Cardiff Law School

Graduate Diploma in Law

Why study the GDL and what does it lead to?

If you have a degree or equivalent in a non-law subject and would like to qualify as a solicitor or barrister, you can take the Graduate Diploma in Law to satisfy the academic stage of legal training in one year instead of the two or three years normally required for a law degree.  Completion of the GDL allows you to progress to the professional stage of training, either:

• the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) for intending barristers; or
• the Legal Practice Course (LPC) for intending solicitors.

The BPTC and LPC are one year courses (when taken full time), completion of which enables you to progress either to pupillage in a barristers’ chambers or to a training contract with a firm of solicitors.  

Why Cardiff Law School for your GDL?

• Flexible learning
  Apart from at the very beginning of the course, you will only need to attend the Law School on two consecutive days per week, leaving the rest of your week free for personal study and work commitments.  We know that students value face-to-face teaching, so all our tutorials will be in the Law School and you will have lots of learning and pastoral support from your tutors.  Most lectures will be delivered electronically so you can listen when most convenient for you, but you will have ample opportunity to see and speak to your tutors - this is not a distance learning course!
• Reputation and enhanced employability
  You will be part of one of the leading law schools in the country.
  Cardiff Law School:
  • has an enviable reputation for world-class research;
  • runs seven pioneering pro-bono projects in which student volunteers work on real cases under supervision from professionals.  Some of these give access to justice to people otherwise unable to obtain this.  Students can choose different levels of involvement on schemes;
  • offers a programme of careers talks from members of the legal profession and other relevant speakers to help you plan the next step of your legal career;
  • offers extra activities such as mooting, to hone your legal skills and enhance your CV;
  • has excellent links with practice and the legal profession.
• Our teaching style
  You will be taught with other GDL students and there will be more tutorial time than usual in recognition of the intensive nature of this course.  But we also recognise that you are adults with proven study skills and are able to take responsibility for your own learning.  All our tutors are professional lawyers and our ethos is one of friendly professionalism and mutual respect.
• A springboard to the professional courses
  Cardiff University is a highly regarded provider of both the BPTC and LPC courses and is the only Russell Group University to offer both courses.  You can stay at Cardiff for the whole of your legal education.  If you decide to join our BPTC you will experience time in chambers and marshalling (shadowing a judge); if you join our LPC you will have the chance to join our LPC work- placement scheme to give you a taste of practice and get your networking off to a good start.
• Cardiff
  You probably already know what a great place this is!
  
• What the GDL course includes
  • An introduction to the legal system of England and Wales
  • The seven “foundation topics”:
    • Land Law
    • Law of Contract
    • Law of Tort
    • Law of Equity and Trusts
    • Public Law
    • Criminal Law
    • European Union Law
  • an extended essay (5,000 words) on an area of law not included in the seven foundation topics.

Our proposed structure for the 2012 GDL

The following outline is subject to validation and thus might change in some respects, but we think you would find it useful to have an idea of the likely shape of your GDL year.

Before you join

On any GDL course, students are required to study and pass a short test on the basics of the English and Welsh legal system (EWLS) in order to continue with the main course.  To help you prepare for this, some directed reading will be arranged for you to read before you enrol. 

Enrolment week and the following week

Enrolment is likely to be in the week commencing 10th September.  For this week and possibly the next, you will need to come in on more than two days.  This period will include some intensive support and practice sessions on the EWLS, with the test itself likely to take place at the end of the second week.  Any student who is unsuccessful at the first attempt will be able to continue with the course on a provisional basis with two further attempts at the test during Term 1.   

The remainder of Term 1 and Term 2

The main course divides teaching of the seven foundation topics between Terms 1 and 2.  So you will study three or four topics in Term 1, with examinations on these in January.  The remaining topics will be studied in Term 2 with examinations on these topics in early June. 

Completion of extended essay    

Immediately following the June exams, there will be a few weeks allocated for completion of your extended essay.  

GDL entry requirements

Normally an honours degree (Class 2:2 or above) in a non-law subject.

Fees

No more than £7,000.

Telephone 029 2087 4941; email law-gdl@cf.ac.uk
Cardiff Law School, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX
www.law@cardiff.ac.uk/cpls