Masters Degrees (Conveyancing)

Why study Professional Legal Practice at Dundee?

Dundee Law School has an excellent reputation as a Diploma Provider. We have three decades of experience of delivering the legal practice programme in collaboration with dedicated members of the local legal profession who bring their enthusiasm and expertise to the enterprise. We pride ourselves on the accessibility of our staff and the fact that students are treated as individuals and valued members of our legal community.

The Diploma aims to bridge the gap between the conclusion of undergraduate study with its emphasis on academic study and the start of practical, hands-on experience in a solicitor's office.
Flexible study routes

This course is offered on both a full-time and a part-time basis, taking either 9 months (full-time) or 2 years (part-time) to complete.
Professional accreditation: Law Society of Scotland

All teaching of the Diploma is based on achieving the outcomes set by the Law Society. These outcomes emphasise the development of practical legal skills within a backdrop of ethical and professional behaviour.

You will consolidate and build on the black letter law and the research and analytical skills that you acquired as undergraduates and apply them to practical situations through interactive learning.

You will be assigned to a law firm, elect a senior partner, and develop your group and team-building skills as part of the learning process. You will be trained in video-recording so that you can electronically record your progress in many of the key skills of lawyering, such as interviewing, negotiating and advocacy.

What's so good about Professional Legal Practice at Dundee?

In the Times Good University Guide 2012 Dundee Law School was placed 7th in the United Kingdom law school rankings, and we were ranked 1st in Scotland in the 2011 National Student Survey (NSS).

In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise Dundee Law School was one of only two law schools in the United Kingdom to achieve a 100% international standard classification, with half of our submissions being graded internationally excellent or world leading. Our commitment on is to provide high quality instruction, with a focus on matters of practical relevance, to prepare students for a successful legal career, whether at home or abroad.

Postgraduate culture

Dundee Law School prides itself as being a friendly Law School where all members of staff are accessible and students are treated as individuals and valued members of our legal community.

We offer all new students an induction programme at the start of each semester, to ensure that all students have the necessary understanding of the UK and European legal systems as well as core principles of public and private law.

We seek to integrate all LLM students into the life of the Law School, and invite you to all guest lectures and seminars. We also have an annual reading party to a beautiful country house location, where you are joined by senior staff and can work on academic skills and dissertation preparation.

Who should study this course?

This course is designed for students holding a law degree who wish to enter into a career in legal practice as either a solicitor or an advocate.

This course can be taken either full time or part time. The full time course lasts for 9 months and the start date is September.
The course for part time students lasts for two years.

How you will be taught

The assessments are continuous and the focus is on learning by doing, receiving feedback, giving feedback to your peers, practising to improve, and reflecting on your progress.

What you will study

The Diploma curriculum runs over two semesters, from September to April. Primarily delivered by practising solicitors; the programme acts as a bridge between the academic study of law and the requirements of legal practice. Dundee Law School aims to provide a modern, progressive general Diploma programme with a range of specialist electives.

The Law Society framework for the Diploma consists of several compulsory core areas which all students must complete. The modules at Dundee which satisfy these areas are taught in semester 1 with the exception of Business and Financial Services which is taught within Semester 2.

Conveyancing (there are presently three sessions of Conveyancing in semester 2)
Criminal Court Practice
Civil Court Practice
Private Client
Professional Practice (there are presently three sessions of Professional Practice in semester 2)
In semester 2, students will have a choice of a number of electives of 20 credits each and totalling 60 credits. The modules are subject to availability. In 2014-2015 the available elective choices are expected to be:

Advocacy (civil & criminal)
Company / Commercial
Employment Law
Family Law
Advanced Private Client
Renewables
Personal Injury

How you will be assessed

Students are required to reach a satisfactory standard overall in the Diploma modules which they are taking. All aspects - attendance, completion of coursework, participation in tutorials, performance in examinations - are taken into account in judging student performance.

Careers

This course will give you the skills necessary to work as a solicitor or advocate.

We have close links with employers and we offer programmes to support and develop the employability of our students. Our good reputation throughout the profession and close links to employers help Dundee graduates find employment.

The Law School runs an annual Law Fair which attracts law firms and employers from around the UK and further afield. Law firms also regularly visit the law school on an individual basis for recruitment purposes.

Find out more about legal careers from our Careers Service.

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Our aim is that the Glasgow Diploma comes to be regarded as the trademark of excellence, ensuring that you are not just employable but sought after by employers.

