Graduate Diploma in Law / Common Professional Examination GDL/CPE

Northumbria’s GDL is taught using a practical, student-focused approach providing a solid grounding in the major areas of law.

It covers the foundations of legal knowledge which are taught by means of lectures and seminars. Students are provided with comprehensive study materials and textbooks to support their studies.

At the beginning of the programme students are required to study the English Legal System by means of a pre-attendance package and induction programme.

In addition, students must study the following seven subjects:

• Contract Law
• Criminal Law
• Equity and Trusts
• European Union Law
• Property Law
• Public Law
• Law of Tort

Studying these subjects satisfies the requirements of the Bar Standards Board and allows you to progress onto a Bar Course should you wish to pursue a career as a barrister. Completion of our GDL will allow you to progress onto our LLM in Professional Legal Practice which is designed to build on this foundational knowledge and to help you pass the SQE1 assessments. 

Academic Requirements:

A minimum of a 2.1 in a Qualifying Law Degree. or A Graduate Diploma in Law with a Commendation* For applicant holding an International degree you will need a Certificate of Academics Standing (CoAS) before commencing the Graduate Diploma in law. Information for applicants who do not hold the standard Academic Qualifications 

Exceptionally, applicants with an undergraduate law degree of 2:2 classification or a ‘Pass’ on the GDL will be considered if they can demonstrate:

(a) that their overall performance demonstrates that they were capable of achieving an upper second class degree (or Commendation, if they have taken the GDL) but that there is clear evidence of extenuating circumstances which adversely affected their performance; and/or

(b) Evidence of excellent academic performance subsequent to completion of the undergraduate law degree/GDL eg. ‘Commendation’ / ‘Merit’ or above at Master’s level; and

(c) Strength in other areas of the candidate’s application, such as mooting; debating; relevant work experience.

Candidates who have achieved a 2:2 at undergraduate law degree level or a ‘Pass’ on the GDL but who have strengths in other areas of their application may be invited to participate in an interview with academic staff, where the applicant’s application can be fully discussed and staff can better assess the applicant’s suitability for Bar training.

English Language Qualifications:

Applicants must demonstrate that their English language ability is at least equivalent to: 

(a) a minimum score of 7.5 in each section of the IELTS academic test, or

(b) a minimum score of 73 in each part of the Pearson Test of English (academic).

Studying these subjects satisfies the requirements of the Bar Standards Board and allows you to progress onto a Bar Course should you wish to pursue a career as a barrister. Completion of our GDL will allow you to progress onto our LLM in Professional Legal Practice which is designed to build on this foundational knowledge and to help you pass the SQE1 assessments.