GDL and working part time

[gg999]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone has experienced doing the GDL full time and working part time?

I am hoping to start the GDL in September after recently obtaining a TC offer. However I am worried the 10k maintenance grant from the firm won't be enough to cover my London rent, day to day expenses and supporting my family.

I know the course is super demanding but I just wanted to see if anyone else managed to do well on the GDL and work part time.

I am especially concerned given the fact the GDL has been further condensed at BPP into the PGDL from september which means even less time to prepare for exams because of the shorter academic year (Sept-April)

 

[Remily]

Hi I am in a similar position to you - I've been offered a Training Contract and I will be starting the PGDL at BPP in London in September. My firm has given me the option to convert the PGDL to a Master's degree by completing an additional research project. This entitles me to postgraduate funding alongside the grant from my firm. That may be something you can look into with your firm.

 

[gg999]

Hi I am in a similar position to you - I've been offered a Training Contract and I will be starting the PGDL at BPP in London in September. My firm has given me the option to convert the PGDL to a Master's degree by completing an additional research project. This entitles me to postgraduate funding alongside the grant from my firm. That may be something you can look into with your firm.

Hey. Thank you for your reply! I forgot my firm also offered me this option but I am not sure I want to do that given the fact that it is a lot more work for something that won't make much difference to your legal career.

In addition, I would be starting the LPC next August so could do with a bit of a break from April-August. Also the debt I have with student finance is quite high and is increasing quite a bit with interest each year so I don't want to get in anymore debt with them.

Thank you for reminding me about the research project thing, if worst comes to worst I could just do it and get the extra funding from the postgraduate loan.

 

[Alice G]

Hey. Thank you for your reply! I forgot my firm also offered me this option but I am not sure I want to do that given the fact that it is a lot more work for something that won't make much difference to your legal career.

In addition, I would be starting the LPC next August so could do with a bit of a break from April-August. Also the debt I have with student finance is quite high and is increasing quite a bit with interest each year so I don't want to get in anymore debt with them.

Thank you for reminding me about the research project thing, if worst comes to worst I could just do it and get the extra funding from the postgraduate loan.

Are you able to perhaps find something which is flexible such as tutoring or something you can do on a freelance basis so you have greater control over your hours?

 

[SouffléSouffléSoufflé]

Hi there. I had to work part-time during my studies and had similar worries, so I can empathise.

Alongside studying for my undergrad in London I worked for a charity called Debate Mate. They recruit students to teach debating skills to primary and secondary school students. You can commit to doing as little, or as many clubs as you like.

It is a brilliant organisation to work for as their aim is to improve soft skills and confidence for young people. I found the role really rewarding, and it was flexible enough around my studies. Starting rates are at least £20 per club (a club is normally one hour long), with travel expenses paid, and the opportunity to earn more by judging at competitions. Recruitment normally starts in the autumn. I would really recommend it

 

[gg999]

Hi there. I had to work part-time during my studies and had similar worries, so I can empathise.

Alongside studying for my undergrad in London I worked for a charity called Debate Mate. They recruit students to teach debating skills to primary and secondary school students. You can commit to doing as little, or as many clubs as you like.

It is a brilliant organisation to work for as their aim is to improve soft skills and confidence for young people. I found the role really rewarding, and it was flexible enough around my studies. Starting rates are at least £20 per club (a club is normally one hour long), with travel expenses paid, and the opportunity to earn more by judging at competitions. Recruitment normally starts in the autumn. I would really recommend it

Thank you for this! I am not looking for a role, I have a role already, I was more concerned about balancing the GDL and doing part time work and what peoples experiences have been with this.

 

[c1070]

Thank you for this! I am not looking for a role, I have a role already, I was more concerned about balancing the GDL and doing part time work and what peoples experiences have been with this.

Hey, so I did the GDL full time last year at BPP and I got a commendation whilst working part time (between 16-24 hrs a week depending on my shifts)

I started out working in a bar - working evenings to fit around lectures etc. I usually worked either a full weekend and one evening shift during the week or a couple during the week and then a weekend full day.

It’s deffo doable, but I was very tied...doesn’t leave huge room for socialising.

After about 6months I left the bar and got a 2 days a week job in a shop. That was totally doable and not as exhausting, it was hard work but nowhere near as tiring as the late nights in the bar!! Lots of my friends did tutoring etc, but I guess it depends how stable/High you need your income to be.

In summary, working significant part time hours alongside the GDL IS hard, but it is also doable. I think it probs gives you a hell of a lot more ‘resilience’ than you’d expect. I’d advise making sure you can take (If possible) paid holiday before your exams so you can properly focus on revision, but through the actual year, it’s probably doable (just)! Although if you can do an Intergrated masters and get the loan that’s deffo worth looking at

but that is only my experience and specific to the two jobs I had...

