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PGDL Personal Statement
- Thread starter caitlinayre
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Jessica Booker
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I’ll be honest - I wouldn’t worry about it too much, it’s more of a tick box exercise to ensure you can write reasonably well to see if there is less risk that you will fail.
I have never heard of someone with reasonable academics (eg a 2.1) not getting on to a GDL course.
Jessica is right, it's so rare if you have decent academics not to get on. Your plan sounds absolutely fine! I'm happy to send you a copy of mine (I'm doing an MA Law which is basically a PGDL) if you need a bit more of a template. I'm not sure how to do it on here but you can connect me on Linkedin through my bio if you like! It's basically just why law and looking at the skills from my BA that I could apply to an MA as well as extra-curricular legal interests so I wouldn't stress too much about it.
That would be really helpful, thank you so much! I will send you a connection request right now
Hi,
Would someone be able to advise me on writing a personal statement to apply for the PGDL? I’ve created an account to send the application through. I plan to put BPP and the University of Law as my first and second choice, respectively, but I have no clue where to begin with the statement. Are there any example or past statements online? Does anybody know how long it takes the course providers to respond once you have sent your application?
Would someone be able to advise me on writing a personal statement to apply for the PGDL? I’ve created an account to send the application through. I plan to put BPP and the University of Law as my first and second choice, respectively, but I have no clue where to begin with the statement. Are there any example or past statements online? Does anybody know how long it takes the course providers to respond once you have sent your application?
Hi @anon123456789,
I am not sure whether you are still active on here! Would I be able to look at your statement as a template too? @caitlinayre Thank you for making this thread! Did you get your application in okay?
Jessica Booker
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I personally wouldn't worry about it too much - its very much a process/tick box exercise rather than anything thorough.
The providers will not waste anytime in getting back to you - they tend to try and get you signed up soon as possible (there is no rush to sign up unless they are giving you a substantial discount).
Hi @Jessica Booker Thank you! When would you say is the latest to aim to apply for the PGDL? I am applying for summer vacation schemes, but I want to make sure I can start the PGDL in September in case I do not secure a Training Contract this cycle.
If we are given a PGDL place, but then secure a TC, does the law firm move us into different classes in order to be with their cohort? Or is the PGDL all mixed up with both non-future trainees and future trainees? I heard that LPC/SQE future trainees are grouped together, but I wasn’t sure if they are grouped for the PGDL/GDL.
Jessica Booker
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You can usually still apply a few weeks before the course starts.
Moving classes would only happen if you were with the same provider. But even then as it isn't a specialised course, its unlikely that you will need to be in a specialised cohort though (unlike th LPC/SQE).
Hi Caitlyn,
I hope you’re doing well! Would you be willing to email me a copy of the personal statement that was shared with you? I’m having the hardest time formatting/ deciding what to write about and haven’t been able to find any good examples online. would you mind sending me a private message with a copy to. I’d be so grateful!
Thank you so much!
Lillie
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Jessica Booker
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I’ll be frank about this - not a lot of effort needs to be put into the statement. You just really need to explain where you hope your career will go by completing the course and that will be sufficient. It isn’t a competitive course to get on to if you can pay for it and if you have a 2.2 or above.
I agree. I have seen the personal statements eg fairly recently for my two sons and I am a lawyer who asked me to glance at them (during the pandemic). Almost everyone with a 2/2 or higher who can pay the fees gets a place. So theirs were just about why they like law, their interests in it, anything they have done relating to it - One of them stayed in his university city for the PGDL so he mentioned why that city was where he needed to be, he talked about why he was interested in law, what he hoped to get out of the PGDL. It was about 600 words for each of my sons. Probably something added about why his university course gave useful skills to take over into law studies; bit about hobbies and interests and finally a bit about previous work - not necessarily law work but holiday jobs etc.
This is not like the UCAS personal statement people agonise over for months. It is almost instead a box ticking exercise. I am an old lawyer and in my day places were rationed based on number of solicitors/barristers needed and I think I applied on the first day applications (on paper in those days opened). Then the system was changed to allow almost anyone who can pay who has a reasonable degree to get on the course so you really don't need to worry about the statement although it is probably a useful exercise in writing good English and setting out why you like law as you will be writing about similar things countless times in TC etc applications in due course, if not already done during a degree.
This is not like the UCAS personal statement people agonise over for months. It is almost instead a box ticking exercise. I am an old lawyer and in my day places were rationed based on number of solicitors/barristers needed and I think I applied on the first day applications (on paper in those days opened). Then the system was changed to allow almost anyone who can pay who has a reasonable degree to get on the course so you really don't need to worry about the statement although it is probably a useful exercise in writing good English and setting out why you like law as you will be writing about similar things countless times in TC etc applications in due course, if not already done during a degree.
