Keith Mack
Law conversion courses are designed for graduates of any degree discipline who want to pursue a legal career. They provide a foundation in legal theory and skills, such as legal research, to prepare students for further training to become a solicitor, barrister, advocate, or chartered legal executive. These courses are intense programmes that condense the three-year LLB course into one year if studied full-time or two years part-time. After completing a law conversion course, aspiring lawyers must decide between the solicitor and barrister paths, each with its own set of additional qualifications and training requirements. Scholarships and funding opportunities are available for eligible candidates, making it a viable option for those seeking a career switch into the legal profession.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Course type | Postgraduate course |
| Target audience | Non-law graduates, graduates with a non-qualifying law degree, persons with other academic or vocational qualifications equivalent to a degree |
| Course duration | One year full-time, two years part-time |
| Course content | Legal theory, seven core modules, an eighth subject determined by the institution or chosen from a set list |
| Weekly commitment | 45 hours of lectures, tutorials, and self-study |
| Assessment | Three-hour final exam on each subject |
| Application process | Submit an application through the Central Applications Board (CAB) or directly to the institution for part-time courses |
| Application fee | £30 |
| Application deadline | Varies by institution, number of places, and demand |
| Course fees | £9,500-£14,300 (depending on location and mode of study) |
| Scholarships | Available from Inns of Court and law schools |
| Career outcomes | Solicitor, barrister, advocate, chartered legal executive |
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What You'll Learn
You can become a lawyer
If you want to become a lawyer but don't have a law degree, a law conversion course is a great option. These courses are designed for non-law graduates who want to transition into legal study or those with a non-qualifying law degree. They provide a foundation of legal knowledge, covering the core modules and skills required for a career in law.
Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)
The GDL, also known as the Common Professional Exam (CPE), is an intense one-year full-time programme (or two years part-time) that condenses three years' worth of law knowledge into one course. It is intended for students who already have an undergraduate degree in a different subject and wish to pursue a career in law. The GDL is a prerequisite for aspiring barristers or solicitors whose degrees are in non-law subjects, whose law degrees were completed more than five years ago, or whose degrees were not qualifying law degrees.
Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL)
The PGDL is a general conversion course aimed at non-law graduates who are undecided between a career as a solicitor or barrister. It covers the foundational elements of SQE1 and takes one year to study full-time and two years part-time.
Master of Laws (LLM)
An LLM is a master's degree in law, typically designed for students who have already completed an undergraduate law degree or a GDL course. However, it is possible to gain entry to an LLM without these qualifications if you can demonstrate significant legal knowledge, which may be gained through work experience in law firms. An LLM enables specialisation in a particular area of the law, such as medical law.
Funding and Scholarships
The cost of law conversion courses varies depending on the institution and location, ranging from £9,500 to £14,300. Funding may be available in the form of scholarships from Inns of Court or postgraduate master's loans.
Next Steps
After completing a law conversion course, you must decide whether to pursue a career as a barrister or solicitor. To become a barrister, you will need to complete the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) or Barrister Training Course (BTC), followed by a twelve-month work placement. To become a solicitor, you will need to undertake the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and gain qualifying work experience.
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You can qualify as a solicitor
A law conversion course is a postgraduate course designed for non-law graduates who want to transition into legal study. It is also suitable for graduates with a non-qualifying law degree or those with other academic or vocational qualifications equivalent to a degree. The course provides a foundation in legal theory and skills, covering the core modules required for a career in law.
If you want to become a solicitor, a law conversion course is a great option. Previously, aspiring solicitors were required to have either a qualifying law degree or complete a law conversion course. However, as of 1 September 2021, the route to qualifying as a solicitor changed. Now, to become a solicitor, you must pass the Solicitor's Qualifying Examination (SQE). The SQE is a new route for qualification that has replaced the GDL and LPC. It is a regulatory requirement for non-law graduates to have passed a law conversion course before starting their preparation for the SQE.
There are several law conversion courses available, and you can choose one that suits your needs and career aspirations. The Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) is a common option, also known as the Common Professional Examination (CPE). This course is intensive, condensing three years' worth of law knowledge into one year if studied full-time or two years part-time. It is designed for students who already have an undergraduate degree in a different subject. The Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL or PGDip) is another option aimed at non-law graduates who want to become solicitors or barristers. This course provides a general foundation in legal knowledge.
After completing a law conversion course, you can choose to pursue the SQE route to qualify as a solicitor. To do this, you will need to have two years of full-time qualifying work experience (QWE) or its equivalent. You can also opt for a master's course that combines a law conversion course with SQE preparation, such as the LLM Law Conversion with SQE1. This type of course will first build your core foundational legal knowledge and then develop your expertise in the legal practice areas assessed in the SQE1.