Key facts

• PgDip: 9 months full-time;
• Contact: [email protected]

Why Glasgow

• This highly practical programme has been designed by practising lawyers to replicate the work that you will do when you commence your traineeship, ensuring that you will be a confident and competent trainee solicitor.
• The Glasgow Legal 40, legal alumni of the university who practise across a wide range of areas, support our Diploma students in various ways including mentoring them and attending networking events.
• We have developed strong links with employers and work with them to ensure that the programme we offer meets their requirements enabling you to commence your traineeship with the necessary skills and knowledge.
• Extensive use is made of our library of filmed resources which link to course materials developed in collaboration with the judiciary and our tutors.They include various court hearings including criminal trials, proofs, debates, motions and a judicial review as well as a mediation, collaboration and negotiation.
• Students attend Glasgow Sheriff Court and appear before sheriffs to deliver pleas in mitigation; police officers attend the university to take part in court cases.
• Almost every one of our 150 tutors is a practising lawyer, and all are dedicated, enthusiastic, committed and keen to share their experience with the next generation of lawyers.

Programme Structure

You will take 5 core and 3 optional courses. This allows you to select courses which suit your areas of interest or meet the requirements of your future employers in the legal profession. Courses are delivered through a combination of on-line resources, e-modules, lectures and by small group tutorials (12 or less). Our team of 150 highly experienced, enthusiastic and committed tutors, almost all of whom are practising solicitors or advocates, are all focused on ensuring that you meet the requirement of a “Day 1 ready trainee” by the end of each course.

Core courses
• Criminal litigation (incorporating advocacy, evidence and procedure and negotiation)
• Civil litigation (incorporating advocacy, rules of procedure, evidence, negotiation and pre-action protocols)
• Property Law and Conveyancing (incorporating commercial leases)
• Private client (incorporating wills, trusts, deeds of variation and guardianship)
• Business, ethics, finance and practice awareness.

Optional courses
• Advanced civil litigation (incorporating advocacy, remedies, debates, proofs and appeals)
• Advanced criminal litigation (incorporating advocacy)
• Commercial contracts
• Commercial conveyancing
• Corporate
• Family law (incorporating negotiation, mediation, collaboration and litigation)
• Human rights (incorporating employment, asylum and immigration, legislative competence, children's hearing referrals)
• Contemporary Scottish Public Law

Industry Links and Employability

Our Services to Students

Following completion of the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice students must complete a traineeship within a legal firm as a pre-requisite for legal practice.

We strive to increase our students’ employability through our links with the legal profession by working with colleagues in the School of Law, the University's Career Service and other relevant organisations. Our aim is to support and guide our students to help them make the correct career choices.

When planning future career choices, Glasgow DPLP students can access
• The Glasgow Legal 40 mentoring network: exclusive to Glasgow Diploma students
• Professional Legal Practice events including Glasgow Legal 40 networking events and "Life in Law" autobiographical talks from distinguished members of the profession
• Expert advice from the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice team
• Projects such as CLASP pilot in which corporate law students advise start-up businesses
• An annual Law Fair to network with Scottish Law Firms and other employers
• Information about traineeships and other jobs direct from employers
• Employability website
• After completion of the progrmme - invitations to events to improve employability.

Legal 40 Mentoring Network

The Glasgow Legal 40 is an initiative designed for University of Glasgow School of Law Diploma students. The group comprises 40 successful University of Glasgow legal alumni, drawn from all sectors of the legal profession. The main activities of the group include a mentoring programme and a series of social and educational events which allow Diploma students to engage with distinguished members of the legal profession and which will benefit the next generation of lawyers to emerge from the School of Law.

Since 2013, the group has been strengthened and developed by the introduction of Glasgow Legal 40 associates. This involves students who benefited from support and mentoring offered by Glasgow Legal 40 members undertaking the same role for their successors.

Launched in September 2010, our programme aims to bridge the gap between academia and professional legal practice; the Glasgow Legal 40 is a unique and key initiative which allows us to achieve our goal of ensuring our students are not just employable, but sought after by employers. Eileen Paterson, Director of Professional Legal Practice (Operations) explains: “The Glasgow Legal 40 initiative has already been of enormous benefit to our students. We are extremely grateful to our alumni who have supported our students in numerous ways and have been enthusiastic in their commitment to this initiative."

