Graduate Diploma Graduate Diploma in Law (Distance Learning)

Content

The course is structured into two teaching blocks and covers the seven foundations of legal knowledge, as identified by the professional legal bodies. An independent research project then enables you to research an area of legal study of interest in depth.

All modules studied during the GDL are compulsory and represent the aspects of law that are most relevant in legal practice. These modules are divided between the teaching blocks, as follows:

Pre-course preparation

• English Legal System - provides you with an understanding of the legal system in England and Wales, including an introduction to the legal terminology, reasoning, and methods that you will practise and develop throughout the course.

Teaching block one (September to January):

• Public Law - introduces you to the constitution of England and Wales and the theoretical principles that underlie it, as well as the judicial review process and how we use the law to protect human rights.
• Obligations I (Contract Law) - introduces you to contract law, examining the legal requirements for a legally enforceable contract, relevant legislation, and case law, breach and remedies.
• Obligations II (Law of Tort) - introduces you to tortious liability, in other words how we can enforce obligations to avoid harm being caused to our neighbours.
• Criminal Law - introduces criminal law, including the underlying policy issues and the difference between theory and practice.

Teaching block two (January to June):

• Equity and Trusts - introduces you to equity and trust law, including defining what a trust is and looking at the application of equitable principles and the relevance of trust law today.
• Property Law - explores land as an area of law, the rights and obligations associated with it, and how to transfer land from one party to another.
• European Union Law - provides you with an understanding of what constitutes European Union law, how it works and how we take account of EU law within domestic law in England and Wales.
• Independent Research Project - you will also study a research topic of your choice in depth (out of a range of subjects of current topical interest) and write a 4,000-5,000 word mini dissertation.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.

Learning and Teaching

Experienced and supportive tutors, drawn from legal practice and the academic side of law, will enable you to develop a secure understanding of the law. This includes your critical analysis skills and application in the context of modern legal practice.

Each topic will be based on an introductory lecture, followed by small group sessions. These interactive sessions are designed to give you with a deeper understanding of the subject areas covered and provide opportunities to apply that knowledge in a practical context.

You will research and discuss real cases and legislation, based on current developments in law, giving you a valuable insight into situations you are likely to face in your legal career.

The course is delivered online through recorded lectures and collaborative small group sessions, providing you with detailed knowledge. You will develop the ability to analyse, apply and examine the inter-relationship of the areas of law in the context of the English Civil and Criminal Justice System.

You will have extensive opportunities to develop written and oral skills in the context of legal practice.

The course will provide opportunities for you to actively engage online with your learning by collaborating with your peers and tutors. You will exchange, discuss and debate ideas, embedding your knowledge in an engaging and interesting learning environment.

The course involves experiential learning, embedding the University's values of being ambitious, collaborative, and inclusive, providing you with an exceptional understanding which you will take forward to your vocational training.

For more details see our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Business and Law Clinic

Our Business and Law Clinic offers opportunities for students from across our law courses to volunteer for a range of pro bono projects, developing valuable legal skills, whilst providing support for individuals, start-up businesses and community groups in and beyond Bristol.

Find out more about our Business and Law Clinic.

Study time

At the beginning of the year, you will complete two weeks of induction activities in which you will be given access to all the materials, reading lists and 24-hour access to the library. You will then receive 12 hours a week of tuition, spread over three days.

Dedicated support

We aim to offer you the highest level of support both during your studies and after you graduate. You will be allocated a personal tutor, who you can meet with virtually, or contact them by phone or email, to discuss all aspects of the course and receive one-to-one career guidance.

In addition, you will have regular one-to-one tutorial sessions to support you throughout the course. You will also have access to our dedicated law careers team, 'ask the experts' careers events, CV writing clinics and the possibility of mock pupillage interviews.

Assessment

The main form of assessment for the GDL is through examinations, which are held at the end of each teaching block. Modules may also include a form of oral assessment. You will complete one assessment for each module.

The Independent Research Project will be assessed through your 4,000-5,000 word mini dissertation, which you will write in response to your allocated research task.

Mock assessments with feedback will be given to help you monitor and improve your performance, and help you deal effectively with all forms of assessment. Past examination papers will also be available to support revision and prepare you for the assessment.

For more detail see our full glossary of assessment terms.