University of Central Lancashire (UK) LLM under $3K?

[lincolnlawyer]

Sorry for bumping an old thread. I was researching the difference between a Level 7 Diploma and (Post)graduate Diploma and came across this.

There is more depth to this top-up progression than most would think.
These Level 7 could provide a cheap route of conversion for non-law graduates in the US/UK.

Here’s why (this will be long):
I remember someone in my LLM class qualified for admission through a non-UK bachelor’s + graduate diploma in law. This is in fact a recognized conversion route, even until this day, in the UK for non-law graduates to enter the legal profession in England and Wales.

Now, the interesting part is that the agency regulating the licensure of solicitors used to provide a “list” of approved conversion courses. I wouldn’t call the list comprehensive as they often left out out-of-the-norm degrees such as distance learning courses or LLM Conversion courses (some universities offer a GDL + Dissertation as a set; since the GDL is already Level 7, one could earn a Master’s by completing an extra dissertation module).

But since 2021~2022, it was no longer needed for aspiring solicitors to take a first law degree/conversion course because they introduced the exam option (SQE1+2) for qualification. This means that anyone COULD become a solicitor provided that you pass both exams, which is highly improbable unless you’ve studied law to a certain level.

But this is not the case with aspiring barristers. The board regulating barrister’s licensure in the UK still requires a foundational knowledge component, and while they refrained from using the term, this is essentially a first law degree or conversion course.

The Board does refer to the solicitor’s list for reference, but that list is no long determinative. Many courses are not listed on the list, including UCLan’s LLM conversion course. Rather, the Board sets out seven subjects that one must complete on a graduate level: Tort, Contract, Criminal Law, EU Law, Public Law, Equity and Trusts, and Property/Land Law.

It doesn’t specify that these subjects must be taken at a university, but rather that it be of the “same breadth and depth” as that of the (Post)Graduate Diploma in Law.

If my understanding of the OFQUAL system is correct, a Graduate Diploma in Law is of the same level as a Level 7 Diploma, and given that they grant the same amount of UK credits (120) and universities accept them for top-up master’s, this could provide a cheaper and faster route to law conversion.

Personally, I know of no one who’s attempted this route. But again, all of this is relatively new.
So take it with a grain of salt. It’s interesting to see how this could play out.