Law conversion courses

If you have not done so already, please 'sign up' to LawCAB. 

Once you have submitted your details in the sign up section (top right of LawCAB homepage) please keep an eye on your inbox for the email verification link.  If it doesn’t arrive, it would be worth checking your promotions folder, or junk/spam folders in case it has got stuck there. (Those with gmail accounts sometimes find that the email goes to their promotions folder.)  Please also make sure that you are using the most up to date version of your internet browser.

After you have clicked on the link to confirm your email address, you will be able to login where you will then be able to view your applicant dashboard from which you can create an online application form, depending on which course type you want to apply for.

Please use the link below for full details of the application process for:

LPC, GDL & SQE courses

CILEX Graduate Qualification (CGQ)

If you have any further questions about the application process, please get in touch with us at applications@lawcabs.ac.uk.

If you have not yet decided whether you want to qualify as a solicitor or a barrister, you can apply for a GDL/PgDL law conversion course through the GDL/law conversion form.

To apply for an LLM, please select the form appropriate to the route you are seeking to qualify through.

• If you wish to qualify as a barrister or are unsure of your final career route and wish to do a law conversion LLM, please select the GDL/law conversion form.
• For LLMs tailored to applicants looking qualify through the SQE route, please select the SQE form.
• If you are looking for a LPC LLM, you will find these in the LPC application form.

You will be able to select the relevant course from the dropdown list of courses under each institution when you reach the course choice section of the application form.

Information about the courses offered by each institution can be found in Where can I study?. You can also search for courses using our course finder.

As with all courses, do make sure that you check the eligibility criteria for the course you want to apply for before you submit your application. If in doubt, please contact the admissions teams at your chosen institutions for clarification.

Academic documentation

If you are a current undergraduate in your final year, you must attach a transcript to your form showing the courses you have studied in your first two years and the marks awarded so far.

If you are a graduate, you must attach a copy of your final transcript and/or degree certificate to your form to your form.

For further information on transcripts, please refer to our FAQ 'What is a transcript?'. 

Personal statement

Most course providers require a personal statement. You can either type this into the form or upload as an attachment to the reason and personal statement section of the form. Please see our FAQ on What is a personal statement and what should I include in it? for further information on what to include in your personal statement.

Reference

Most course providers require a reference.

If you are a current undergraduate or recent graduate, you are encouraged to nominate a current academic tutor who can comment on your suitability for post-graduate study and a career in law, and also provide an expected final grade for your current studies if possible.

If you cannot nominate an academic tutor, you should nominate a current or recent employer to provide a reference in support of your application. Please see our reference FAQs for further detail.

Passport details

If you are applying from outside of the UK and need a visa, you will need to provide your current passport number and expiry date.

Applications for each academic year open will on or around 1 October for the following September intake. You can apply if you are in your final year of your degree or if you already have your degree.

Please use our course finder to identify the institutions currently offering GDL and/or law conversion courses.

Most of the course providers will require a degree (or equivalent qualification) as part of their eligibility criteria.  Please check with the institution you are interested in applying to in the first instance.

For applicants without a degree who wish to qualify as a solicitor, please refer to the SRA website for further information.

Please refer to the Bar Standards Boards website for their entry requirements.

Although most of the institutions ask for a minimum 2:2 in order to study for a GDL/law conversion, they will consider each application individually.

Applicants should complete the application in full, providing as much detail as possible in the personal statement, including any mitigating factors or problems they have experienced during their studies which may have affected their end results. They should also contact one of their academic tutors to ask them to provide a full supporting reference. The institutions will then be able to take everything into consideration when reviewing the application.

Please note that CAB does not hold a list of providers who will accept applicants who do not meet the usual requirement in obtaining at least a lower second (2:2) in their degree studies.

Further information about the degree (or equivalent) requirements for qualifying as a solicitor can be found on the SRA website.

For those wishing to qualify as a barrister, please refer to the Bar Standards Board website for their entry requirements, which state that  a degree with a minimum 2:2 award is an essential requirement.

Yes, absolutely! GDL/law conversion courses are a great option for non-law graduates (or those with law degrees obtained outside of the UK) wishing to become barristers or solicitors and for those who are not yet sure.

Please note: the 31 August 2021 was the deadline for those wanting to start a GDL with a view to qualifying as a solicitor through the LPC route.  The SRA website contains further details on the transition arrangements if you are unsure which qualification route you are eligible for.

Visit our GDL/law conversion page for further information about law conversion courses.  

For more information about qualifying as a solicitor, click here.

Find out more here about qualifying as a barrister.

Having a criminal conviction could affect your eligibility to qualify as a solicitor or a barrister. If you have a criminal conviction you are advised you to contact the SRA (for solicitors) or BSB (for barristers) before starting a course.