Program Overview

Diploma in Professional Legal Practice

The Diploma in Professional Legal Practice is a vocational course designed to provide students with the practical skills and knowledge required to become a practicing lawyer in Scotland. The course meets the requirements of the Law Society of Scotland's Professional Education and Training Stage 1 and is essential for entry to both the solicitors' and advocates' branches of the profession.

Course Overview

• The course is available on a full-time (9 months) or part-time (24 months) basis.
• The course starts with a week-long Foundation Skills course, which covers areas such as Effective Communications, Case Analysis & Problem-Solving, Interviewing, Legal Drafting, Negotiation, Advocacy, and Legal Ethics.
• The core curriculum consists of seven compulsory modules, plus a choice of five elective modules.
• Teaching and supervision are provided by practicing solicitors who have been trained as course tutors.

Course Content

Semester 1 Compulsory Subjects

• Professional Practice & Ethics
• Business & Financial Awareness
• Conveyancing
• Private Client
• Civil Litigation
• Criminal Litigation
• Personal Injury Claims Handling

Semester 2 Elective Modules

• Advanced Civil Advocacy
• Advanced Criminal Advocacy
• Advanced Private Client
• Commercial Contracts & IP
• Commercial Conveyancing
• Company Law
• Employment Law in Practice
• Family Law
• Mediation & Mediation Advocacy
• Practical Public Administration
• Project Management for Lawyers
• Work-Based Learning Module in Legal Practice
• General Practice – Problem Based Learning

Learning and Teaching

• Students are assigned to 'firms' of three or four at the start of the course.
• Most teaching and learning are done in these firms, with a focus on collaborative learning, professionalism, and blended learning.
• In addition to learning legal subjects, students also develop generic skills such as problem-solving, oral and written presentations, interviewing, and negotiating.

Facilities

• The university's library has a wide range of law reports, legislation, serials, and monographs.
• Students have access to a wide range of electronic information sources, including all major legal databases.

Virtual Community and Learning Environment

• The course features a virtual community called Ardcalloch, a town created to provide a realistic backdrop for simulated legal transactions.
• Students use a professional learning/case management IT system called iCasework to interact with clients, fellow firms, and other simulated characters.

Entry Requirements

• Academic requirements: LLB degree (or equivalent) that meets the requirements and outcomes of the Law Society of Scotland's foundation programme.
• English language requirements: Please check the university's English requirements before making an application.

Fees and Funding

• Full-time: £11,300
• Part-time: 50% of the full-time fee for the first year, with the second year's fee subject to an increase.
• Additional costs: Materials, including textbooks and rules, are available at discounted prices.
• Financial assistance and scholarships: Various grants and scholarships are available to help fund the Diploma.

How to Fund Your Course

• Scottish postgraduate students may be eligible for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
• Students from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland may be eligible for postgraduate support from their respective student finance agencies.
• International students can check the university's scholarship search for funding opportunities.