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Hey. Thank you for your reply! I forgot my firm also offered me this option but I am not sure I want to do that given the fact that it is a lot more work for something that won't make much difference to your legal career.

In addition, I would be starting the LPC next August so could do with a bit of a break from April-August. Also the debt I have with student finance is quite high and is increasing quite a bit with interest each year so I don't want to get in anymore debt with them.

Thank you for reminding me about the research project thing, if worst comes to worst I could just do it and get the extra funding from the postgraduate loan.

It would be a lot less work than balancing with a part-time job. For me the question would be whether you could earn more part-time than the PG loan would cover.

 

[gg999]

Hey, so I did the GDL full time last year at BPP and I got a commendation whilst working part time (between 16-24 hrs a week depending on my shifts)

I started out working in a bar - working evenings to fit around lectures etc. I usually worked either a full weekend and one evening shift during the week or a couple during the week and then a weekend full day.

It’s deffo doable, but I was very tied...doesn’t leave huge room for socialising.

After about 6months I left the bar and got a 2 days a week job in a shop. That was totally doable and not as exhausting, it was hard work but nowhere near as tiring as the late nights in the bar!! Lots of my friends did tutoring etc, but I guess it depends how stable/High you need your income to be.

In summary, working significant part time hours alongside the GDL IS hard, but it is also doable. I think it probs gives you a hell of a lot more ‘resilience’ than you’d expect. I’d advise making sure you can take (If possible) paid holiday before your exams so you can properly focus on revision, but through the actual year, it’s probably doable (just)! Although if you can do an Intergrated masters and get the loan that’s deffo worth looking at

but that is only my experience and specific to the two jobs I had...

Ahhh amazing! thank you so much for sharing this. I secured a part time job working 16 hours in a shop that I want to continue during the GDL. I am glad you had a generally positive experience.

Yeah I think my focus this year is the GDL and making some money and not at all socialising. I was very social at university and have made a solid group of friends. I am happy to put that on the back burner for a bit while I focus on the GDL.

I will deffo consider and do more research about the loan and the masters course.

Thank you so much for responding, you've made me feel a lot better.

 

[gg999]

It would be a lot less work than balancing with a part-time job. For me the question would be whether you could earn more part-time than the PG loan would cover.

I would probably earn less that's for sure and it's something I need to look into more as the information regarding the masters is limited online. I just do not want to do any extended researching/extended essay writing. I found this extremely frustrating and difficult during my final year with my dissertation.

A lot to think about.

 

[c1070]

Ahhh amazing! thank you so much for sharing this. I secured a part time job working 16 hours in a shop that I want to continue during the GDL. I am glad you had a generally positive experience.

Yeah I think my focus this year is the GDL and making some money and not at all socialising. I was very social at university and have made a solid group of friends. I am happy to put that on the back burner for a bit while I focus on the GDL.

I will deffo consider and do more research about the loan and the masters course.

Thank you so much for responding, you've made me feel a lot better.

Don’t get me wrong, I deffo still had time to socialise! We would go to the pub every Wednesday after lectures as a group etc. and all hang out now, so it won’t totally ruin your life haha is just hard to balance gdl/friends/relationship sometimes and there might be the odd weekend where you’re like woah this is a lot!! Just make sure you’re organised and use the days you have to do tutorial prep really efficiently and well, being organised is the key!!

I think if you’re going to do any traditional part time work that isn’t tutoring and more conventional a shop is the way to go, and just be up front with your Manager and explain when you have exams you will use your holidays etc. Feel free to PM me if you want any more of my experience (which obviously is just my own so others may have had worse/better ones)

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I would probably earn less that's for sure and it's something I need to look into more as the information regarding the masters is limited online. I just do not want to do any extended researching/extended essay writing. I found this extremely frustrating and difficult during my final year with my dissertation.

A lot to think about.

Which provider are you likely to study with?

 

[gg999]

Don’t get me wrong, I deffo still had time to socialise! We would go to the pub every Wednesday after lectures as a group etc. and all hang out now, so it won’t totally ruin your life haha is just hard to balance gdl/friends/relationship sometimes and there might be the odd weekend where you’re like woah this is a lot!! Just make sure you’re organised and use the days you have to do tutorial prep really efficiently and well, being organised is the key!!

I think if you’re going to do any traditional part time work that isn’t tutoring and more conventional a shop is the way to go, and just be up front with your Manager and explain when you have exams you will use your holidays etc. Feel free to PM me if you want any more of my experience (which obviously is just my own so others may have had worse/better ones)

Thank you so much, will deffo reach out nearer the time

 

[gg999]

Which provider are you likely to study with?

I will be starting the PGDL with BPP in September.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I will be starting the PGDL with BPP in September.

you might want to contact them. It seems as part of the move to the SQE, one of the options for the PGDL and converting to an LLM will be an SQE prep course instead. I suspect it won’t be a heavy research paper that doesn’t suit your preferences, and it might be a good call for LPC prep anyway.

