Graduates at Scottish universities
Law graduates from Scottish universities who wish to train as lawyers in England are required to undertake the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).
Students may be eligible for some exemptions from modules on the GDL. You are advised to contact the Solicitors Regulation Authority regarding possible exceptions and the Solicitors Regulation Authority will decide on a case-by-case basis. Students will need to send a transcript of their degree to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
It might be possible to gain exemptions if this allows students to study the GDL part time or by distance learning over one year. If exemptions are not granted, then the GDL can still be completed in one year but this would be a full time course, or over two years part-time.
- In order to apply for exemptions students should contact the Solicitors Regulation Authority (details below), initially in the penultimate year of their degree, and send a full transcript of their degree subjects and results to date. The Solicitors Regulation Authority is unable to confirm exemptions until the end of their degree course, but they will be able to offer some initial advice at this stage. You can contact them via their website or by calling +44 870 606 2555.
- Law students from Scottish universities should apply for a spring or summer vacation scheme in their penultimate degree year. They should apply for a training contract after they have received their third year exam results and will be interviewed from 1 September in their final year.
- Non-law students should apply for a place on the winter, spring or summer vacation scheme in their final year. The deadline for the winter scheme is 10 November 2008 and for the spring and summer scheme it is 31 January 2009.