Graduate Diploma in Law GradDip

About the course

We understand that the GDL is an intensive course undertaken by graduates who may already have a busy life or be in employment.

Our course is ideally structured to meet this challenge without compromising the breadth and depth expected from a postgraduate course.

the GDL is broken down into manageable terms so you will never study more than 4 subjects at a time. This ensures your workload is maintained at a manageable level whilst allowing them you focus on your studies.

The course is structured as follows:

The GDL programme commences with a short introductory course on the English Legal System. In this module, you will be introduced to key studying skills such as legal research. You will then study the seven foundation modules of the GDL, specifically:

• Criminal Law
• Public Law
• Land Law
• Law of Tort
• European Law
• Law of Contract
• Equity and Trusts

Through the eighth module - the Independent Legal Study module – you will research another area of law, perhaps anticipating your prospective legal career path.

Why choose this course?

The School of Law has been delivering a high quality and highly regarded Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) for more than a decade.

This diploma is a conversion course enabling non-law graduates to cover the first stage of training. On completion of the course, students are eligible to progress to either the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) in order to gain the professional qualification needed to work as a solicitor or barrister respectively.

Successful completion of the GDL at the University of Hertfordshire entitles students to an unconditional place on our full time LPC programme.

Our experience in legal education is complemented by the facilities of a modern university campus. Our purpose built law court building opened in 2011 and represents a superb new addition to the de Havilland campus. It is home to our Mediation Centre and a state-of-the-art replica Crown Courtroom, as seen on BBC Television in “Silks”.

Our GDL graduates have an excellent record of academic achievement enabling them to embark successfully on a law career. This is due to the ideal structure of our course, our flexible and innovative teaching methods, staff accessibility and availability of teaching material, the stimulating environment provided by the Law School and the opportunities to learn by practicing.

Study routes

• Part Time, 2 Years
• Online - Full Time, 1 Years
• Full Time, 1 Years
• Online - Part Time, 2 Years

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

Successful completion of the GDL automatically allows you to a place on our Legal Practice Course (subject to standard student status requirements), and gain a professional qualification as a solicitor.

GDL students have the opportunity to partake in co-curricular activities such as Street Law, Advocacy and Mediation.

The course also gives you a range of transferable skills, of value in a wide range of other careers. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the University's extensive careers service.

Teaching methods

Our GDL is offered in flexible study patterns, allowing students to combine study with work or other commitments.

You may choose to study:

• over 10 months full time at two days per week
• over two years part time at one day per week

In addition to traditional campus based tuition, we also offer a wholly distance learning GDL allowing you to study either in full or part-time mode. As a distance learning student you are welcome to flex to campus based study at any time. Classes are delivered on campus two days a week on the basis of one three hour session in the morning and one three hour session in the afternoon.

Our lecturers on the GDL are highly experienced, enthusiastic and the classes are very interactive. All our classes are recorded for the benefit of our campus-based and distance learning students alike. This means that students are able to retrieve all teaching material, pause, rewind and review at any time that suits them. It also means the distance learning programme can be studied off campus, without attendance.

A typical weekly delivery includes ‘live’ podcasts of workshop classes with Powerpoint slides, plus podcasts and outline answers to workshop questions. In addition, campus-based and distance learning students participate in compulsory practice activities to support their learning, including class discussions, wikis, role plays, students’ presentations and assessment of past exam scripts.

Work Placement

A series of public law lectures runs throughout the year with prestigious key speakers and students are encouraged to attend. In 2011/2012, eminent speakers included Lord McNally, the Minister of State for Justice and Lord Dyson, who is now the Master of the Rolls.

In addition, GDL students were able to gain free admission to some of the School of Law CPD events, including the Family Law Forum lectures organised by His Honour Judge Peter Wright of Watford County Court. 7

These events provide students with valuable networking opportunities with legal professionals

Professional Accreditations

Recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Council.

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Criminal Law (GDL)

• English Legal System (GDL)

• Equity & Trusts (GDL)

• European Law (GDL)

• Independent Legal Study (GDL)

• Land Law (GDL)

• Law of Contract (GDL)

• Law of Tort (GDL)

• Public Law (GDL)

Optional

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £6,905 for the 2013 academic year

International Students

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

How to apply