Do law firms have a preference re: the GDL or an MA Law ?

Lorenzo Pizarro

Standard Member
Mar 26, 2020
5
2
Hi,

Posting this here as I would appreciate insight from those who know more about how law firms recruit than I do.

I'm a graduate who's interested in a law conversion, and I've just got off the phone from some of the University of Law's salespeople who have told me that law firms have no preference for either the MA Law (qualifies you to study the LPC or the BPC after) or the more traditional GDL. Is this the case? If so, why does anyone bother with the GDL?

This would be good news to me, as I can apply for a student loan for the MA Law without exhausting my savings. I have the option to study whilst living at home, so other living costs are not a big worry for me.

I'm posting here to confirm this, as the Uni of Law and other providers might have reason to hype up the MA Law course (higher fees).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Daniel Boden

Daniel Boden

Legendary Member
Trainee
Highest Rated Member
  • Sep 6, 2018
    1,537
    3,856
    I think for one the MA Law is harder than the GDL? The pass mark for the MA Law is 50% average and only is 40% for the GDL so that's probably a reason... also as you say the GDL is quite a bit cheaper and arguably gives you a more rounded year of study than the MA Law but I'm not certain on that
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Lorenzo Pizarro

    Daniel Boden

    Legendary Member
    Trainee
    Highest Rated Member
  • Sep 6, 2018
    1,537
    3,856
    Hi Daniel - Thanks for the response.

    So law firms don't really have a preference as there are pros and cons to both? (The MA is more difficult but the GDL is more rounded?)
    Absolutely no preference at all as ultimately both allow you to study the LPC after a year. I don't think but most will assume people will do the GDL! That's the route they tend to fund but with the SQE coming in that could change
     

    Jessica Booker

    Legendary Member
    TCLA Moderator
    Gold Member
    Graduate Recruitment
    Premium Member
    Forum Team
    Aug 1, 2019
    13,342
    19,157
    Firms don’t care.

    Be mindful about the changes in the qualification process which mean as of 2021 never qualification will be needed.
     

    JayB

    Legendary Member
    May 16, 2019
    290
    489
    Firms don’t care.

    Be mindful about the changes in the qualification process which mean as of 2021 never qualification will be needed.
    Have law firms started to adopt the SQE for their future trainees? or will this be the case after September 2021.

    Is this the last cycle where I can avoid the SQE and still do the LPC?
     

    Jessica Booker

    Legendary Member
    TCLA Moderator
    Gold Member
    Graduate Recruitment
    Premium Member
    Forum Team
    Aug 1, 2019
    13,342
    19,157
    Have law firms started to adopt the SQE for their future trainees? or will this be the case after September 2021.

    Is this the last cycle where I can avoid the SQE and still do the LPC?

    depends on the firm.

    general consensus is that they won’t move until 2022 at least as they can have everyone go through the old system until then.

    Some firms are looking to move everyone across to the SQE in 2022 as they don’t want two sets of trainees on different programmes, and the non law grads will have to start the SQE by 2022 (if they haven’t started the GDL by this September).

    Some are hedging their bets and see 2022 as a trail year with a smaller sample size, with the full cohorts moving across in 2023 as this will allow some additional time to get the SQE training right.

    The main issue is that a lot of firms don’t want two sets of trainees with very different programmes and qualification systems - makes it muddled/complicated.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: JayB

    JayB

    Legendary Member
    May 16, 2019
    290
    489
    depends on the firm.

    general consensus is that they won’t move until 2022 at least as they can have everyone go through the old system until then.

    Some firms are looking to move everyone across to the SQE in 2022 as they don’t want two sets of trainees on different programmes, and the non law grads will have to start the SQE by 2022 (if they haven’t started the GDL by this September).

    Some are hedging their bets and see 2022 as a trail year with a smaller sample size, with the full cohorts moving across in 2023 as this will allow some additional time to get the SQE training right.

    The main issue is that a lot of firms don’t want two sets of trainees with very different programmes and qualification systems - makes it muddled/complicated.
    Thank you so much Jessica for that :)

    When you say the dates 2022 / 2023 do you mean the cohort 2022 or 2023, as I’m aware law firms are recruiting for 2022 and even 2023 trainees this year, or do you mean that actual year 2022 or 2023 they will implement the SQE fully? Thanks again
     

    Jessica Booker

    Legendary Member
    TCLA Moderator
    Gold Member
    Graduate Recruitment
    Premium Member
    Forum Team
    Aug 1, 2019
    13,342
    19,157
    Thank you so much Jessica for that :)

    When you say the dates 2022 / 2023 do you mean the cohort 2022 or 2023, as I’m aware law firms are recruiting for 2022 and even 2023 trainees this year, or do you mean that actual year 2022 or 2023 they will implement the SQE fully? Thanks again

    As I said l, it depends on the firm - there is not a uniform approach to this.

    some firms it will be the 2022 cohorts
    Some firms it will be the 2023 cohorts
    Some firms will be happy to run both sets of training programmes for a period of time (but most seem to not like this idea because of resource and the variations in the programmes)
     

    Beth_

    Standard Member
    Jan 28, 2019
    6
    5
    Hi,

    Posting this here as I would appreciate insight from those who know more about how law firms recruit than I do.

