Diploma in Professional Legal Practice PgDip

The Diploma provides you with the necessary qualification to pursue a legal traineeship. Undertaken after obtaining your LLB, it is the next step towards a career as a solicitor or advocate in Scotland. Our aim is that the Glasgow Diploma comes to be regarded as the trademark of excellence, ensuring that you are not just employable but actively sought after by employers. It will equip you with the hands-on skills necessary to practise law as a “day one ready trainee” in the 21st century, as well as excellent opportunities to develop your own professional network to support you throughout your career.<br/><br/>**WHY THIS PROGRAMME**<br/><br/><br/>- Our programme aims to bridge the gap between academia and professional legal practice. Designed by practising lawyers, it replicates the work you will do as a trainee.<br/><br/><br/>- Our extensive network of highly experienced professionals, drawn from all sectors of the legal industry, support you through mentorship, as well as attendance at our networking events.<br/><br/><br/>- We work with employers to ensure that our programme meets their requirements, enabling you to commence your traineeship with the skills and knowledge these employers value.<br/><br/><br/>- Tutorial groups are small (12 max), enabling you to become assured and confident in communicating, orally and in writing, to a variety of audiences. You will receive one to one, in-person feedback from tutors on every course.<br/><br/><br/>- Our 150 tutors are all highly experienced legal practitioners. They are dedicated, enthusiastic and keen to share their knowledge with you, as part of the next generation of lawyers.<br/><br/><br/>- You will benefit from our library of filmed resources, developed in collaboration with the judiciary and our tutors. Filmed scenarios include numerous civil and criminal court hearings, judicial review, mediation, negotiation and collaboration.<br/><br/><br/>- You will attend Glasgow Sheriff Court and appear before sheriffs to deliver pleas in mitigation.<br/><br/><br/>- We run internal heats and deliver training for students to participate in various competitions throughout the year. These range from client interviewing to negotiation and mediation, to help you enhance these skills and to enhance your CV.<br/><br/><br/>**PROGRAMME STRUCTURE**<br/><br/>You will take five core and three optional courses. The core courses are required by the Law Society of Scotland, which regulates Scotland’s legal profession. Optional courses allow you to select additional subjects of study that suit your areas of interest or meet the requirements of your future employers in the legal profession. Courses are delivered through a combination of online resources, e-modules, lectures and small group tutorials. As our programme aims to equip you with the abilities and attributes of a “day one ready trainee”, each course will enable you to develop not only your written communication skills, but your verbal communication skills. <br/>Tutors will expect you to come to each class prepared to contribute. <br/><br/>**Core Courses**<br/>CIVIL LITIGATION (DPLP)<br/>COMMERCIAL AWARENESS (DPLP)<br/>CONVEYANCING (DPLP)<br/>CRIMINAL LITIGATION (DPLP)<br/>PRIVATE CLIENT (DPLP)<br/><br/>**Optional Courses may include:**<br/>ADVANCED CIVIL LITIGATION (DPLP)<br/>ADVANCED CRIMINAL LITIGATION (DPLP)<br/>COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS<br/>COMMERCIAL CONVEYANCING<br/>PUBLIC LAW (DPLP)<br/>CORPORATE(DPLP)<br/>EMPLOYMENT LAW (DPLP)<br/>FAMILY LAW (DPLP)<br/>HUMAN RIGHTS LAW (DPLP)<br/>INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY (DPLP)<br/><br/>Students contemplating a career as an advocate in Scotland are required by the Faculty of Advocates to take courses in International Private Law and Roman Law. These can be studied at the University of Glasgow at the same time as undertaking the Diploma and at no additional cost.