New law conversion course with “affordable” course fee
updated on 06 December 2023
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The College of Legal Practice has created a new law conversion course, which will cost £3,250, to be launched from January 2024.
Designed as the first step for non-law graduates preparing for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) is equivalent to an undergraduate degree for the purposes of the SQE entry requirements, meaning non-graduates who have “some work experience, benefiting working professionals who are looking to become a solicitor” now have an open and focused SQE pathway to qualification”.
The new programme will replace the College’s Graduate Foundation in Law but will retain a similar format. Commenting on the development, the College’s CEO Dr Giles Proctor has said: “The awarding of a diploma recognises our GDL students’ hard work completing this programme and gives the programme and our supervisors the credibility that they deserve.”
It’s a fully virtual and interactive programme, which has been designed specifically for the SQE in that it introduces multiple-choice questions and provides a foundation in law for those preparing for the SQE via a standalone course or the College’s LLM in Legal Practice. It’s offered as a 20-week full-time course or 40-week part-time programme, with various start dates throughout the year.
Find other courses offered by the College of Legal Practice via LawCareers.Net’s Courses search and take a look at our guide to SQE preparation courses.
On passing the final assessments, students will receive a recognised diploma qualification. The College is committed to helping aspiring lawyers enter the profession by providing access to affordable training and its new GDL is no exception with a course fee of £3,250.
Proctor added: “The confirmation from the SRA to me of equivalence for the GDL to meet the SQE academic requirements, is excellent news. It means that non-graduates now have an open and focused SQE pathway to qualification. I am really delighted that we can offer this opportunity to working professionals and it fully aligns with our goal of increasing access to the solicitor profession.”
The College has degree awarding powers (DAPs) due to it being registered as a higher education institution that complies with high-quality standards of teaching, learning and student achievement.