In addition to gaining the necessary qualifications, it is important to consider the skills you can bring to your legal training and career as a solicitor. As a non-law graduate, you will have a wealth of transferable skills that can enhance your professional profile. Good grades in your first degree are also essential, as they increase your chances of securing the in-work training you need to qualify.
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You can qualify as a barrister
A law conversion course is a postgraduate course designed for non-law graduates looking to make the transition into legal study. It is also suitable for graduates with a non-qualifying law degree. If you want to become a barrister, but do not have a law degree, you must pursue a law conversion course.
Aspiring barristers must pursue a law conversion course if their degree is in a non-law subject, their qualifying law degree was completed more than five years ago, or their degree was not a qualifying law degree.
Upon completing the academic component, candidates then progress to the 'vocational component' of training. To qualify as a barrister, you will have to complete the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). This is a one-year, practical course that provides training specific to a junior barrister. You will then have to complete a work placement lasting twelve months.
If you are a non-law graduate, you can opt to study a master's course that combines a law conversion course with SQE preparation, such as an LLM Law Conversion with SQE1. This type of course will build your core foundational legal knowledge before developing expertise in the legal practice areas assessed in SQE1.
To apply for a full-time law conversion course, you will need to register and submit an application through the Central Applications Board (CAB). Applications for law conversion courses through the CAB open in October for the following September and cost £30.
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You can get a master's in law
A law conversion course is a postgraduate course designed for graduates from non-law backgrounds who are looking to transition into legal study. These courses are intense programmes that condense the foundational knowledge and skills of legal practice. They are designed to bring students up to speed with the knowledge they need to pursue a career in law.
After completing a law conversion course, you can pursue a master's in law. An LLM is a master's in law, designed for students who have already completed an undergraduate law degree or a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) course. However, it is possible to gain entry onto an LLM course without these qualifications, provided you can demonstrate significant legal knowledge, which may be gained through work experience.
An LLM will enable you to specialise in the legal area of the subject you studied at the undergraduate level. For example, if you studied medicine at the undergraduate level, you could pursue an LLM in medical law.
There are several universities in the UK that offer law conversion courses and LLM programmes. The University of Law (ULaw), for instance, offers an MA Law (conversion) course, which is designed for non-law students who want to gain a general legal qualification at the master's level. Similarly, the University of Sussex runs an MA in Law, which gives non-law students the chance to gain a master's qualification while also getting up to speed with legal concepts.
If you are considering pursuing an LLM, it is important to note that becoming a solicitor or barrister is highly competitive, and good grades from a first degree are essential. Additionally, loan funding can only be applied to one course of study, and further vocational qualifications are required to practise law.
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You can gain a basic foundation in legal theory
A law conversion course is a great way to gain a basic foundation in legal theory. These courses are designed for non-law graduates who want to pursue a legal career or transition into legal study. They cover the essential knowledge and fundamental skills needed for a career in the legal sector.
The courses are intense programmes that condense three years' worth of law knowledge into one year if studied full-time or two years if studied part-time. They provide a strong legal foundation, covering key areas of the law and the English legal system, including Constitutional Law (including EU Law), Tort Law, Contract Law, Criminal Law, Administrative Law, Human Rights, and Land Law.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) is a common law conversion course, previously known as the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). It is designed to put non-law graduates on equal footing with those who studied law, covering both the knowledge and skills needed for a legal career. The PGDL is also closely aligned with the foundational law elements of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), which is the new route to qualifying as a solicitor.
The University of Law (ULaw) offers a PGDL course that costs £14,300 in London and £11,500 outside London for the 2024/25 academic year. Nottingham Trent University (NTU) also offers a PGDL course for £9,500, which can be studied full or part-time. These courses provide a foundation of legal knowledge and prepare aspiring solicitors and barristers for their next steps.
In addition to the PGDL, there are other law conversion courses available, such as the MA Law (conversion) course and the Law conversion LLM. These courses are designed for non-law students who want to gain a general legal qualification at the Masters level.
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Frequently asked questions
A law conversion course is designed for non-law graduates looking to make the transition into legal study and/or graduates who have a non-qualifying law degree. It is also suitable for persons holding other academic or vocational qualifications equivalent to a degree.
The minimum entry requirement is a 2:2 honours degree (or equivalent) in any subject from a recognised UK institution (or overseas equivalent). Good grades from a first degree are essential, as they increase your chances of securing a place on a course and the in-work training needed to qualify.
There are several types of law conversion courses, including the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL or PGDip), MA Law (conversion), and Law conversion LLM. The GDL has been phased out in favour of the PGDL in many institutions.
After completing a law conversion course, you can pursue a career as a solicitor or barrister. The path you choose will determine your next steps. To become a barrister, you will need to complete the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) and a 12-month work placement. To become a solicitor, you will need to complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and find a training contract.
