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The College is able to boast an enviable position in the provision of UK legal training. It is the only provider which is wholly dedicated to lawyers offering a range of professional development courses alongside the more conventional routes into qualification. The GDL is, without a moment’s hesitation, tailor made to the needs of the aspirant solicitor or barrister - hence their catchy headline ‘Perfect for Practice’. Whilst this may sound like effective marketing jargon wrapped up in glossy brochures, my experience on the Birmingham GDL is that the College most certainly practice what they preach.

The design of the GDL is founded upon what leading firms demand from their trainees on day one. As an aspiring barrister, I was concerned before embarking on the course that the focus may lend itself purely to those heading onto the LPC. Whilst that is certainly the destination of most Birmingham GDL students, the course is actually designed in a way to get any future lawyer thinking about practice.

The College achieve this through what appears to be regular and rigorous reviewing of the course. The 2008/09 cohort has enjoyed a revised programme which the draws practical skills of legal application out at an early stage. Mandatory ‘practice related activities’ such as mooting or the well publicised ‘Streetlaw’ programme engender practical thinking from October onwards. A new ‘Preparing for Practice’ module gets students into teams to develop client problem solving skills and finally, well structured coursework tasks allow students to go beyond the course content to study an area within which they may wish to practice once qualified.

In line with the rampant increase in popularity since it opened and the introduction of the BVC course a few years ago, the Birmingham centre is undergoing a sizeable extension. The present facilities are, however, well presented, accessible, clean and comfortable. The interior is perhaps tidier and a little more contemporary that its London Bloomsbury counterpart, but this is, I feel, due to its relative youth. The teaching rooms are excellent and accommodate all with ease; there is one sizeable lecture theatre used constantly on the GDL and this far outshines any lecture room I sat in for three years at university.

There is a cosy café situated in the basement which caters for all – the franchise deal with Costa coffee has proved very popular. The IT rooms are very good – one has been out of use during refurbishments but this is sure to return following completion.

Of great importance is the library. It gets full in the day; there are perhaps too many students for its original design, but this will be remedied, I believe, by the extension. Computers are available at most desks and all the key texts are well stocked. It is a modern and well maintained workspace with suitable opening hours given most students commute in from the wider West Midlands region.

This is the real highlight. The standard of teaching on the GDL is outstanding. The tutors all hail from practice – some continue to juggle both careers – and are always able to set the course material within a practical and client focused context. Tuition is broken into eight or nine two-hour workshops per subject, together with lectures which review previous learning and preview the next stage. Advanced lectures pick out points of depth on the course and are delivered in a more traditional manner. The design continues to be practical – even in lectures. The focus is mainly on problem solving and students are encouraged to think for themselves in a structured and supportive environment.

I particularly recommend the College for the blend of learning methods which have been built into the fabric of the course. Lectures complement workshops; i-tutorials offer an overview of each topic; a specially designed College manual for each subject leads you through the material and test and feedback activities assess your progress on the College’s online Blackboard server – ELITE. One tutor is a designated ‘personal tutor’ but all the staff are unstinting in their support and guidance.

The Birmingham centre is located in the historic Jewellery Quarter with plenty of bars, restaurants and cafes on the doorstep. A ten minute walk in the other direction will put you in the heart of legal Birmingham with mainline stations running out of the city and the ‘Bullring’ shopping district commanding the skyline. I think it’s a good location; Birmingham is an easy city to get around on foot – nothing feels too far away.

As with any provider, the costs of legal tuition are weighty and, for some, prohibitive. The Birmingham course is reasonable when compared to other providers across the UK. Importantly, all materials – including a manual and textbook for each subject – are included in the price. I took home two suitcases full of books at the start of the course – the College do ensure you are well equipped.

What is perhaps the best highlight in terms of costs is the universal, free at the point of need, laser printing! I was unaccustomed to the virtues of being able to print work, notes, cases etc. for free. It really has made a remarkable difference to the affordability of the course. You really do just need paper, pens and folders. Photocopying is 5p per sheet but is not an activity engaged in quite like it is on undergraduate courses at university – it may be months before you need to use it!

Around town, drinks are city prices but there are many fantastic cheap nights laid on by the Social Committee.

The student run committee works very hard to run a variety of events all year round. Particular highlights include the pub quizs, Christmas Ball, Summer party and regular discounted nights out in town. Many students find great friendship amongst others on the course; this is an intensive year with precious hours spare. The contact time on the GDL brings students together; many on the Birmingham course are living back in home areas where local friends have dispersed – the GDL offers a great opportunity to have a brand new set of like minded chums!

Other activities include the excellent Pro Bono unit which organises a variety of voluntary activities where students can gain CV experience. The annual mooting competition is also a major highlight, with fierce competition. Sports activities are run regularly and all are welcome.

The careers service focus purely on legal jobs. It makes a world of difference having legal careers advisers. They are a friendly team with volumes of files stored on previous interview experiences, guidance notes and career magazines. You can get an appointment to see someone to discuss a CV or interview at the drop of a hat and the staff will do all they can. A particular highlight is the vast array of excellent speaking engagements they arrange. Exhibitors appear to be in every week discussing careers and commercial awareness. There is an abundance on offer.