Working part time during PGDL?

[Diane Lockhart]

Hey everyone

Just looking for people's general experiences with the GDL workload, and particularly working throughout.

I'm in a fortunate position really, where I guess working is not completely necessary. I have a training contract with a city firm starting September 2028, I have to study the SQE in London starting next September 2027, but this year I am studying the GDL regionally. I am living at home and paying a modest board of £250 a month to contribute to my parents' bills. For both years I am thankfully receiving 15k from my firm. After paying off my student overdraft, and taking into account my board, this leaves me with about 10k for this year, then 15k for my London/SQE year and I will also be eligible for a masters loan of up to 13k for that year too, but I'd rather not take it due to the interest.

I've worked A LOT all through sixth form and uni, so I'm no stranger to balancing my commitments, but honestly I'm a little burnt out. I'm currently working a bar job just Friday and Saturday nights. I was planning on doing this for the year, but honestly they wipe me out a little bit. Now I'll be studying Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and of course having to study quiet a lot around these days, this course already looks more intense than my degree and I've got to commute now. I'd love to take this year to focus on the GDL, and not work for once, and I'm fortunate that living at home allows me to maybe do that. But I'm also very conscious that London is very expensive, and I'd like to save up if i can.

With 10k for this year, I'd definitely be able to save something, but not a huge amount. I'm commuting on trains 3 days a week for the GDL, I'm trying to learn to drive, and of course i have other general expenses (gym, phone, socialising, buying gifts etc). Continuing my current job, 16 hours a week, could allow me to save an extra 10k, if not more.

I guess I'm wondering if it's worth it. How much do I need to move to London? How much can I manage to work during the GDL? Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[sarg1234]

Hey everyone

Just looking for people's general experiences with the GDL workload, and particularly working throughout.

I'm in a fortunate position really, where I guess working is not completely necessary. I have a training contract with a city firm starting September 2028, I have to study the SQE in London starting next September 2027, but this year I am studying the GDL regionally. I am living at home and paying a modest board of £250 a month to contribute to my parents' bills. For both years I am thankfully receiving 15k from my firm. After paying off my student overdraft, and taking into account my board, this leaves me with about 10k for this year, then 15k for my London/SQE year and I will also be eligible for a masters loan of up to 13k for that year too, but I'd rather not take it due to the interest.

I've worked A LOT all through sixth form and uni, so I'm no stranger to balancing my commitments, but honestly I'm a little burnt out. I'm currently working a bar job just Friday and Saturday nights. I was planning on doing this for the year, but honestly they wipe me out a little bit. Now I'll be studying Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and of course having to study quiet a lot around these days, this course already looks more intense than my degree and I've got to commute now. I'd love to take this year to focus on the GDL, and not work for once, and I'm fortunate that living at home allows me to maybe do that. But I'm also very conscious that London is very expensive, and I'd like to save up if i can.

With 10k for this year, I'd definitely be able to save something, but not a huge amount. I'm commuting on trains 3 days a week for the GDL, I'm trying to learn to drive, and of course i have other general expenses (gym, phone, socialising, buying gifts etc). Continuing my current job, 16 hours a week, could allow me to save an extra 10k, if not more.

I guess I'm wondering if it's worth it. How much do I need to move to London? How much can I manage to work during the GDL? Any advice is much appreciated.

I've recently finished the law conversion, and was working maybe 20-25 hours a week + doing apps / ac prep, and got a distinction. I would say the GDL is unlikely to be more difficult than your degree. The thing about the GDL is that it is very much cram study; learn, practice, forget, move on, week by week. But most providers structure it very well, so as long as you do what you are told, when you are told, you will be on top of things. Its certainly intense in that there is not much room to adjust your study schedule around life; like if you fall behind one week, you will struggle to find the time to catchup (as I know very well from experience!).

Most people I knew had some kind of part time gig going alongside, and were doing apps, and just about everyone got what they needed come exams. Basically, you're probably overthinking how intense it is, and there's no reason why you won't be able to work 10-15 hours alongside (if anything a change of scenery can be good for you). So I think its really your choice; you can always try both, and drop the part time gig if it gets a bit too much.

Dunno much about living expenses in London.