Our Diploma students benefit from
• Easing students' transition from university to practice
• Allowing students to draw on the experience of expert mentors
• Increasing student networking skills
• Providing role models for students pursuing careers in legal practice
• Increasing student links with the legal profession
• Increased employability.

Students contemplating pursuing a career as an advocate at the Scottish Bar are able to take courses in International Private Law and/or Roman Law at no additional cost. These courses are compulsory entry requirements for the Faculty of Advocates.

Career Prospects

Upon successful completion of the programme you will be eligible to progress through your traineeship to work as a solicitor or advocate. The Diploma in Professional Legal Practice is a requirement for entry into these roles in the legal profession.

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The Diploma provides you with the necessary qualification to pursue a law traineeship. It is the first step towards a career as a solicitor or advocate within Scotland. Our goal is to equip you with the hands-on skills necessary to practise law in the 21st century. We create opportunities for you to develop a professional network which will support you throughout your career.

Why this programme

◾Designed by practising lawyers, our programme replicates the work that you will do when you commence your traineeship.
◾The Glasgow Legal 40, highly experienced legal alumni of the university, supports our Diploma students through mentorship and by attending our networking events.
◾We work with employers to ensure that our programme meets their requirements, enabling you to commence your traineeship with the necessary skills and knowledge.
◾You will receive one to one in-person feedback from tutors on every course.
◾Our library of filmed resources has been developed in collaboration with the judiciary and our tutors. It includes material such as court hearings, covering criminal trials, proofs, debates, motions and a judicial review as well as a mediation, collaboration and negotiation.
◾You will attend Glasgow Sheriff Court and appear before sheriffs to deliver pleas in mitigation; police officers attend the university to take part in court cases.
◾Our 200 tutors are all highly experienced legal practitioners. They are dedicated, enthusiastic, and keen to share their experience with the next generation of lawyers.

Programme structure

You will take five core and three optional courses. This allows you to select courses which suit your areas of interest or meet the requirements of your future employers in the legal profession. Courses are delivered through a combination of on-line resources, e-modules, lectures and by small group tutorials (12 or less). Our team of highly experienced, enthusiastic and committed tutors, almost all of whom are practising solicitors or advocates, are all focused on ensuring that you meet the requirement of a “Day 1 ready trainee” by the end of each course.

Core courses
◾Civil litigation (incorporating advocacy, rules of procedure, evidence, negotiation and pre-action protocols)
◾Commercial awareness
◾Conveyancing (incorporating purchase, sale and commercial leases)
◾Criminal litigation (incorporating advocacy, evidence and procedure and negotiation)
◾Private client (incorporating wills, trusts, deeds of variation and guardianship).

Optional courses
◾Advanced civil litigation (incorporating advocacy, remedies, debates, proofs and appeals)
◾Advanced criminal litigation (incorporating advocacy)
◾Commercial contracts
◾Commercial conveyancing
◾Contemporary Scottish public law
◾Corporate
◾Family law (incorporating negotiation, mediation, collaboration and litigation)
◾Human rights (incorporating topics such as employment, asylum and immigration, criminal, children's hearing referrals).

Students contemplating a career as an advocate at the Scottish Bar are able to take courses in International Private Law and/or Roman Law at no additional cost. These courses are compulsory entry requirements for the Faculty of Advocates.

Career prospects

Upon successful completion of the programme you will be eligible to progress through your traineeship to work as a solicitor or advocate within Scotland. The Diploma in Professional Legal Practice is a requirement for entry into these roles in the legal profession, in addition to providing employment opportunities in related legal disciplines.

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The Diploma in Professional Legal Practice enables graduates to practice as solicitors in Scotland. This is an accredited PEAT 1 course accredited by the Law Society of Scotland.

After completion of an LLB Degree from a Scottish university, or the professional examinations of The Law Society of Scotland, those who intend to become solicitors in Scotland are required to undertake the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice.

The course is studied full-time over 26 weeks although there may be an option to complete the course on a part-time basis (over 2 years). Please contact the Course Leader, Val Bremner for more information on the part-time study option.

