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Secrets to Success: Students’ experiences of the GFL, the first step in our non-law degree route to taking the SQE
12 July 2023

Secrets to SQE Success: Students’ experiences of the GFL, the first step in our non-law degree route to taking the SQE


Published on 12 July 2023
Student stories Undergraduates

The Graduate Foundation in law was ran from 2022- 2023 and has since been replaced by The Graduate Diploma in Law.

Intro to non-law graduate conversion 

  • As a non-law graduate looking to move into law, you may think that you need to study for a further year, or even 18 months, to catch up with UK law graduates. Fortunately, that is not necessarily the case. In fact, for the SQE you don’t need to take a conversion course at all. 
  • The College’s Graduate Foundation in Law Programme (GFL) is a unique law conversion course for those wanting to take the SQE to qualify as a solicitor but do not have a UK law degree or equivalent experience, lasting just 20 weeks full-time or 40 weeks part-time. It is the first step in preparing for the SQE. 
  • However, just because it’s shorter than a GDL doesn’t mean it’s easy. The programme is a huge commitment, so you’ll want to know what you’re getting yourself into before you apply. 
  • That’s why we’ve interviewed a handful of our GFL students, to glean some first-hand insights into their experiences on the programme. So, let’s explore what they think—so you can decide what you think.

Why did our students take the GFL?

“I hadn't done a law degree, so I didn't have any kind of baseline knowledge. The GFL looked like the right way to get a good taste of it.” – Chloe, GFL Student 

  • It offers students who haven’t previously studied law not only the chance to move towards the SQE and qualification, but also the chance to simply discover whether law is really for them, without the length, cost, and commitment of a full diploma programme. 
  • Even those with a bit of previous experience in law, such as a handful of university modules, say they’d find jumping straight to the SQE too much of a leap without the GFL. 
  • Many other courses require students to attend in person, which is often unfeasible for those with personal commitments like family or work. 

“The College of Legal Practice’s GFL seemed like a really good way to access the legal knowledge that I needed for the SQE, while still being able to work full time.” – Aimee, GFL Student 


Which parts of the course did they find most useful—and which were most challenging? 

“I think the resources that the College provides you with are fantastic.” – Kate, GFL Student 

  • The College provides all the reading materials and resources online that you need to learn and revise six foundational areas of law. Then you attend workshops with supervisors and other students to discuss and exchange ideas and consolidate this knowledge. You also get a chance to talk to your supervisor about any topics that you’re struggling with.
  • It can feel overwhelming at first, especially when you first look at the busy study calendar. But it’s all very much doable, and you may feel surprised at how much you learn in such a short space of time. 
  • For those who’ve had a break from education, finding your rhythm again, and coping with the volume of reading, can take a little time to overcome. Some people also find some modules easier than others, depending on their skills, experience, and interest.
  • At the end of each module, you need to complete assignments, which some people find tough, particularly when finishing a number of different modules at similar times. However, this also helps students prepare and practice for the tricky nature of the coming SQE courses and assessments.

“I work 9 to 5, Monday to Friday. I've also got 2 children at home, a dog and a husband, and everything else that comes with that! So, I had to be very organised. I had to plan my days – every Sunday I would sit down, look at the week ahead’s workload, and carefully plan my study accordingly.” – Aimee, GFL Student 


What top tips and guidance would our students give to someone thinking of studying the GFL?

1. Workshops work! – Our students say that they find our workshop sessions super useful, so regular attendance is highly recommended.

“The workshops were great. We got all the content and read through it, but they really kind of consolidated the learning and made everything make sense.” – Chloe, GFL Student 

2. Prepare to work hard – Our students agree you need to keep up with a large amount of fast-paced content. 

“I would definitely give them a heads up about the volume of reading, especially for a couple of the modules. Other than that, the course is pretty manageable and well structured.” – Chloe, GFL Student 

3. Take time with your tutors – Our students find the support of personal tutors highly beneficial throughout their study process. 

“My personal teacher has been fantastic right from the start. She's been really supportive. I feel like she has a genuine interest in what I’m doing outside of the College and what I'm doing in terms of law firm applications.” – Kate, GFL Student

“It's really nice to have a tutor who knows you. You can talk to them.” – Aimee, GFL Student 

4. Get organised! Our students agree a lack of planning can mean you may fall behind your peers. 

“You need to be organised. Don't try and cram it in late at night or on the weekends. Give yourself time to do it. Plan your week. I found that's just because it helps you feel more in control.” – Aimee, GFL Student 

5. Fit study around your life – Our students find that the remote aspects of our course make studying more manageable. 

“The remote learning made things a lot easier because I work as well. I was working four days a week and it just gave me the flexibility to be able to learn and work at the same time.” – Chloe, GFL Student 


Why should you consider the GFL with the College? 

“I researched the tutors and was really impressed by their backgrounds and how much expertise they had in certain areas. These people do really know their stuff. I also really like the flexibility element of it being online. I needed to do some part-time work to fund it, and I’m able to fit it around work and my other commitments.” – Kate, GFL Student 

  • Unique focused law conversion course, giving you all the legal knowledge you need to begin your SQE journey 
  • The GFL programme takes half the time of a full Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) 
  • Course fees are just £3,250. A deposit is required to secure your place and you can pay via instalments. 

“It was probably one of the more affordable colleges. And whenever I had questions, the team were really helpful and really quick at responding. It just seemed like the best of the options for me.” – Chloe, GFL Student 

  • The College’s courses are highly interactive and accessible, designed for online, and all students experience 1-2-1 personal tuition 
  • It’s purposely designed to give you the law foundation you need, before starting to prepare for the SQE via the SQE1 Preparation Course or LLM in Legal Practice 
  • It makes the legal qualification much more accessible for those that don’t have a law degree. It’s a great gateway into a long-term career in law.

“It's just so good. And if you know you are coming in with no legal knowledge, it teaches you everything that you need to know.” – Aimee, GFL Student 


Ready to get started?

The College of Legal Practice’s GFL programme features seven modules, six of which cover the six foundation areas of law that you would normally study in a UK law degree: Contract, Criminal, Land, Public & EU, Tort, and Trusts. The first module is an overall Introduction to Law. It has both 20-week full-time and 40-week part-time options, running twice a year.

Learn more about converting to law with the GFL – visit our dedicated Graduate Foundation in Law webpage today.