I attended Northumbria Law School from 2009 to 2011 for the GDL and LPC. My undergraduate degree was in French and after deciding to do the conversion course I was looking for a law school which offered high quality teaching and facilities. I very much enjoyed my time on both courses which prepared me well for the training contract I went on to complete at what is now Womble Bond Dickinson in Newcastle. I also benefited from meeting others on the course who were due to start their training contract at the same firm, who I am still in touch with now.
Managing Associate, Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
I have very fond memories of my time at Northumbria Law School, where I studied the GDL and LPC. I remember getting all the books during induction week and feeling simultaneously nervous and excited about what was to come. As it turned out, I didn’t need to be nervous. The tutors were brilliant – so knowledgeable and approachable – and the courses were set up to cater for those, like me, who had absolutely no background knowledge of law. The GDL in particular is an intense and challenging year, but there was a real sense of camaraderie between students and staff that made it all worthwhile. If you are thinking of applying to study at Northumbria Law School – do it!
Associate, Aberdein Considine
I chose to study for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and Legal Practice Course (LPC) at Northumbria University because of its great reputation, excellent facilities and strong links with law firms in the North East. The courses provided me with a solid foundation in legal theory as well as it’s practical application. Seminars were taught in small groups, which meant that there were ample opportunities to ask questions. Further, the university helped me to secure a work experience placement at a large company in their in-house legal department, which helped me to build on commercial awareness and experience. I was also given opportunities to attend mock-interviews and receive guidance on improving my CV. I would recommend either course to anyone who wishes to pursue a career in law.
Commercial Solicitor, Mincoffs Solicitors
I completed my Graduate Diploma in Law and Masters in Legal Practice (incorporating the Legal Practice Course) at Northumbria University prior to commencing my Training Contract.
GDL: Northumbria University provided a broad overview of the key areas of law that would be required to progress to the Legal Practice Course. Each module was taught by weekly lectures and seminars which provided us the opportunity to engage with our lecturers and seminar leaders. The standard of teaching on the GDL was exceptional, with the lecturers going above and beyond to help us understand the theory of the law. The GDL is hard-work and requires dedication and motivation, however, I found it was very much worth it as it opened up the opportunity for me to start my legal career. The GDL not only covered a wide range of legal sectors, but we also conducted research into an area of law which we found interesting, I chose employment law focussing on disability discrimination in the workplace. I would highly recommend Northumbria’s GDL programme.
LPC: Northumbria University’s LPC course is second to none. The tutors are exceptionally knowledgeable and mostly have experience in legal practice themselves. The seminars were engaging and well-structured, allowing us to explore how legal theory is applied in real-life scenarios. The benefit of the LPC is that you are given the opportunity to simulate mock interviews and advocacy, which I have now learnt was invaluable experience. In Semester 2, you are given the opportunity to select modules that match your preferred area of practice. I chose Family, Mental Health and Employment Law. I always knew I wanted to be a family law solicitor and undertaking the family module confirmed this for me. I chose my other modules to explore areas of law that I found interesting, it is a great way to figure out which area of law you are driven towards.
Trainee Solicitor, Burnetts Solicitors
The GDL and LPC were both challenging experiences, however, made easier by the calibre of teaching at Northumbria. Lecturers were practical and to the point (crucial on such intense courses!), with memorable case law and personal career anecdotes throughout.
Seminar groups were small, ensuring quality contact time with individual seminar leaders. Core modules were complemented with opportunities to expand legal knowledge via the Further Area of Law module on the GDL, and various elective modules on the LPC. The professional skills assessments on the LPC were particularly interesting, allowing us to develop practical skills, and even included Northumbria hiring professional actors for our criminal interviewing assessment!
The COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately forced the final stage of my LPC online, including exams, however the lecturers adapted their teaching styles and were available via email/zoom for questions throughout the revision process. My time at Northumbria provided me with a well-rounded legal education and put me in a great position moving forward to my training contract in 2022.
Paralegal, Brighton & Hove Albion FC
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