Law: Common Professional Exam – GDL

Why study this course?

Our GDL/Common Professional Examination course is one of the longest running and highest rated of all such courses in London. The Joint Academic Stage Board (of the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board) has given it special commendation for its exceptionally high quality, including teaching, management and careers enhancement initiatives.

More about this course

The Common Professional Exam will give you sound knowledge of the seven areas of law considered fundamental by the professional bodies.

The course aims to:

• develop an understanding of the English legal system to provide a thorough grounding in the foundations of legal knowledge
• train you in the professional skills of legal research, analysis and presentation in a friendly and nurturing environment

You may choose your own title for your research dissertation, subject to approval, which gives you the early opportunity to specialise in an area of particular interest to you.

The Common Professional Exam will give you sound knowledge of the seven areas of law considered fundamental by the professional bodies.

The course aims to:

• develop an understanding of the English legal system to provide a thorough grounding in the foundations of legal knowledge
• train you in the professional skills of legal research, analysis and presentation in a friendly and nurturing environment

You may choose your own title for your research dissertation, subject to approval, which gives you the early opportunity to specialise in an area of particular interest to you.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.

Year 1 modules include:

Assessed Essays (core, 24 credits)

Case and Statute Analysis (core, 24 credits)

Criminal Law (core, 24 credits)

Extended Essay (core, 24 credits)

Obligations A (Contract) (core, 24 credits)

Obligations B (Tort) (core, 24 credits)

Property Law A (Land Law) (core, 24 credits)

Property Law B (Equity and Trusts) (core, 24 credits)

Public Law A (Constitutional and Administrative) (core, 24 credits)

Public Law B (European Union Law) (core, 24 credits)

Where this course can take you

On graduation, you’ll be eligible to undertake either the Legal Practice Course or Bar Professional Training course, from there you can proceed either to a training contract with a firm of solicitors or a pupillage in a barrister’s chambers.

The Common Professional Exam (CPE) is a well-recognised route to a legal career, and many employers in the legal field actively favour postgraduate students who have a proven expertise outside the area of law.

Success on the CPE will also enable you to apply to take an LLM if you wish to pursue an academic career or simply to expand your legal knowledge.