144 spaces on the Diploma full-time course, 20 maximum spaces available on the part-time option (the part time course will only be offered if the minimum number of eight is reached)
Full-time and part-time study options available
Full-time course fees: £7,700 (50% of the course fee per year – in 2021/22 will be £3,850)
Cost for additional materials: Approx. £300 for textbooks
If you're interested in Strathclyde's course, the best way to find out more is by attending their open day.
Wednesday, 10 March - 5.30pm
Book now via the admin team:
Watch the video to get an insight into how their course runs.
Students are assigned to firms of four at the start of the course. Most of the teaching and learning is done in these firms. Teaching and supervision is provided by practising solicitors, who have been trained as course tutors.
In addition to learning legal subjects, students will also develop generic skills which are required for professional life including:
- problem solving
- oral and written presentations
- interviewing
- negotiation
Virtual community & learning environment
The background to much of Strathclyde's practical work is the award- winning ‘virtual’ community of Ardcalloch. Ardcalloch is a town that has been created for students to learn in. A wide variety of events take place in the town which give rise to legal issues of one kind or another for its citizens. This initiative has a world- wide reputation in legal education.
All these activities are conducted on and supported by the SIMPLE (Simulated Professional Learning Environment) IT process. This allows student firms to interact with clients, fellow firms and other simulated characters throughout a real transaction.
The university has standardised clients who are specially trained ‘clients’ who assess and give feedback on performance of legal skills.
Most of electives involve active participation such as:
- students conducting Employment Tribunal hearings before real Tribunal judges
- conducting a criminal trial in the Sheriff Court
- having client meetings in the negotiation of family disputes
One of the most positive aspects of the course is the opportunity provided to meet both fellow students and tutors. They’ll become fellow practitioners, and everyone's paths will cross regularly during working life in this relatively small legal jurisdiction.
- Professional Practice & Ethics
- Business & Financial Awareness
- Conveyancing
- Private Client
- Civil Litigation
- Criminal Litigation
- Personal Injury Claims Handling
In the second semester students have a choice of 5 subjects (part-time students will study 5 electives over the 2 years; 2 in year 1 and 3 in year 2) from 13 available electives and the timetable will vary depending on the subjects taken. Classes will generally still be held over 3 days per week.
Available Electives
Advanced Criminal Advocacy
Advanced Private Client
Commercial Contracts and Intellectual Property
Commercial Conveyancing
Company Law
Employment Law
Family Business
Family Law
General Practice – Problem Based Learning
Mediation and Mediation Advocacy
Practical Public Administration
Tomorrow’s Legal Industry
Work Based Learning in a Legal Environment
Full-time students
There is a full time all week induction course of skills training in the first week of semester one. There is a further dedicated full-time skills training period in week one of semester two. Teaching of the core classes during the rest of semester one is mostly from Tuesday to Thursday each week. In semester two teaching may take place from Monday to Thursday depending on the elective classes selected.
Part-time students
There is the full-time all week induction course in week one of semester one and the same full-time skills training period in semester two as for the full-time students. Teaching takes place during semester one primarily from 6pm to 8 pm on Tuesday to Thursday. During semester two teaching may take place from Monday to Thursday depending on the elective classes selected.
£7,700 (part-time pay 50% of the full time fee each year)
Fees can be paid on registration or by three equal instalments. For more details see http://www.strath.ac.uk/finance/student/tuitionfees/
Click here for details of trusts, scholarships and funding opportunities with Strathclyde University.
We would also encourage students to look at the Law Society of Scotland’s website for more information about grants and trusts available to students. Read more.
Information for international students applying to Strathclyde can be found here.
Virtual Diploma Fair
Before applying for the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, it's essential for you to be as informed as possible about your options. That's why we run the Virtual Diploma Fair every year.