    I'm a graduate who's interested in a law conversion, and I've just got off the phone from some of the University of Law's salespeople who have told me that law firms have no preference for either the MA Law (qualifies you to study the LPC or the BPC after) or the more traditional GDL. Is this the case? If so, why does anyone bother with the GDL?

    This would be good news to me, as I can apply for a student loan for the MA Law without exhausting my savings. I have the option to study whilst living at home, so other living costs are not a big worry for me.

    I'm posting here to confirm this, as the Uni of Law and other providers might have reason to hype up the MA Law course (higher fees).

    Just to add to what has been said above.

    I am currently doing the MA Law at ULaw and have found that when applying, firms have shown no preference for me the GDL over my course.

    The only issue I have experienced is how to list it on application forms as it takes a little more explaining than the GDL (as it is contains all the elements of the GDL whilst also being a postgraduate degree).

    I wouldn't agree that the GDL is more rounded as you cover all the same modules as the GDL students and even have the same exam paper come exam time. The difference is in the compulsory dissertation.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Lorenzo Pizarro

    Daniel Boden

    Legendary Member
    Trainee
    Highest Rated Member
  • Sep 6, 2018
    1,537
    3,856
    Just to add to what has been said above.

    I am currently doing the MA Law at ULaw and have found that when applying, firms have shown no preference for me the GDL over my course.

    The only issue I have experienced is how to list it on application forms as it takes a little more explaining than the GDL (as it is contains all the elements of the GDL whilst also being a postgraduate degree).

    I wouldn't agree that the GDL is more rounded as you cover all the same modules as the GDL students and even have the same exam paper come exam time. The difference is in the compulsory dissertation.
    How come you did the MA Law then Beth if you don't mind me asking? It sounds like you have to do more work, pay more and yet you still get the same qualification as the GDL or is that too simplistic a view?
     

    Beth_

    Standard Member
    Jan 28, 2019
    6
    5
    How come you did the MA Law then Beth if you don't mind me asking? It sounds like you have to do more work, pay more and yet you still get the same qualification as the GDL or is that too simplistic a view?
    I was self-funding my GDL so to help with finances I chose to do the MA so I could get the postgraduate loan. That was what swung the decision for me.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Daniel Boden

    Jessica Booker

    Legendary Member
    TCLA Moderator
    Gold Member
    Graduate Recruitment
    Premium Member
    Forum Team
    Aug 1, 2019
    13,342
    19,157
    How come you did the MA Law then Beth if you don't mind me asking? It sounds like you have to do more work, pay more and yet you still get the same qualification as the GDL or is that too simplistic a view?

    most people do the MA for the post graduate loan.

    the one year MA courses provided by BPP/UoL aren’t really seen as MAs by recruiters, they are just seen as the GDL with a dissertation (different time the two year MAs some unis provide).
     
    • ℹ️
    • Like
    Reactions: Nora Chouit and Daniel Boden

    Levy

    New Member
    May 2, 2021
    1
    0
    Just to add to what has been said above.

    I am currently doing the MA Law at ULaw and have found that when applying, firms have shown no preference for me the GDL over my course.

    The only issue I have experienced is how to list it on application forms as it takes a little more explaining than the GDL (as it is contains all the elements of the GDL whilst also being a postgraduate degree).

    I wouldn't agree that the GDL is more rounded as you cover all the same modules as the GDL students and even have the same exam paper come exam time. The difference is in the compulsory dissertation.
    Hello Beth,
    I am thinking of starting the MA Law in September 2021 but I am a bit sceptical about the online option. Have you done it online? How did you find it? Thanks in advance. Levy
     

    About Us

    The Corporate Law Academy (TCLA) was founded in 2018 because we wanted to improve the legal journey. We wanted more transparency and better training. We wanted to form a community of aspiring lawyers who care about becoming the best version of themselves.

    Newsletter

    Discover the most relevant business news, access our law firm analysis, and receive our best advice for aspiring lawyers.