Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) (Distance Learning)

Course Details

This course will enable you to enter the legal profession if you do not have a first degree in law. Delivered through our Virtual Learning Environment, this qualification and our LLM Qualifying Law Degree cover the key foundation subjects needed to complete the academic stage of your training to become a solicitor or barrister as required by the major professional bodies in law.

Changes to legal education and training

Legal education and training are currently under detailed review by professional regulators in the legal sector. The review will examine the routes currently open and the qualifications required to become a solicitor or barrister and includes a reflection on changes to and removal of existing routes, as well as the possibility of establishing new ones.

Currently, students can complete a qualifying law degree, the Graduate Diploma Law (GDL) and then the Legal Practice Course (LPC) to qualify as a solicitor or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) to become a barrister; this will remain unchanged until August 2020 for solicitors and August 2019 for barristers.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Bar Standards Board (BSB) have issued a common protocol for guidance.

Course Benefits

You will learn using our Virtual Learning Environment, supported by academic staff with extensive teaching and legal experience. Choosing to study this flexible distance learning course enables you to fit your learning around your current lifestyle and commitments.

Leeds Law School regularly welcomes guest speakers in prominent legal positions and you will be able to access their lectures digitally if you are unable to attend on-campus. You will be able to hear from experts like Catherine Dixon, Chief Executive of The Law Society for England and Wales, discuss what the future might have in store for the solicitors' profession.

Our Careers Service is on hand to support you with all aspects of planning your career, including writing your CV, job applications and how to make the most of industry and graduate fairs.

Distance Learning

We understand that full-time study does not suit everyone. That’s why we offer courses which give you the opportunity to decide where, when and how you can get involved in learning. Studying a distance learning course offers the convenience and flexibility to make education work for you. Whether you’d like to fit your studies around childcare, develop your skills while working or, quite simply, want to learn from the comfort of your own home, we can help you gain a qualification at a time and pace that suits your lifestyle.

Like our students on campus, you will have the same excellent teaching and learning resources, however, you’ll find these online instead of in a lecture theatre. Not only are all the modules taught online, but you will also have access to an online community and more than 140,000 books and journals in our online library.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should either have at least a second class honors degree or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment.

All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; a template can be accessed at this link, please note references should be accompanied by a covering letter on headed paper or emailed directly by the referee.

All applicants should satisfy our University English language requirements, please access further details at this link.

English Language Requirement: IELTS 6.5 with no skills below 6.0, or an equivalent qualification. The University provides excellent support for any applicant who may be required to undertake additional English language courses.

MATURE APPLICANTS

Our University welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. We usually require some evidence of recent academic study, for example, completion of an access course, however recent relevant work experience may also be considered. Please note that for some of our professional courses all applicants will need to meet the specified entry criteria and in these cases work experience cannot be considered in lieu.

VERIFY YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

If you are an international student, we can help you to compare and verify your qualifications. Please contact our International Office on +44 (0)113 812 1111 09.00 to 17.00 Mon-Thurs / 09.00 to 16.30 Fri GMT or email internationaloffice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS?

Don't worry if you don't have the level of English required for your chosen course. We offer a wide range of courses which have been designed to help you to improve your qualifications and English language ability, most of which are accredited by the British Council.

Job Prospects

On successful completion of this course, you are able to proceed to the next stage of legal training. If you wish to qualify as a solicitor, you will be able to begin the Legal Practice Course. If you intend to become a barrister, you can apply for a place on the Bar Professional Training Course. By completing a top-up dissertation you can be awarded a masters in law.

• Lawyer
• Legal advisor
• Solicitor

Careers Advice

Our dedicated Jobs and Careers team offers expert advice and a host of resources to help you choose and gain employment. Whether you're in your first or final year, you can speak to members of staff from our Careers Office who can offer you advice from writing a CV to searching for jobs.

Teaching and Learning

Leeds Law School works with a number of Distance Learning Promotion Partners who can offer advice and guidance about the Distance Learning Courses. The partners include:

• The Chancery Lane Institute for Professionals (Dubai)
• Q&A Consultants (Pakistan)
• London College of Legal Studies (Bangladesh).

Overall workload

Each module on our distance learning courses is individually designed to maximize your learning so study requirements will vary. As a guideline, you will need to allocate around 10 hours per week to complete each module plus a further five hours for additional reading and assignments. These 10 hours of teaching and learning will be delivered using a range of interactive resources, this typically includes audio and video content, group discussions, reflective exercises, quizzes, online reading and much more. All these resources are delivered through our Virtual Learning Environment and can be accessed at a time and place that suits you.

Fees and Funding

UK and EU students

The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2018/19 is £5250. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.

International students

The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2018/19 is £5250. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.

Facilities

Virtual Learning Environment

The VLE gives you access to course materials such as videos, e-books and other documents. You also use it to submit your assignments and to receive feedback.

Library and online resources

Our Library is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year, providing you with access to specialist books and journals, learning spaces, computers, multimedia facilities and media equipment hire. Tens of thousands of our Library's digital resources, including ebooks, ejournals, and databases, can be accessed online at a time and place to suit you.

Dedicated Support Team

Just because you aren't learning on campus doesn't mean you'll have to cope on your own - you'll have the support of a personal tutor along with the University's Student Hub and Wellbeing Centre. They are on hand to offer you advice about everything from academic issues to stress and anxiety.