Legal Courses

Careers in legal professions are continually evolving and becoming more in demand; as society changes over time, there is more need for justice in society. The Legal field can be broken down into many specific areas of law including as criminal law, corporate and civil law. However, it also provides less demanding careers through legal assistance, support and consultants.

Types of Legal/Law Courses

A legal qualification can be provided through a large variety of courses and be based on academic value, legal experience, and previous education. To determine what type of legal training is suitable for your background and the type of career you’re looking for, below are the different levels of qualifications in law.

Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

• A GDL is a one-year, full-time postgraduate course that is designed for non-law graduates to have a diploma equivalent to a law degree (LLB). It is an essential qualification for those who want to have a law career but do not have the background yet to do so. This is also known as the Common Professional Examination.

Bachelor of Law (Graduate LLB)

• A qualifying law degree for legal professional purposes or to advance a career in a legal field; it is the first step in the careers of the majority of practicing lawyers all over the UK and world.

Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)

• As a postgraduate course, the BPTC allows a law graduate to practice as a barrister, allowing a student to work on real-life pro bono cases to help enhance their professional career. Note that only 13 institutes in the UK teach this type of course.

Legal Practice Course (LPC)

• Another postgraduate course, a Legal Practise Course provides you with the qualification as a solicitor in the UK.

Masters of Law (LLM)

• An academically focused course, this theory related postgraduate degree allows for specialisation and consolidation in an area of law before you can practice. To qualify for a Masters of Law, a student needs to have successfully completed an undergraduate LLB.

CILEx (Chartered Institutes of Legal Executives) Graduate Fast-Track Diploma

• A Chartered Legal Executive is a qualified lawyer specialising a particular area of law. Completing this diploma also has to include satisfying the qualifying employment requirements to complete work of a legal nature. To qualify for this Diploma, you need to have achieved a law degree and register as a CILEx member.

Career in a Legal Field

A law degree is a pathway towards a solicitor or barrister, however, it is not the only pathway you can choose for a career in law. A legal profession has many areas and options that include different levels of dedicated education and challenging work.

For example, a common career path to come out of basic legal training is the role of being a legal assistant. This particular position is crucial in the efficiency of a practicing firms operation by providing secretarial support to an individual or group of lawyers. Legal assistant training courses can be found throughout the UK through the forms of diplomas, certificates and even bachelors. Short legal courses can also lead to other valuable jobs in the legal field such as:

• Paralegal
• Legal Secretary
• Legal Support Advisor
• Judicial Assistant

Criminology

Criminology is a social science, the study of crime, criminals and their behaviour and the influence society’s actions and response to this general basis. It is a mix of law, sociology and psychology with the legal aspect determining how courts, police and correctional facilities deal with criminals. Criminology courses can cover topics including criminal justice issues, victimology, crime prevention, forensics and related research, commonly combined with psychology courses to help delve into the mental background of criminals and society. In the UK, criminology is not only taught in-class through bachelors and diplomas, but also in certificates and short courses for beginners through distance learning.

Short Legal Courses and Criminology Courses

If the qualifying degrees to practice law in the UK are not up to your academic level, or they are in your future plans, starting off with a short legal course may be the best option for you. Or if you feel that practicing law is not the career of your choice, studying a criminology course may help you determine your legal path.

• Certificate of Law (Online)
• Diploma of Criminology
• Introduction to International Law
• Certificate of Paralegal Studies
• Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Psychological Studies
• Certificate of Criminal Psychology (Distance Learning)
• Advanced Diploma of Legal Practice