GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law)
Discussion
Bit of a random one..
Anyone done this? Considering it when I graduate in 2012 and would like to hear a few 'real world' opinions. I've heard that it's essentially a 3year LLB rolled into a single year which would mean its pretty unrelenting..is this largely true?
To qualify, I'm still unsure as to what sort of career would suit me best and am trying to get some sort of idea of the different options available...
Cheers all
Anyone done this? Considering it when I graduate in 2012 and would like to hear a few 'real world' opinions. I've heard that it's essentially a 3year LLB rolled into a single year which would mean its pretty unrelenting..is this largely true?
To qualify, I'm still unsure as to what sort of career would suit me best and am trying to get some sort of idea of the different options available...
Cheers all
I looked at GDL and spoke to a few people when considering my options last year. I settled on a 2nd senior status LLB, as the (off the record) advice I received from people in the industry said that GDL has some stigma attached to it, not so much as a fresh grad route, but I graduated with a business degree nearly 7 years ago.
Look at LLM also, I decided against this purely because of already being accepted onto LLB at Cardiff.
Look at LLM also, I decided against this purely because of already being accepted onto LLB at Cardiff.
I did the GDL after a degree in Ancient History and I was lucky enough to be in the first year where if you did the GDL and the LPC at the College of Law you were awarded an LLB.
It is unrelenting, it's a 9-5 course every day (as I recall you do get one day off a week) and it lasts for 9 months. The exams are also quite difficult as, unlike the LPC, they aren't open book and are in an extremely tight 2 week period. To be honest, they were the toughest exams I have done in terms of the amount of pressure in that period.
In response to the first reply to this topic actually the majority of employers quite like the GDL route and I think I am right in saying that it is now a 50/50 split between law and non law grads. I did a lot of work experience prior to deciding on a legal career and a lot of the people I spoke to said they wish they had done the conversion course rather than a law degree. However, you do need to do a course where the skills you'll learn are transferable to the law.
The one final thing I would say is you really need to be sure you want to be a lawyer before embarking down this road. It's expensive to go to law school and I saw the other day that Natwest are ending their professional training loan which does mean you will probably need to get a firm to pay for the GDL as part of their training contract offer or you'll have to fund it yourself via a different type of loan or your own funds. Therefore, think long and hard about whether or not you want to start the process as it can be another debt to add to any others you may have and law school isn't cheap.
Finally, competition for training contracts is really tight now and you need to get plenty of experience to show you are committed, as well as getting excellent academics.
It is unrelenting, it's a 9-5 course every day (as I recall you do get one day off a week) and it lasts for 9 months. The exams are also quite difficult as, unlike the LPC, they aren't open book and are in an extremely tight 2 week period. To be honest, they were the toughest exams I have done in terms of the amount of pressure in that period.
In response to the first reply to this topic actually the majority of employers quite like the GDL route and I think I am right in saying that it is now a 50/50 split between law and non law grads. I did a lot of work experience prior to deciding on a legal career and a lot of the people I spoke to said they wish they had done the conversion course rather than a law degree. However, you do need to do a course where the skills you'll learn are transferable to the law.
The one final thing I would say is you really need to be sure you want to be a lawyer before embarking down this road. It's expensive to go to law school and I saw the other day that Natwest are ending their professional training loan which does mean you will probably need to get a firm to pay for the GDL as part of their training contract offer or you'll have to fund it yourself via a different type of loan or your own funds. Therefore, think long and hard about whether or not you want to start the process as it can be another debt to add to any others you may have and law school isn't cheap.
Finally, competition for training contracts is really tight now and you need to get plenty of experience to show you are committed, as well as getting excellent academics.
Iceman82 said:
I did the GDL after a degree in Ancient History and I was lucky enough to be in the first year where if you did the GDL and the LPC at the College of Law you were awarded an LLB.
It is unrelenting, it's a 9-5 course every day (as I recall you do get one day off a week) and it lasts for 9 months. The exams are also quite difficult as, unlike the LPC, they aren't open book and are in an extremely tight 2 week period. To be honest, they were the toughest exams I have done in terms of the amount of pressure in that period.
In response to the first reply to this topic actually the majority of employers quite like the GDL route and I think I am right in saying that it is now a 50/50 split between law and non law grads. I did a lot of work experience prior to deciding on a legal career and a lot of the people I spoke to said they wish they had done the conversion course rather than a law degree. However, you do need to do a course where the skills you'll learn are transferable to the law.
The one final thing I would say is you really need to be sure you want to be a lawyer before embarking down this road. It's expensive to go to law school and I saw the other day that Natwest are ending their professional training loan which does mean you will probably need to get a firm to pay for the GDL as part of their training contract offer or you'll have to fund it yourself via a different type of loan or your own funds. Therefore, think long and hard about whether or not you want to start the process as it can be another debt to add to any others you may have and law school isn't cheap.
Finally, competition for training contracts is really tight now and you need to get plenty of experience to show you are committed, as well as getting excellent academics.
When finishing my Chemistry degree I did the GDL then finished the LPC last year (at the College of Law). My opinion of the GDL mirrors the above. Also that is a very good summary of what you are up against.It is unrelenting, it's a 9-5 course every day (as I recall you do get one day off a week) and it lasts for 9 months. The exams are also quite difficult as, unlike the LPC, they aren't open book and are in an extremely tight 2 week period. To be honest, they were the toughest exams I have done in terms of the amount of pressure in that period.
In response to the first reply to this topic actually the majority of employers quite like the GDL route and I think I am right in saying that it is now a 50/50 split between law and non law grads. I did a lot of work experience prior to deciding on a legal career and a lot of the people I spoke to said they wish they had done the conversion course rather than a law degree. However, you do need to do a course where the skills you'll learn are transferable to the law.
The one final thing I would say is you really need to be sure you want to be a lawyer before embarking down this road. It's expensive to go to law school and I saw the other day that Natwest are ending their professional training loan which does mean you will probably need to get a firm to pay for the GDL as part of their training contract offer or you'll have to fund it yourself via a different type of loan or your own funds. Therefore, think long and hard about whether or not you want to start the process as it can be another debt to add to any others you may have and law school isn't cheap.
Finally, competition for training contracts is really tight now and you need to get plenty of experience to show you are committed, as well as getting excellent academics.
Be sure you apply early in an attempt to get firm sponsorship.
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