Visit the website https://www.rgu.ac.uk/law/study-options/postgraduate-taught-full-time/diploma-in-legal-practice

Course detail

This Diploma in Professional Legal Practice core modules are as follows:
•Conveyancing
•Private Client
•Litigation
•Business Finance and Practice

And selected modules from the following options:
•Commercial Converyancing
•Advanced Civil Litigation
•Company and Commercial
•Oil and Gas Practice
•Employment Practice
•Negotiation, Arbitration and Mediation
•Public Administration

Please note:
•Optional modules will be run subject to demand.
•The course also includes mandatory talks by external guest speakers including The Law Society of Scotland and mandatory court visits.

How you will learn

You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshop sessions. These comprise of a mix of group study, discussion, simulation and presentations of findings by teams and individuals. You will work as an individual and also as part of a team on case studies, team activities, presentations and discussions.

Access to our virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle, is also provided giving you access from home to learning materials (including videos, e-books and journals).

Placements and accreditation

This is an accredited PEAT 1 course with accreditation from The Law Society of Scotland.

Careers

The Diploma in Professional Legal Practice allows graduates to practice as solicitors in Scotland.

How to apply

To find out how to apply, use the following link: http://www.rgu.ac.uk/applyonline

Funding

For information on funding, including loans, scholarships and Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) please click the following link: http://www.rgu.ac.uk/future-students/finance-and-scholarships/financial-support/uk-students/postgraduate-students/postgraduate-students/

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Your programme of study

This programme is suitable for solicitors in Scotland to enter the legal profession. It is an essential part of your training within law and it is Stage 1 (PEAT 1) of the professional training for solicitors in Scotland. At Aberdeen you gain a Diploma from a team trained and experienced in law with strong networks to ensure your training is 'fit for purpose.' Your training is complemented by presentations from law professionals and you can become involved in the various law societies which are student led clinics and projects designed to align your skills to real challenges.

The DPLP is a practical transaction- based learning programme which aims to prepare suitably qualified graduates for legal practice in Scotland. The DPLP satisfies the requirements of Professional Education and Training Stage 1 (PEAT 1) of the professional training programme for solicitors in Scotland. Completion of PEAT 1 is required for entry into the legal profession in Scotland.

Courses listed for the programme

Conveyancing

Private Client

Litigation

Business Environment and Ethics

Optional Courses

Advanced Civil Litigation

Contracts

Corporate Finance and Acquisitions

Dispute Resolution

Family Law

Energy Law

Employment Law

Public Law and Administration

Advanced Criminal Litigation

Negotiation

Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/256/professional-legal-practice/

Why study at Aberdeen?

• The programme prepares you fully for legal practice in Scotland
• Aberdeen is ranked in the top 10 Schools of Law (The Complete University Guide 2018)
• Your learning is complemented by real world insights from our team. 

Where you study

• University of Aberdeen
• PgDip Full Time
• 9 Months

Find out about fees

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/tuition-fees-and-living-costs-287.php

*Please be advised that some programmes have different tuition fees from those listed above and that some programmes also have additional costs.

Scholarships

View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/finance-funding-1599.php

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/funding/

Living in Aberdeen

Find out more about:

• Your Accommodation
• Campus Facilities
• Aberdeen City
• Student Support
• Clubs and Societies

Find out more about living in Aberdeen:

https://abdn.ac.uk/study/student-life

Living costs

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/finance.php

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The Diploma in Professional Legal Practice is suitable for students seeking to enter the professions of solicitor or advocate in Scotland.

The content is determined by the national Joint Standing Committee on Legal Education, the Diploma Co-ordinating Committee and various working parties, which include representatives of all the universities and members of the legal profession.

The focus is on the practical skills required in the legal profession.

Compulsory courses include:

• Conveyancing
• Private Client
• Civil Court Practice
• Criminal Court Practice
• Financial Services and Related Skills
• Company & Commercial
• Professional Responsibility

There are also a number of elective courses on offer, ranging from Construction Law to Estate Planning, which take place in February/March.

Students on this programme have a very full timetable in comparison with that at undergraduate level. It entails a large number of contact hours, much of the time in small seminar groups.

Participation in practical class work is regarded as extremely important and attendance is expected. Failure to attend tutorials will disqualify students from sitting the final exams.

There may also be the need for substantial preparation for exercises and in-class assessment. There is an emphasis on legal skills throughout.

Programme structure

Courses will be taught by lectures and seminars. Students are expected to prepare in advance for all seminars by reading the required materials and by reflecting on the issues to be discussed.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this programme, students should have acquired a more sophisticated understanding and be equipped with basic skills and knowledge required for legal practice. This will include pervasive consideration of legal skills.

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