Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

Students studying the Graduate Diploma in Law

Sometimes referred to as the Common Professional Examination (CPE), the GDL is a conversion programme enabling graduates in any non-law subject to convert to a career in law.

After completing the GDL, intending barristers progress on to the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) before entering the profession as pupil barristers, whilst intending solicitors progress to the Legal Practice Course (LPC) before entering the profession as trainee solicitors.

BPP's "Distinctive GDL" is designed to help you make the transition from undergraduate study to the practice of law.

BPP has thought of everything, providing excellent lecturers and tutors, an extensive range of learning materials to consolidate knowledge, coupled with spacious and comfortable surroundings to give every student the best possible chance of success.

James Elliott

Full-time GDL, London

 

Preparing you for practice

The GDL may be the first experience you have of law, so we have designed a programme offering you both a solid academic grounding and preparation for the realities of legal practice.

We believe that law is not just about learning legal rules. In addition to teaching substantive law, BPP's GDL develops the essential skills of legal analysis, research and presentation whilst practising the application of law to factual disputes - a skill which is developed through our student-centred tutorials.

Small group sessions reflect realistic legal scenarios and are based on past examination questions. This means that your examination skills as well as your legal knowledge, communication skills and commercial awareness develop as the programme progresses.

Using our first-rate library and information resources you will be introduced to the legal research skills essential to any lawyer. By the end of the programme, you will be familiar with both hard copy, library-based resources as well as electronic media such as Lawtel, Westlaw and Lexis/Nexis. Our award-winning pro bono centre offers the opportunity to gain experience in using law to help real people solve real problems.

You will receive:

  • an induction programme which assumes no prior knowledge of law
  • training on essential legal research skills needed in practice
  • individual feedback on mock assessments and extensive exam technique practice
  • a strong personal tutor support network
  • sophisticated online learning to support face-to-face teaching
  • comprehensive BPP manuals, written by BPP examiners
  • all manuals, textbooks, case books and statute books required for the programme (approximately 30 books!)
  • an opportunity to gain experience through BPP's award-winning Pro Bono Centre

Our GDL is designed to provide you with an excellent foundation for the LPC and BVC and the early years of practice as a lawyer thereafter.

The following consortium firms send their trainees without law degrees exclusively to BPP to do the GDL:

 

The Distinctive GDL

A higher proportion of students accept their offer of a place at BPP than with any other leading provider.*

The following unique features have been designed to give you a real advantage in your legal career:

  • lectures available in different formats - giving you the freedom to make use of all options:
    • live in the lecture theatre
    • as audio files for download onto your MP3 player
  • Our GDL focuses on a high number of small group sessions so that you can practice and refine your legal skills and knowledge. In fact, you'll have a tutorial every week in each subject to do so
  • the only GDL in the country to feature 'GDL Extra' - your opportunity to specialise early in areas related to practice
  • unique Company Law programme
  • valuable end of year revision sessions designed to assist you in preparing for your examinations
  • USB memory stick - loaded with electronic versions of your manuals, handbook, tutorial questions as well as your tutorial and lecture schedule

* Full-time acceptance rates calculated as a percentage of offers made in 2006.

You can study the GDL full-time, part-time or via distance learning in our Law Schools in Leeds, London (Holborn and Waterloo) or Manchester. For information on each individual study option please refer to the Essential Programme Guide.