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Thinking of Taking a Law Conversion Course Followed by a Training Contract?
A fast track into the challenging
and potentially lucrative profession of Law could be yours with a conversion
course. Here's how it could work for you...
What is a conversion course?
A law conversion course enables graduates of non-law
degrees to enter professional training as either a solicitor or a barrister.
Conversion courses normally last one year, or two if taken part-time. The
conversion course comes in many guises, all of which are roughly equal in
content and standing: Common Professional Examination (CPE), Graduate Diploma
in Law (GDL), Senior Status Law degree, Postgraduate LLB or GDip. MA
qualifications in this field tend to last for two years, full-time, and often
take studies into further detail.
Law firms welcome non-law graduates for the diversity of
experiences and skills they can bring to their work. For example, a first
degree in Languages could come to your advantage in multinational legal work.
How does a conversion course compare to a
traditional law degree?
Most graduates who studied law for their first degree will
have spent three years getting to grips with the intricacies of the Law.
A conversion course won't cram all the material of a full undergraduate degree
into one year. Instead, it will focus on the seven core areas of law:
· Contract Law
· Tort Law
· Constitutional and Administrative Law
· European Union Law
· Equity and Trusts
· Land Law
· Criminal Law
Students will also gain general legal analysis skills and
have the to chance to specialise in another area of law of their choosing.
Often this 'specialism' forms the basis of an extended essay to be assessed at
the end of the course.
How to choose the right conversion course
Course content: Although all conversion courses will cover the
same basic syllabus, it is a good idea to consider what type of law you wish to
practice in future when choosing a course or institution. If you want to become
a solicitor, and study the Legal Practice Course (LPC) after conversion, it is
worth noting that many institutions offer both courses. Some of these law
schools can guarantee progression onto their LPC for all students successfully
completing a GDL with them. Similarly, if you know what area of law you
want to specialise in upon qualification, e.g. family or commercial law, it is
wise to choose a conversion course which offers relevant electives. If you are
unsure of where you would like to specialise in the long term, it may be best
to opt for a conversion course which offers a balance of both general and
City/commercial electives.
Reputation: The legal profession is highly competitive, and studying
at a well-respected law school will give you the edge when seeking
employment. You may want to check out a law school's credentials by
referring to the website of the Law Society, which inspects and grades all
LPCs.
Careers service: Law qualifications are your passport to the legal
profession, and their ultimate goal should be employability. A good careers
service, with strong links to law firms and other
employers, is a great asset
to a law school and essential for those students who commence studies without a
pre-arranged
solicitor training contract.
How to fund a conversion course
Although the rewards are high, the training path to
becoming a lawyer is not a cheap one. You should consider how to finance your
studies from the beginning. Local authorities rarely fund conversion courses,
so most students are faced with two options: self-funding or sponsorship from a
law firm. Many law firms offer sponsorship for graduates with a good first
degree, on condition that you work for them for a period of time after
qualification. If you do not wish to tie yourself to a firm in this way you may
be able to get a scholarship from the Law Society, Bar Council, Inns of Court
or a Law School. Alternatively, you could self-fund with support from a Career
Development Loan, or balance your studies with work by taking a part-time
conversion course over two years.
Written by Ciara Davies
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