Law Conversion Course

flick1988

Is there anybody else out there who is taking this route? I am doing an English degree and hoping to do a Law conversion at a London University - but it is not a very widely discussed option and I am unsure whether it is the right thing to do. :confused:

Reply 1

Posh Portia Kabine

I know some firms in the City fund these conversion courses; you apply for a Training Contract (provided that you want to be a solicitor - I'm assuming) whilst doing your non-law degree and if you get an offer they will pay for the conversion (GDL/CPE) and give you maintenance funds and fund the fees for the LPC. You can also apply to do Vacation Schemes at Law firms (week or 2 weeks long) - but I think that is in your final year. Other than that, as much legal work experience as possible!

Reply 2

Alan Smithee

flick1988

Is there anybody else out there who is taking this route? I am doing an English degree and hoping to do a Law conversion at a London University - but it is not a very widely discussed option and I am unsure whether it is the right thing to do. :confused:

What do you want to know exactly?

Reply 3

Franc Vouloir

11

I'm considering applying for a few Magic Circle Training Contracts while studying either English or Philosophy. It'll be a long shot, but, hell, it's not like I'm going to pay to study law. :P

Reply 4

flick1988

OP

I just wanted to know if anybody else was taking this route and how to go about it, as information is not that widely available.

Reply 5

Alan Smithee

It looks, from your sig, as if you haven't even started uni yet. By 2010 (when you finish) things could be different. What specifically do you want to know? If you want to enter the legal profession, the GDL is a requisite, end of.

Reply 6

silence

16

hey you! i'm looking to do law after english at birmingham. i don't think the conversion courses tend to be done at universities as such. if you do it in london, it will be at a college of law. you can do these conversion courses at some unis (nottingham trent for example), but if in london it won't be at a university as such, rather a college like i said (e.g. BPP).

i was actually considering doing a degree in law afterwards, but it seems it would be a waste of time. get a 2:1 or higher for english at bham, do the conversion course and you should have some very promising options.

when you get to uni there'll be a careers centre for you to visit and they'll give you loads of advice. also, there's the law fair where all firms big and small come to visit - you'll be able to ask solicitors there about the options you could take.

Reply 7

Alan Smithee

silence

hey you! i'm looking to do law after english at birmingham. i don't think the conversion courses tend to be done at universities as such. if you do it in london, it will be at a college of law. you can do these conversion courses at some unis (nottingham trent for example), but if in london it won't be at a university as such, rather a college like i said (e.g. BPP).

Not strictly true.

City, Westminster and London South Bank universities all offer the GDL.

Reply 8

always + forever

1

I've just finished my law conversion: it has been a long and tough year!!

This website : link has lots of great information for people who are just starting to think about a legal career. In particular, if you look under 'solicitors' career path' (or something similar) you will find more about the law conversion. But in short: it's pretty much a standardised course. Where you go is not anywhere near as important as where you did your undergraduate. There is a list of providers on this site here

They're not ranked as universities are, but I think they do have 'starred ranking' which reflects their teaching quality etc.

Reply 9

mousy

14

how difficult is it for non-law undergrads to get work experience in law, surely it would all go to those studying law degrees?

Reply 10

Alan Smithee

mousy

how difficult is it for non-law undergrads to get work experience in law, surely it would all go to those studying law degrees?

It is difficult, but doable. You can only try and find out for yourself!

Reply 11

mel_ma

always + forever

I've just finished my law conversion: it has been a long and tough year!!

This website : link has lots of great information for people who are just starting to think about a legal career. In particular, if you look under 'solicitors' career path' (or something similar) you will find more about the law conversion. But in short: it's pretty much a standardised course. Where you go is not anywhere near as important as where you did your undergraduate. There is a list of providers on this site here

They're not ranked as universities are, but I think they do have 'starred ranking' which reflects their teaching quality etc.

hey, how is the CPE/GDL assessed? What are the written exams like (e.g. format etc)? is it classified/graded or is it just pass/fail?

Reply 12

Alan Smithee

mel_ma

hey, how is the CPE/GDL assessed? What are the written exams like (e.g. format etc)? is it classified/graded or is it just pass/fail?

Apparently, at City there are unassessed essays, then exams. It is the exams at the end which determine your final mark.

This is to allow students to learn about the study of law without too much emphasis on doing well in essays.

Reply 13

dragon_1706

mel_ma

hey, how is the CPE/GDL assessed? What are the written exams like (e.g. format etc)? is it classified/graded or is it just pass/fail?

It depends where you study. We had to do one piece of assessed coursework and an exam for each module, plus a dissertation that we had to pass, but which didn't count towards the final mark. To get a pass, commendation or distinction, the mark for every single module had to be in that category or above... but I know that isn't the case everywhere. :mad:

Reply 14

jeffreyweingard

3

Pernell Whitaker

Apparently, at City there are unassessed essays, then exams. It is the exams at the end which determine your final mark.

This is to allow students to learn about the study of law without too much emphasis on doing well in essays.

I heard that the City GDL is preferred for those intending to become a barrister. Is this true? If so, why?

Reply 15

Alan Smithee

jeffreyweingard

I heard that the City GDL is preferred for those intending to become a barrister. Is this true? If so, why?

Its academic rigour; its teaching staff; its method of teaching the course; its alumni; its repuatation.

Reply 16

Simon Myerson QC

5

Re prospects, there is no downside in a conversion course in my view. Some Chambers seem to prefer it because it offers a greater depth of experience.

The only things I would say is that it is, by all accounts, an extremely hard year. And because so much of it is black letter cramming there is a limited opportunity to look at the wider picture and the overriding principles. That can make acquiring a new subject (you only do the core 6 as opposed to the 15 done in a Law degree) difficult - and it can make cases that cross subject boundaries difficult.

As with everything else there are swings and roundabouts. I did a law degree. I regretted not doing an English degree. On the other hand I took an extra year off and - much to my surprise - found I'd learned a lot of law, which has helped. But I still pine for academic knowledge of Beowulf, poetry and the chance to spend 3 years thinking. Sigh.

Reply 17

silence

16

^^ that's very interesting - i'm doing my english degree at the moment and love it, but the real world requires a real job and something quite unconnected to english so i will be doing the conversion course hopefully once i've finished. my dad though (partner at US firm with london office) seems to think i should do a law degree once i've completed my english degree rather than the conversion course because, as you say, the law degree is more comprehensive. but i think that to have done 3 years of undergraduate study is the right amount.

Reply 18

mel_ma

Do you need a commendation or a distinction to get a job offer from MC firms or top sets?

Reply 19

always + forever

1

Do you need a commendation or a distinction to get a job offer from MC firms or top sets?

No, you don't. You can apply to firms prior to commencing the conversion, so the marks you achieve during the conversion are not generally relevant. In fact, few firms even ask for a breakdown of the GDL results: most simply want to know that you have passed. Your undergrad results are far more important and generally, you need a good 2:1. (All this applies to being a solicitor, I have no idea about chambers require, sorry.)

Law Conversion Course

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