The College of Legal Practice is pleased to announce that it will be offering a Graduate Foundation in Law (GFL) programme for non-law graduates looking to take the SQE route to qualification. The full-time and part-time GFL course will cost £3,250.
On average, 3,000 graduates take a Graduate Diploma in Law Programme every year to enable them to convert to law and start a Legal Practice Course. Firms have always recognised the benefit of bringing through non-law graduates as part of their trainee cohort. With the introduction of the SQE, The College of Legal Practice has assessed the foundation in law required for students to start SQE1 preparation and designed a practice-focused conversion course for non-law graduates.
This 20-week full-time (40 weeks part-time) accredited programme will give non-law graduates the foundation in legal knowledge and skills needed to start the preparation training for the SQE. The students will study modules in core areas of English Law, legal reasoning and English Legal Systems. They will use in-depth case studies and sample client matters to develop their knowledge within a practice context, developing essential legal and workplace skills and working closely with other students. The GFL programme will incorporate the College’s signature learning design of 1-2-1 supervision, students working with an experienced practitioner and tutor, supported by virtual subject surgeries, town halls, case studies and learning activities.
Giles Proctor, CEO of The College of Legal Practice, said:
“We strongly believe that students who have not studied law cannot take a SQE1 preparation course straight away. The SQE1 syllabus covers 13 areas of legal knowledge and requires a solid foundation in understanding legal concepts and principles. This solid foundation in concepts, principles and critical thinking cannot be developed just by a standalone 10-20 week SQE1 preparation course, if non-law students are engaging with the law of England & Wales for the first time.
Equally we also believe that the conversion course doesn’t need to take a full year, like the current Graduate Diploma in Law. We have designed an innovative 20-week full-time programme to incorporate all the learning required, saving students time and money.
Our mission is to improve access to the profession and enable all legal professionals to fulfil their individual career aspirations. This GFL programme sits within our Developing Legal Professionals programme, that helps aspiring solicitors achieve their career goals, regardless of their background.
