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From Times Online
April 7, 2008

Where should I do my GDL?

The College of Law answers your questions about careers in the legal profession

I've recently applied for a GDL and I've been offered a place at BPP, the College of Law and Nottingham Kaplan. Do you have any advice on which one will guarantee the best training to become a solicitor?

All three of these institutions are highly regarded so you should be fine wherever you go. As for the best, only you can decide the institution that is best for you.

As you probably know, all these providers have agreements with certain firms to provided tailored LPC course. Do you have a training contract with one of these firms (unlikely at the moment), or is one of these firms your ideal target firm? If so, you might want to think about where you will be asked to do your LPC. You can do it at a different provider, but you might prefer to stay in the same place for two years.

If you don’t have a training contract consider what help is available to you before and during your course? As your question makes clear, you’re doing the GDL with the intention of becoming a solicitor so make sure the provider you choose will help you achieve this. Obviously, look at the careers service provision but also look at the other opportunities you will have to enhance your CV if you haven’t secured a training contract before you start. For example, look at the extra curricular activities and pro-bono opportunities.

Last, but certainly not least, compare the different ways the GDL is taught at the various providers and how this relates to your preferred learning style: lectures or small groups? Are the materials and courses geared to practice or meeting the academic and subject demands of the JASB?

One thing you must do, if you haven’t already, is visit each one of these providers to see which one you’ll feel most comfortable at. And when you visit think about the points raised above, and anything else that is important to you, and ask questions.

If you have a question about your career in the law, e-mail law@timesonline.co.uk

From what Ive heard BPP is a more supportive environment in which to study the GDL as everything is set out from the beginning so you know what is required of you and the amount of work that needs to be done. If you miss a lecture you have access not only to the DVD's but also the MP3 files.

Rina, Purely,

Studying the GDL at CoL I would advise one of their strongest attributes is the personal service. Unlike other service providers I found the College genuinely interested in assisting my individual career progression from day one rather than treat me as another statistic.

The CoL seems to me to get the balance right by exposing us to the realities of professional life with techniques such as problem based learning, yet offering the specialist support and teaching to get us through. All my tutors, having been in practice themselves, readily share their experiences (good and bad!), and their expertise in guiding us toward practical solutions. Access to staff makes even the more difficult topics accessible.

Lectures and tutorials fit together neatly to accommodate both morning and afternoon students and encourages effective team work. The atmosphere is ambitious yet also genuinely friendly and there is a strong network in and beyond the College.

Hope this is a useful insight

Ella, Guildford, UK

Studying the GDL at CoL I would advise one of their strongest attributes is the personal service. Unlike other service providers I found the College genuinely interested in assisting my individual career progression from day one rather than treat me as another statistic.

The CoL seems to me to get the balance right by exposing us to the realities of professional life with techniques such as problem based learning, yet offering the specialist support and teaching to get us through. All my tutors having been in practice themselves, readily share their experiences (good and bad!), and their expertise in guiding us toward practical solutions. Access to staff makes even the more difficult topics accessible.

Lectures and tutorials fit together neatly to accommodate both morning and afternoon students and encourages effective team work. The atmosphere is ambitious yet also genuinely friendly and there is a strong network in and beyond the College.

Hope this is a useful insight

Ella, Guildford, UK

I am currently doing the GDL at CoL, and the impression I get from my friends (some of whom are with me at CoL, and others who at BPP) is that the BPP course is more enjoyable.

The lecture structure at BPP is far better; you can even choose what sort of week you want to have, and you always have one day off. At the College of Law, you just get given a schedule when you turn up. I was told before I applied that I would have 1 day off a week but this has not been the case - and I'm not the only one.

At BPP, if you miss a lecture, you have access to DVDs with a full video lecture. Additionally, you have a course book which contains all the information you really need. At the College, the replacement lectures are these 'i-tutorials' which can be difficult to access from home and they sometimes miss out important pieces of information.

Assessment-wise, CoL have 7 3-hour exams - 4 in a row, a 3 day break then 3 in a row. I think BPP might be a bit better, ask around.

Hope this helps.

Chris, Purley,

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