Is GDL a masters degree?

Asked by: Mario Prosacco  |  Last update: February 19, 2022
Score: 4.2/5 (52 votes)

Our new conversion course is the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL). The GDL is specially designed as the conversion course into legal study. ... If you have completed an undergraduate degree in a non-law field and want to study law at a postgraduate level you'll first need to complete this conversion course.

Is GDL equivalent to Masters?

GDL or LLM

The Master of Laws and a Graduate Diploma of Law are different qualifications in the field of law, but they are similar, in that they are both postgraduate legal courses.

Does the GDL count as a degree?

The GDL is a one-year course which non-law graduates aiming for a career as a solicitor must take before doing the obligatory Legal Practice Course (LPC). In effect it 'converts' your non-law degree into a qualifying law degree – for that reason it is sometimes also known as the 'conversion course'.

What type of degree is GDL?

The Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) is a Law conversion course that effectively fits around 18 months of undergraduate Law study into one intensive year. These courses often provide you with preparation for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

Is the GDL a postgraduate qualification?

The Graduate Diploma in Law/Postgraduate Diploma in Law/Common Professional Examination (GDL/PGDL/CPE) is a postgraduate law course in England and Wales that is taken by non-law graduates (graduates who have a degree in a discipline that is not law or not a qualifying law degree for legal practice) wishing to become ...

Webinar: GDL/MA Law

37 related questions found

What type of degree is PGDL?

The Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) is a postgraduate course, ideal for anyone who did not complete an undergraduate LLB degree who is looking to progress into a career in law. Upon completing the PGDL, you will be eligible to continue training as a barrister or solicitor in England and Wales.

Is GDL same as LLB?

Law conversion courses such as the GDL provide non-law graduates with a diploma equivalent to a law degree. ... Both are similar qualifications, but the graduate entry LLB allows for broader study similar to that of a first degree.

Is GDL hard?

Essentially, you'll be condensing three years worth of LLB course content into just ten months, so yes, the conversion course is likely to be difficult! Passing it takes huge commitment and academic talent, so graduating with the qualification is a great achievement.

How much do barristers earn UK?

For those with over ten years' experience, earnings can range from £65,000 to £1,000,000. Hourly rates also vary from just £20 for a newly qualified barrister in criminal law to £900 per hour for a tax specialist. As an employed barrister, you can expect to earn from around £25,000 to in excess of £100,000.

Is GDL accepted in USA?

Indeed, the GDL is actually pointless for anything in the USA. It's only useful as a conversion qualification for non-law degree holders switching to a UK legal career.

Can you become a barrister without a law degree?

A law conversion enables a non-law graduate to progress onto a vocational course to become a solicitor or barrister. ... To become a barrister, you must complete a Bar course after your law conversion, which will then make you eligible for pupillage (the final stage of barrister training).

Is GDL Recognised internationally?

A number of providers have degree-awarding powers allowing you to upgrade your qualification to an LLB, either upon successful completion of your GDL and LPC or after a summer or online course following the GDL. Unlike the GDL, the LLB gives you an internationally recognised accreditation.

Do law firms accept GDL?

The majority of firms that offer to cover the cost of the GDL are large, London-based, commercial law firms. ... They do not solely cover the cost of the GDL, but also cover the cost of the LPC and a supporting maintenance grant.

Is LLM or GDL better?

This means LL. M.s can be better for those set on a career path already, while GDLs are good for people considering many different career paths within law, in addition to being a barrister or a solicitor. While an LL. M.

Can I do LLM after GDL?

The GDL does not give you an LLB. The qualification is a Graduate Diploma in Law. However if you want to be a solicitor and go on to do the LPC, The College of Law now offers an LLM LPC, which is the regular LPC with a dissertation. If you do the LPC with the dissertation, you get an LLM.

Can you do MA law instead of GDL?

This means aspiring lawyers with non-law undergraduate degrees, who until now had few choices but to do the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), can now punt for this course instead. ... The MA Law is an ideal qualification for those students who want to learn important business skills that lawyers are renowned for.

Who Earns More barrister or solicitor?

Solicitors have a more stable income but the top barristers get paid more than most top solicitors; although the average solicitor may be paid more. Add to that the one year barristers have to spend in pupillage/deviling and the risks of taking the barrister path are higher.

Who is the highest paid barrister?

Graham Aaronson QC, Michael Flesch QC and David Goldberg QC, are, according to this year's Legal 500 of leading barristers and solicitors, the highest earners at the Bar. They are closely followed by three commercial silks, led by the Labour peer Lord Grabiner QC, who are each estimated to have earned £1.25m last year.

What is a trainee barrister called?

Pupillage. Pupillage is a one-year period of training, which is a necessary requirement before you can become a practising barrister. Pupillages are usually undertaken with a set at chambers, but can also (though more rarely) be done in-house or with the Government Legal Service or Crown Prosecution Service.

Is the GDL harder than the LPC?

Compared to the GDL, I found the LPC a lot easier as it's less theoretical and more practical so to score well you just need to focus on applying the law to the facts in front of you.

Is doing a GDL worth it?

The GDL is a good route if you want to actually enjoy your time at university by studying something that interests you academically such as history or English literature. You are more likely to be a happier person and get higher marks this way rather than studying an LLB just because you think it sounds better.

How many hours a week is a GDL?

How long does the GDL take? The course fits approximately 18 months' worth of content from a three-year law degree into one-year full time or two years part time. Each week you'll have around 45 hours of lectures, tutorials, and self-study culminating in a three-hour final exam on each subject.

Do I need GDL and LPC?

Everyone will have to do the SQE—not just non-lawyers!

As it stands, you only do the GDL if you did not complete a qualifying law degree, with LLB students progressing straight onto the LPC. However, everyone will have to do the SQE, regardless of what you've studied before.

What can you do with a GDL?

The Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), or the Common Professional Examination (CPE) as it is also known, provides non-law graduates with a gateway to a career as a solicitor or as a barrister.

Are Gdls respected?

The GDL is a fantastic way to condense essential knowledge into a year of studying. It's a route towards becoming a solicitor or a barrister, but it doesn't command much respect in any other field.