Graduate Diploma in Law, 2015
“The best bit about studying the GDL at Oxford Brookes is the supportiveness of the faculty. The faculty is not only dedicated to the success of students when it comes to academics, but the many former practitioner members of the Oxford Brookes faculty encouraged and trained us in gaining the practical skills that would make us employable”
Nicole discovered that she wanted to pursue a career in law whilst studying Undergraduate History and Literature at Harvard. She chose to study at Oxford Brookes University due to the unique course structure of the GDL, which spreads assessment throughout the year.
While studying History and Literature at Harvard, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in law. The GDL at Oxford Brookes was the perfect choice for me. Having studied at St Catherine’s College Oxford as a visiting student, I knew that I wanted to return to the city of Oxford, as it is a beautiful place to study and live. I was initially drawn to Oxford Brookes because the assessments are spaced throughout the year, with two exams in the winter, three in the spring, and three in the summer. As GDL students must cram three years of undergraduate law school into ten months, segmenting the material into three assessment periods made revision and doing well on the exams a much more enjoyable and successful process. Furthermore, Brookes GDL students have full access to the Bodleian law library, one of the greatest university law libraries in the nation. This resource was invaluable for dissertation research.
The best bit about studying the GDL at Oxford Brookes is the supportiveness of the faculty. The faculty is not only dedicated to the success of students when it comes to academics, but the many former practitioner members of the Oxford Brookes faculty encouraged and trained us in gaining the practical skills that would make us employable. When I began studying the GDL at Brookes, I had no legal experience on my CV. With advice as to how to secure a vacation scheme and opportunities to compete in client interviewing and mooting competitions, I graduated from Brookes having secured three vacation schemes and a training contract and was nationally ranked in various legal competitions. The faculty at Brookes understands the difficulties of getting training contract or pupillage and is as supportive of helping us develop our CVs as they are at helping us obtain great marks.
I will now go on to study the LPC at BPP Holburn beginning July 2016 and will commence a training contract with Clifford Chance LLP in February 2017.