University & The Bar Course
A law degree at university is academically demanding and involves few ‘contact’ hours (time spent with a tutor, having lectures, seminars or small group tutorials) and a considerable amount of independent work and research.
As part of both a law degree and a Graduate Diploma in Law you will study 7 core law modules. However, if you complete a law degree rather than the more compressed, 1 year GDL, you will have the opportunity to study many other modules and tailor the choices to suit your interests.
When deciding whether or not to read Law as an undergraduate degree, think about what you are most passionate about and if you will get more out of doing a law degree or a different, non-law subject. The Bar Professional Training Course was the old training course for those wanting to become barristers and is being replaced, from 2021, by a variety of new study options. The new methods are more flexible (so you can choose the option that best suits your way of studying) and they are significantly cheaper.
To obtain a place on one of the new courses, you need at least a 2:2 in your law degree or GDL and for some providers you need at least a 2:1. You must become a member of one of the Inns of court by 31 May in the year you intend to start your studies and you must have completed the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT). You should use your time at university and on the GDL to build up your CV and complete work experience.
