Postgraduate Diploma in Law Conversion Course

Congratulations on receiving an offer to study the Postgraduate Diploma in Law Conversion Course at Nottingham Law School. This course has been designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to enable you to pursue your legal career. We offer you a solid academic grounding in Law, as well as practical exercises and assessments to allow you to begin developing the key skills of a lawyer. Additional opportunities are available through our on-campus law firm, NLS Legal, where you can work on real cases and provide legal advice and representation.

Upon completion of the course, you can be confident that you will have a firm grasp of the foundational subjects in law. This will ensure you are ready for the next step in your legal career. This may be through the SQE, the Barrister Training Course or an alternative career within the legal field.

I look forward to welcoming you at enrolment.

Katie Robertshaw (Course Leader)

A reputation built over 60 years
Study at a Law School with a long-established record of excellence in legal education and a national reputation for producing practice-ready graduates.

Outstanding hands-on legal experience
Gain practical experience through our multi-award-winning pro bono programme, including opportunities to work with real clients at NLS Legal, our fully regulated on-campus law firm.

Career-enhancing opportunities for every student
Throughout the course you’ll take part in activities designed to build confidence, strengthen your legal skills and enhance your employability.

Expert careers support
Our dedicated Employability team provides tailored guidance: from planning your career pathway to supporting your first applications for legal roles.

Interactive learning in small groups
Weekly in-person workshops foster discussion and help you build a deep understanding of core legal principles, supported by experienced and approachable teaching staff.

Personalised academic support
You’ll have a dedicated personal tutor who will get to know you, guide your studies and support your early career development.

A clear pathway to your future legal training
As a full-service Law School, we offer the complete route to qualification. Many students choose to continue their training with us after the PGDL because of their positive experience and our wide range of professional courses. We offer courses to qualify as a solicitor and a barrister.

Excellent facilities and a vibrant student community
Enjoy all the resources of a top university - excellent library and IT services - within a vibrant campus environment offering sports clubs, student societies, language support and a dynamic Students’ Union.

If you wish to accept your offer, access the Applicant Portal and follow the instructions set out in your offer email.

We aim to acknowledge your acceptance straight away, but if you don’t hear from us, please contact us via Ask NTU.

Useful course information

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 induction events and examinations during the academic year. You will receive notice of these dates well in advance.
You will be provided with access to the online learning platform NOW, this will provide you with guidance about the course and the modules you are taking. It will also give you access to the preparatory materials.
You will need to do some preparation ahead of the course start date. This is particularly important on the part time course where face to face teaching starts 2 weeks after induction and you will be expected to apply what you have learnt.
Learning resources and timetables are online so a laptop is essential for your studies. You will also need Wi-Fi at home.

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

The course start dates are below:

Full Time Course: 14 September 2026

Part Time Course:

Weekend One: 02/10/2026 – 04/10/2026
Weekend Two: 21/11/2026 – 22/11/2026
Weekend Three: 23/01/2027 – 24/01/2027
Weekend Four: 13/03/2027 – 14/03/2027

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 this Course. You will need to contact Student Support Services as soon as possible so a fresh evaluation can be made to accommodate your needs.

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 Postgraduate Diploma in Law course including;

Dean's Postgraduate Diploma in Law Scholarship for Academic Excellence
NTU alumni discount
University of Nottingham and University of Lincoln fee concession

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 the PGDL enables you to progress to our specialist SQE preparation courses or Barrister Training courses.

Building your future career

Our dedicated Employability team will support you throughout your studies, helping you build the experience, skills and confidence needed to take the next step in your legal career, whether that’s securing work experience, mini-pupillages, training contracts or other professional opportunities.

You will benefit from:

Specialist careers seminars offering guidance on applications, interview techniques and developing your professional profile.
Individual career planning, including tailored feedback on CVs, application forms and personal statements.
Mock interviews and practical preparation, helping you perform confidently in real recruitment processes.
Mentoring schemes with trainees from local law firms who can share insight into life in practice and support your career development.
Opportunities for mooting and advocacy practice, including sessions before local magistrates.
A strong focus on commercial awareness and employability, reinforced through both taught sessions and co-curricular activities.

As an NLS student, you will also have exclusive access to the annual Nottingham Law School Law Fair, where leading law firms and Chambers visit campus to meet our students. This is a key opportunity to network, gain insight into the profession and make early connections with potential employers.

Many firms and Chambers value the commitment and breadth of knowledge gained through the PGDL. Even if you choose not to pursue a career as a solicitor or barrister, the analytical, communication and problem-solving skills you develop will be highly transferable and sought after by employers across a wide range of sectors.

Real world experience at NLS

Alongside your academic studies, you’ll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through NLS Legal, our multi-award-winning, fully regulated on-campus teaching law firm. Each year, hundreds of students volunteer with NLS Legal, working on real cases with real clients in a supportive environment. This practical exposure helps you develop essential client-handling, research and problem-solving skills while making a meaningful contribution to access to justice in the local community.

You can also volunteer through Support Through Court, for which Nottingham Law School is the sole host university of the National Helpline and National Online Service. Student volunteers assist individuals navigating the court system without representation, while not providing legal advice, gaining valuable experience in client communication, empathy and understanding court processes. These skills are highly relevant whether you pursue the solicitor route, the Bar, or another legal career.

Find out more about the Employability support at NLS by clicking here.