Program Overview

Graduate Diploma in Law (Common Professional Examination)

Overview

The Graduate Diploma in Law is a conversion course designed to give non-law graduates a route into the legal profession. This one-year course provides an academic legal qualification that lays the foundations for a career in law.

Course Information

The course consists of 240 credits, with nine core units covering the seven foundations of legal knowledge, plus a module on legal skills and practice. An additional module from the cutting edge of the legal sector, covering the fast-growing and innovative topic of legal technology, is also included.

Core Modules

• Contract Law: This module considers the legal principles relevant to the formation and continuing validity of binding contracts and develops the legal skills of legal research, application, and problem-solving.
• Legal Skills and Practice: The aim of this module is to introduce and test knowledge of the English Legal System (ELS) and legal method to graduates of other disciplines and to allow exposure to an additional, practical field of law.
• Land Law: This module will examine some of the core aspects of property law, including topics such as Foundation Concepts of Land Law, Estates and Interests in Land, Easements and Profits, Mortgages, Adverse Possession, Registered Land, Contributory Occupiers, Covenants Affecting Freehold Land, Leases, and Trusts of Land.
• Law of Torts: This module teaches the key principles and rules in Tort Law, including general principles of the tort of negligence and associated defences, specific aspects of negligence, and a range of other torts.
• Criminal Law: This module will cover the core elements of the major crimes in the law of England and Wales and involves consideration of topics such as general principles of criminal liability, offences against the person and property, and general defences to criminal liability.
• Equity and Trusts: The unit examines the nature of Equity, its history and development, and takes in key topics such as Private Express Trusts and Gifts; Certainties, Constitution & Formalities, Secret Trusts, Charitable Trusts, Implied Trusts, Administration of Trusts, and Breach, Liability & Remedies.
• Public Law: This module enables students to study the institutions of government and the mechanisms that determine their operation as well as the legal relationship between the citizen and the state.
• EU Law in the UK: This module will focus on the legal relationship between the UK and EU.
• Legal Technology: The aim of this module is to demonstrate how operations and Legal Tech can influence professional development and strategic alignment in legal practice.

Entry Requirements

You should have an honours degree from the UK or the ROI. We may also consider your application if you do not have a degree, but have appropriate professional experience. International students with a degree are eligible to apply as long as equivalence to a UK/ROI honours degree can be demonstrated.

Fees and Funding

• UK and Channel Island students: Full-time fee £12,500 per year.
• EU and non-EU international students: Full-time fee £12,500 per year.
• Fees may be subject to change.

Careers Support and Prospects

This course is designed to provide a practical focus, encouraging you to think and behave like a legal professional from day one. The qualification can be the first step towards further training to become a barrister on the Bar Training Course. The law school has close links to the Northern Circuit, ensuring opportunities to make professional connections or gain useful experience before graduation.

Study and Assessment

• Full-time: 20% lectures, seminars, or similar; 0% placement; 80% independent study.
• Full-time: 25% coursework; 0% practical; 75% examination.

Additional Information

As a student at Manchester Law School, you’ll have the opportunity to get involved in voluntary work through our Pro Bono Network, building real skills and vital career-boosting experience. The University has invested £400 million in new, award-winning facilities, including modern learning spaces, a lively Students’ Union, and fantastic social hubs and sporting facilities. ```