Common Professional Exam - GDL

Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

• a UK first degree at 2.2 or above (applicants who do not hold a UK first degree must obtain a Certificate of Academic Standing from either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or The Bar Council

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

Students who have failed any units on the CPE/GDL, LLB or any other law course at this or any other institution will not be considered for a place.

Months of entry

September

Course content

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.

In the most recent Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey, 100% of all 2017 graduates from this course were in work or further study within six months.

More about this course

The Common Professional Exam will give you a sound knowledge of the seven areas of law considered fundamental by the professional bodies. The seven areas of law involve contracts, tort, constitutional and administrative law, European Union law, land law, equity and trusts, and criminal law.

You'll acquire an understanding of the legal system and processes and develop an appreciation of the relationship between national and community law.

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.

By the end of the course, you'll be able to identify, find and use a range of sources of legal information to assist in legal study, communicate legal information efficiently and understand the relationship between different areas of law.

Assessment

Assessment includes an examination in each of the seven foundation subjects (each worth 10% of the total assessment), a research essay in a legal area entirely of your own choice (worth 10%), four short essays covering different areas of the foundation subjects (worth a total of 10%), and a case and statute analysis exercise (worth 10%).

There is also a test on the English legal system, which you must pass but which does not normally count towards your final assessment.

Modular structure

Core modules include:

• Assessed Essays (core, 24 credits)
• Case and Statute Analysis (core, 24 credits)
• Criminal Law (core, 24 credits)

Please refer to the course page on the London Met website for the full list of modules.

After the course

On graduation, you'll be eligible to undertake either the Legal Practice Course or Bar Vocational Course, and from there to 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.

Information for international students

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.