Graduate Diploma in Law in Cardiff United Kingdom | Cardiff University

A law conversion program designed for graduates of non-law disciplines.

For those pursuing legal qualification in England and Wales, our Graduate Diploma in Law provides comprehensive study of the English and Welsh legal framework, covering seven foundational law subjects: contract law, criminal law, equity & trusts law, EU law, property law, constitutional law, and civil wrongs law.

This intensive program condenses three years of legal education into just one year.

Aspiring barristers can use the GDL to fulfill academic requirements before advancing to the Bar Training Course (BTC), also available at our School of Law and Politics.

For future solicitors, the GDL serves as a pathway to the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or provides essential legal knowledge for the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) launching in September 2021. While the SQE will eventually replace LPCs, Cardiff University is developing specialized SQE preparation courses to complement its current offerings.
Career opportunities - The GDL opens doors to professional legal training through either the Bar Professional Training Course or Legal Practice Course, both available at our institution. Current qualification pathways involve subsequent practical training (pupillage or training contracts), though alternative legal careers are possible. Note that solicitor and barrister qualification processes are undergoing reforms - consult the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board for updates.