Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Distance learning)

• We have a long-established reputation for delivering excellence in legal education.
• We offer a multi-award-winning pro bono programme, including NLS Legal.
• Every student will take part in career enhancing opportunities during the course.
• We offer excellent career support, through our dedicated Employability team.
• Workshops are designed to encourage interactive learning, as our students learn in small groups by supportive teaching staff.
• You will have a dedicated personal tutor. We get to know our students and support and encourage you in both your studies and in your employment applications at the start of your legal career.
• We are a full-service Law School. At the end of your PGDL, you will be able to continue your legal training with us, whichever branch of the profession you decide to train for. On the basis of their positive experience, many of our students choose to stay with Nottingham Law School to complete the next stage of their legal training.
• You will have all the facilities a large Law School can offer plus the advantages of studying within a university environment which offers an outstanding library, IT support, sports, language and student union services.

All details of your offer can be found on the Applicant Portal.

If you wish to accept your offer, log onto the Applicant Portal and follow the instructions set out in your offer email. We aim to acknowledge your acceptance straight away. If you don’t hear from us, please contact us via Ask NTU.

Once you’ve met all conditions you should enrol online. Please do this before the start of your course.

Course start date: Friday 22nd September 2023

For the PGDL DL the attendance in person is compulsory and the teaching weekends take place as follows:

• Weekend 1: 22 - 24 September 2023 (Induction on the Friday)
• Weekend 2: 18 - 19 November 2023
• Weekend 3: 27 – 28 January 2024
• Weekend 4: 16-17 March 2024

• In-person workshops are compulsory. They are at least two hours and provide an opportunity to learn and discuss topics and fictional practical scenarios in depth with your peers and tutor.
• You will also be required to attend examinations and induction events during the academic year. You will receive notice of these dates well in advance.
• It will help you if you do a limited amount of preparatory reading before the course starts. Set pre-reading will be available once you have accepted a place.
• Learning resources and timetables are online so a laptop is essential for your studies. You will also need wifi at home

Deferrals

Please contact us via Ask NTU if you wish to defer your place.

Course adjustments

Our offer is based on the assumption that, when you made your application, you disclosed any disability that might affect the way in which we deliver the course or assess you.

In such a case, we will either:

• agree with you that the disability will require no special facilities, or
• meet you to discuss what facilities will be necessary.

If you have a disability but have not yet disclosed it, we need to hear from you immediately so that we can evaluate your needs and determine what adjustments we are able to make to accommodate those needs. Please contact Student Support Services by emailing Student Support.

Please note that if you are a current student at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and you already have adjustments through Student Support Services for your current course, these adjustments will not automatically be carried forward on to the Barristers Training Course. You will need to contact Student Support Services as soon as possible so a fresh evaluation can be made to accommodate your needs.

Accommodation

As a postgraduate student, you can apply for University accommodation. To guarantee yourself a place, you should apply and pay your deposit before the end of May.

International students are required to make an advance payment. To find out more find out how and when to pay your fees.

Nottingham Law School is delighted to offer a number of generous scholarships and loyalty schemes to students starting our Barristers Training Courses including;

• Dean's Professional Courses Scholarships for Academic Excellence
• Progression and alumni discounts
• Postgraduate loans, our LLM Barristers Training Course satisfies the academic requirements for the UK Postgraduate Masters Loan

For more information visit our NLS Funding page.

Course fees

Please visit the PGDL course page for full details of course fees.

Visit us at one of our Postgraduate open events, find out more about student life and meet our academics.

Successful completion of this course allows you to progress onto our specialist courses preparing you for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam. It also enables you to progress on to the LLM Barristers Training Course (BTC) or PGDip BTC for intending barristers.

We have a dedicated Employability team who will support you in your search for work experience, pupillage and other opportunities. We ensure we provide the support required to give you the best possible start to your legal career:

• Our Employability team provide seminars with advice about applications and interview techniques.
• We will review your applications and formulate individual career plans. We also provide a practical interview preparation service.
• We provide a mentoring scheme with trainees from local law firms to provide support and guidance and a personal view of what to expect from life in the profession.
• We provide opportunities for mooting and advocacy practice before local magistrates.
• Employability and commercial awareness are given appropriate focus, which provides a true bridge into practice.

Many firms will appreciate your well-rounded knowledge and the commitment demonstrated by completing the PGDL, and even if you decide not to pursue a career as a solicitor or barrister, you will have gained a range of transferable skills that will be highly valued by employers.

Find out more about your future career.