I would speak to BPP to see if it is available by the start of your course and if so what format it will take.

 

[gg999]

you might want to contact them. It seems as part of the move to the SQE, one of the options for the PGDL and converting to an LLM will be an SQE prep course instead. I suspect it won’t be a heavy research paper that doesn’t suit your preferences, and it might be a good call for LPC prep anyway.

I would speak to BPP to see if it is available by the start of your course and if so what format it will take.

Amazing. Thank you for your advice, I will contact them tomorrow to discuss this

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Amazing. Thank you for your advice, I will contact them tomorrow to discuss this

Just be really frank with them - they won't care for your reasons why you are asking (to be frank they just want your money!). Explain that moving to the LLM would be beneficial for the PG loan, but that you don't want to do an extended project as it doesn't suit your learning style and so want to find out more about how the SQE module is assessed and when it will be available.

 

[gg999]

Just be really frank with them - they won't care for your reasons why you are asking (to be frank they just want your money!). Explain that moving to the LLM would be beneficial for the PG loan, but that you don't want to do an extended project as it doesn't suit your learning style and so want to find out more about how the SQE module is assessed and when it will be available.

Managed to speak to them this morning about it. Unfortunately the LLM is a one year course so I would not be finished in time for the LPC in August next year. Therefore this option is redundant to me. I could delay the LPC start date but I rather not as I really like the people on my Feb 2022 intake and I do not want to wait any longer than I have. I graduated from University in July 2019 and have been sitting around since. Therefore I rather just get stuck in with the GDL and LPC as I rather not wait for the SQE.

I was also wondering what your thoughts are about the SQE? I am hearing mixed things from doing my research online about it. In my opinion I think it has good intentions of widening access to the legal profession but surely there will be even more fierce competition for the same amount of spaces? I don't see what was wrong with the usual GDL and LPC route to qualification?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

Managed to speak to them this morning about it. Unfortunately the LLM is a one year course so I would not be finished in time for the LPC in August next year. Therefore this option is redundant to me. I could delay the LPC start date but I rather not as I really like the people on my Feb 2022 intake and I do not want to wait any longer than I have. I graduated from University in July 2019 and have been sitting around since. Therefore I rather just get stuck in with the GDL and LPC as I rather not wait for the SQE.

I was also wondering what your thoughts are about the SQE? I am hearing mixed things from doing my research online about it. In my opinion I think it has good intentions of widening access to the legal profession but surely there will be even more fierce competition for the same amount of spaces? I don't see what was wrong with the usual GDL and LPC route to qualification?

that is assuming there are the same amount of places. I think this will generate more opportunities, but this could just create the bottle neck at the qualification point rather than the start of the career. One of the major issues that restricts the number of opportunities now is all the regulation firms have to commit to, including the two year commitment.

I think this is a much fairer process as it will combine, graduate, apprenticeship and foreign qualified lawyer routes. It will look and feel a lot more like other professional qualifications - this feels a bit like accountancy or how surveyors qualify.

The main concern I have is it will create a “trainee purgatory” - there will be plenty of people who pass the exams but don’t gain the work experience, and others who gain the work experience but don’t pass the exams. It will also lead to people being over experienced/under qualified or under experienced/over qualified for NQ roles, which could impact their employability.

My biggest issue with the new system is that there is no longer a requirement to pay people for their qualifying work experience, which in my personal opinion is a completely stupid decision from the SRA. They only did this so qualifying work experience can be gained in voluntary law clinics, particularly at university.

The GDL/LPC route was flawed in many ways. But the key reason the system had to change was that they needed to amalgamate the new apprenticeship routes that had started 4-5 years ago, along with the graduate route and qualification process for foreign qualified lawyers. Everyone was concerned about creating a two tier system, so ensuring there was a consistent benchmark for all qualifying people (including foreign qualified lawyers) made sense - and that’s how we got to the SQE.

In addition to the above, they also needed to ensure there was more quality control on the work experience piece - basically someone could coast through a training contract and actually be pretty useless and they would still qualify because it was practically impossible for firms to get rid of trainees unless they did something that warranted serious disciplinary action. This will mean firms are no longer held to ransom to sign off someone’s work experience if they haven’t actually been good enough.

 

[PaolaEccles]

Actually I had, a while ago. It was my daughter, to be more precise. She was doing her masters not far from Birmingham and decided to take a part-time job to cover at least her rental expenses. No need to say how much of budget they eat up in the UK! So I advised her to look up something close https://uk.jooble.org/jobs-part-time-staff-required-cash-hand/Birmingham by to avoid the stress of commuting between work and studies. Another problem that her new employer tackled was that he didn't mind against that. Do you know what I mean? It is when they pretend that they accept everything and then start pressing you to quit your studies. This one had no issues like that.