Courses
Why choose the Senior Status?
Senior Status LLB v GDL
The two year LLB degree is often one of two options for applicants, the other option is the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). This article takes a look at why you might do one over the other.
Similarities
Both the Graduate Diploma in law and the Senior Status LLB are graduate courses and on completion of both courses, providing you pass, will mean you are eligible to take the Legal Practice Course (LPC) if you want to be a solicitor or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) if you want to be a barrister.
Both squeeze in the seven fundamental elements of law into a short space of time and both will be intense, hence why it is only available for graduates.
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"there is little point in rushing to finish the LPC or BPTC only to find out in the end you need more experience..."
Differences
There are however, several differences between the two courses. The Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) only takes one academic year whilst the Senior Status LLB (2 year LLB) is spread over two academic routes.
This extra time on the Senior Status allows you to build up legal work experience and gives you the chance to delve deeper into each of the course modules. It also allows students longer to familiarise themselves with the English Legal system.
The university environment of the Senior Status LLB (2 year LLB) is additional factor to consider giving students the possibility to get involved in extracurricular legal activities such as mooting, pro bono work and the law society which may give a more rounded experience.
Although, you will have to pay for the extra time and experiences you will gain on the Senior Status LLB (2 year LLB). As the course runs for two years you will have to pay university fees for two years around £6,000 for home students and £8,000-30,000 for non-EU students whereas the one year Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) will set you back £6,000-£10,000. You must also factor in living costs required to sustain you for two years.
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Final thoughts...
Overall, it really depends on what you want to get out of the course if you want the fastest route to a law career then maybe the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) is best for you. If, on the other hand, you would prefer to take a little extra time to familiarise yourself with the English Legal system and perhaps build up some legal work experience which is essential for when it comes to getting a job then the Senior Status LLB (2 year LLB) could be a better option.
I think it is important to consider how much value the course will add to your life. The Senior Status LLB (2 year LLB) might take an extra year and cost several thousand pounds more, but there is little point in rushing to finish the LPC or BPTC only to find out in the end you need more experience or the speed of the course has left you feeling that would have liked extra depth in some areas of the law.
Jack AllAboutLaw
10-10-2009
