the course over two years at BPP costs exactly the same – you literally don’t pay extra.

Kaplan Law School

Kaplan Law School also provides the GDL course in London, London Bridge for £8,850 (2012/2013 fees). The fees include all of the textbooks and course manuals required. A graduate LLB will be gained if the LPC or BPTC is taken at Nottingham Law School. Scholarships are also available.

University

Each university will set the price of their law conversion course. Some universities may offer a discount if all the fees are paid straight away. This is speaking from a personal experience with the University of Birmingham from which I received a 5% discount. Here is a list of the course fees for several universities.

What are the core areas of law?

What will I study? During the law conversion course, you will study the seven core foundational areas of law. These are: 1 European Union law 2 Equity and Trusts 3 Public Law (including administrative law, human rights and constitutional law) 4 Land Law 5 Contract Law 6 Tort 7 Criminal Law

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 a GDL?

What is the GDL? The Graduate Diploma in Law , known more widely as the GDL, is a one-year full time law conversion course (or two years part time) which brings students up to date with the knowledge they need to become a lawyer. The course may also be referred to as the Common Professional Exam (CPE).

What is a lawyer lawyer?

Barristers specialize in courtroom litigation and advocacy. They are independent and so can work on different sides in legal disputes. 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.

Where is Chloe from?

A Content Writer for TopUniversities.com, Chloe has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Reading and grew up in Leicestershire, UK. She enjoys writing articles about a wide range of topics for a student audience.

How long does it take to get a law degree?

Courses take two to four years.

What is a law degree?

Qualifying Law degrees and Law conversion courses include the core knowledge required for trainee lawyers. Broadly, they cover the foundations of legal knowledge and teach skills such as legal research. They prepare you for the next level of vocational training for becoming a solicitor, barrister or advocate, or chartered legal executive.

How to become a solicitor in 2021?

From autumn 2021, the requirements to become a solicitor will change, with a new two-stage Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). For this pathway, as a trainee solicitor, you’ll need: 1 A degree in any subject, or equivalent qualification 2 To pass the SQE 1 and SQE 2 examinations 3 Two years’ qualifying work experience (which can be part of your degree) 4 To pass the SRA's character and suitability requirements

When will the SQE be introduced?

The introduction of the new SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination) in England and Wales after 1 September 2021 is likely to bring changes to exempting Law degrees – contact the university for details.

What are the three legal systems in the UK?

There are regulators for the different types of lawyer in the UK's three separate legal systems: England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Each regulator decides the training required to qualify as a lawyer for the profession (solicitor, barrister, etc.).

Does Scotland have a separate legal system?

Scotland has a separate legal system and therefore the fundamentals of law differ. You must take exams in the subjects specified by the Law Society to continue onto the vocational qualification. Non-Law graduates can take an accelerated Scots Law degree. Those working in the legal sector can complete a ‘pre-PEAT training contract’.

What is an ELD in law?

These combine a Law degree with the vocational Legal Practice Course (LPC) currently required for solicitors, or more rarely include a Bar training course as required by barristers. These qualifications are designated as a master’s degree – but you can get undergraduate student finance for all years of study.

Flexibility

I thought studying a non-law subject was the right choice because it gave me more flexibility, when in fact the opposite is true. Studying an LLB gives you options.

The Benefit of a Different Perspective

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.

Legal Knowledge

I would concede that, although the GDL tries hard (particularly at places like City University ), it does not offer the same academic rigour of a law degree. GDL students have only one year, which in practice boils down to about eight months of teaching, to get you up-to-scratch on the fundamentals of the seven core legal areas.

image

Overview

  • Qualifying Law degrees and Law conversion courses include the core knowledge required for trainee lawyers. Broadly, they cover the foundations of legal knowledge and teach skills such as legal research. They prepare you for the next level of vocational training for becoming a solicitor, barrister or advocate, or chartered legal executive.
See more on thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk

What Are Qualifying Law degrees?

  • QLDs can be designated as an LLB – Latin for Bachelor of Law – or sometimes a BA or BSc if combined with another subject (such as Criminology or a language). There are full-time and part-time options, as well as distance learning. In some cases, Law degrees with foundation years are available if you don't meet the entry standards for direct undergraduate entry. QLDs can be long …
See more on thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk

What Are Law Conversion Courses and Graduate Qualifying Law Courses?

  • On completion of a Law conversion course, you can start your vocational training to become a solicitor, barrister or advocate, or chartered legal executive. Again, there are different systems for different countries.
See more on thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk

Regulation and Changes After 2021 in England and Wales

  • The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Bar Standards Board (BSB) are moving to a new system where they no longer formally approve Law degrees and graduate Law courses. Check with universities whether courses meet the requirements for training as a barrister or solicitor in England and Wales. From autumn 2021, the requirements to become a solicitor will change, wit…
See more on thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk