Graduate Diploma Law

If you are a non-law graduate looking to enter the legal profession, the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) provides your starting point for graduate legal study. It takes you through the academic stages required to become a barrister or solicitor, before you then go on to either the LLM in Advanced Legal Practice (LPC LLM) or LLM Bar Training Course.

The GDL at UWE Bristol is highly regarded by both branches of the profession, and many solicitors and barristers choose this route into law, building on the knowledge they have obtained in another academic field to establish a successful legal career.

The legal grounding you need

As the first stage of your legal learning, the GDL takes you through the basics of law in England and Wales and introduces you to legal reasoning, methods and research. As well as this, you will learn how to apply your legal knowledge to the real world, giving you practical insights and skills to take into your vocational training.

Practical, practitioner-led training

The GDL is taught by a dedicated team of solicitors and barristers, who have all practised for many years, and bring their experience to bear on the course with plenty of examples, practical advice and face-to-face support.

Outstanding facilities and opportunities

You will also have access to an impressive range of facilities in our Professional Law Centre as well as the chance to hear from expert legal speakers and take part in our placement scheme. Our aim is to provide as much realism as possible and to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to move confidently along the path towards becoming qualified.

Key fact:   Recent survey's conducted by Bristol Law School found 86% of students rated the teaching on our GDL as either 'very good' or 'good' - with many saying they particularly appreciated the practical experience of the tutors and level of support given on the course.