Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) Online - Part-time

Learn to think like a lawyer with our new Postgraduate Diploma in Law conversion course. This course is the pathway into practice for non-law graduates who want to progress onto the SQE1 Preparation Course, our LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) to qualify as a solicitor or the Bar Practice Course (BPC) to qualify as a barrister. Our Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) offers you a great chance to make the transition into the legal study with excellent levels of support and guidance from our experienced, professional tutors. Not only will you learn the academic law necessary for converting to law, but you will also focus on key skills and competencies crucial for your development as a lawyer.

This course is subject to approval.

Careers support

With one of the largest legal careers services in the UK, ULaw gives you the support and opportunities you need to make the best start in your legal career.

Flexible study

Study when and where you want and access world-class learning materials, including our unique methods of online engagement and unrivalled online tutor support.

Think like a lawyer

Learn to think like a lawyer: develop practical legal skills built around real-life case studies through small group workshops and problem-based learning.

Course Requirements

UK Entry Requirements

• Students are required to possess a 2:2 or above from an undergraduate degree in any discipline or equivalent qualifications.

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English

• An English Language level equivalent to IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.

Course Structure

Required pre-course study

The Law & Constitution module requires 40-50 hours of pre-course study in Legal Method, through guided module units with all materials provided online.

Modules

The modules you’ll study during the course are:

• English Legal System and Constitutional Law (including Retained EU Law) (15 credits)
• Tort Law (15 credits)
• Contract Law (15 credits)
• Criminal Law (15 credits)
• Administrative Law and Human Rights (15 credits)
• Land Law (15 credits)
• Trusts (15 credits)
• Law of Organisations (15 credits)
• Skills and Behaviours (non-credit-bearing)

This course develops the key intellectual and personal skills required by lawyers, alongside skills required to pass professional examinations for qualification as a solicitor or barrister.

In all modules, there is a focus on combining knowledge and understanding of core areas of law with the ability to analyse, evaluate and form critical judgements about the law. The study is centred on practical activities that enable students to learn by doing. Workshops involve students completing further practice-based tasks, including an application of Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) to Single Best Answer Questions (SBAQs).

Alongside academic modules, students will engage in a Skills and Behaviours module, which allows you to recognise and develop key professional and personal attributes necessary to thrive as a lawyer in a work environment, and to manage your career.

Course Details

If you’re looking to make the change into the legal study and already have an undergraduate degree in another discipline then our online PGDL is your pathway into legal practice.

In an increasingly competitive legal job market, many employers value the combination of a non-law undergraduate area of expertise combined with a solid grounding in core legal principles and legal skills. Through studying another degree subject, and building your career in another discipline, you will have gained many transferable skills. By choosing law at a later stage, you are showing motivation and determination to pursue a new career.

With the online PGDL, you will receive regular online support and feedback on work from one of our expert legal tutors. You’ll have access to world-class learning materials, including our unique methods of online engagement, and unrivalled online tutor supervision and support.

We have made sure that you will have access to comprehensive online learning resources and plenty of professional tutor guidance, providing you with relevant knowledge and practical skills so you’ll know what to expect in real-life situations.

Why choose this course?

• Learn to think like a lawyer and develop practical legal skills through practical workshops and problem-based learning.
• Be ready to progress your legal training – go on to study the SQE1 Preparation Course and develop the skills required to answer SQE1 style legal knowledge questions or progress onto our LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) or Bar Practice Course (BPC).
• Stand-alone Skills & Behaviours module – designed to focus on key skills and behaviours necessary for practice as a solicitor or barrister.
• Explore an area of law that interests you in our Law of Organisations module.
• With one of the largest legal careers services in the UK, ULaw gives you the support and opportunities you need to make the best start in your legal career.
• Taught by qualified lawyers, with lectures and practical workshops to develop your legal skills, so you’ll know what to expect in a real-life work environment.
• Enjoy flexible study – choose to study online full-time or part-time.
• We also work with over 90 of the top 100 law firms.

If you choose to progress onto our BPC, you will also benefit from our excellent pupillage rate:

• 52% of our full-time UK/EEA 2018-19 BPC students graduating in 2019 have successfully secured or completed pupillage (based on student data collated in summer 2021). Previously the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC).

Our years of experience in training more practising lawyers in the UK than any other law school has helped our students go on to succeed in law, business, politics and more. We believe in training students for the real world from the moment they accept a place with us.

Course Information

Assessment

All modules will incorporate 40% examination by Single Best Answer Questions (SBAQs) to support any future progress onto the SQE1 assessment.

The other 60% will vary according to the module. These will include:

• Online open-book examination
• Coursework
• Oral presentation

Structure

• Each taught module comprises workshops and incorporates streamed lectures or media.
• Class contact time is combined with online tutorials, online Single Best Answer Questions (SBAQs) and self-study from study manuals and online research.
• The learning model is based on undertaking activities in the workshops (or equivalent online activities) to develop both knowledge and key skills.
• The Skills and Behaviours module will comprise workshops spread over all semesters.

How to Apply

• Applications for this course are now open.
• You can apply for the PGDL Online directly with the University.

Duration

• 87 weeks for September intakes
• 70 weeks for January intakes