Studying the PGDL at The University of Law

Why Did You Decide to Convert to Law?

I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer. It’s in my family and I always worked towards that goal. My path as a cancer patient eventually lead me towards nursing and I have no regrets about doing it however during the pandemic I fell out of love with it and decided to change careers. I’ve sort of had a full circle moment, and it felt like the right moment to do it.

What is The University of Law PGDL?

The PGDL is a postgraduate diploma in law which allows you to gain a law degree in under a year. It’s a conversion course aimed at career changers or grads who’d like to convert.

What Was The University of Law PGDL Structure Like?

The structure of the PGDL at The University of Law is simply brilliant. You have to prep for a workshop where you apply the facts you just read. It’s not for everyone, but this way of studying was really helpful to develop critical thinking and time management skills.

The course is intense as you’re trying to go through three years of law school in 9 months. But it is highly enjoyable. There is a lot to learn, and you have to keep going all the time.

The workload becomes a habit over time, and you feel more prepared to step into the legal industry. The mentors are there to support you and help with anything regularly, which helps immensely because you don’t fall behind with your studies.

What Were the Best Bits of The University of Law PGDL?

Definitely the people. I had a great cohort of peers who were as hard-working and motivated as me. That made it easier to keep going and work even harder. It also helped with imposter syndrome.

We would talk about any challenges and try to help each other. And if we couldn’t, we knew we could always go to our professors who were our safety net. The mentors across all our modules were very knowledgeable, professional and motivational. There was never a question that would be unanswered.

They were really helpful with both academics and any personal matters that needed solving.

What advice would you give to someone considering law postgraduate study?

Trust the process. It will be hard to see the goal once you’re in the thick of it. Success is 5% intelligence and 95% consistency. Be persistent, many have done it before and so can you.

Surround yourself with like-minded people and don’t forget to take time off. The course is a lot of work, but you need to find balance in your life to enjoy it fully

What are your plans following graduation?

I’m currently applying for training contracts and vacation schemes. I just landed my first part-time paralegal job which will help me build additional legal knowledge on top of my degree.

Ultimately, the goal is to become a commercial solicitor which means I’ll be back to do my SQE exams in order to qualify.