Six Diploma Tips

If you’re thinking about the next steps in your legal career and you’re coming to the end of your Scots Law LLB then the Diploma is probably on your mind.

The Diploma in Professional Legal Practice is a mandatory phase of training to become a solicitor in Scotland. It acts as the bridge between your LLB and traineeship, getting you day one ready to work as a trainee solicitor.

Here, Outreach Development Officer, Milly Berndes-Cade, gives you her top six tips for applying to the Diploma this year.

1. Research, research, research

You researched and chose your LLB institution so why wouldn’t you do the same for the Diploma? Have you thought about study options, location, teaching and assessment methods, modules, fees and funding and extra-curricular activities? It’s important to be as informed as you can be so that when you’re submitting that application form you know that those Diploma providers are the best fit for you. If you need to do more research, then help is out there! Visit our Virtual Diploma Fair and Guidance Note page on our website which should help you get started. If you have any further questions, then the Diploma providers’ contact details are on there too.

2. Keep an eye on the time

The Diploma application window isn’t open forever so once you’ve done your research, make sure you’re getting that application in on time. The application window opened on Friday, 3 March and closes on Friday, 5 May.  After that you should look to the rounds of offer deadlines. Make sure you accept offers before the round deadline. If your application is late then you’ll have to apply again next year.

Round 1

7 July: offer notification

14 July: offer acceptance deadline

Round 2

24  July: offer notification

28 July: offer acceptance deadline

Round 3

4 August: offer notification

9 August: offer acceptance deadline

3. Read the instructions

Whether this be on the application form, on the diploma providers’ website or if you receive offers, it’s important to read and follow instructions. You’ve worked hard on your LLB to be in a position to apply for the Diploma and you don’t want a misreading to sacrifice your application.

Each provider may have a different set-up for submitting an application form so check that you’re sending the right documents to the right people. This may mean keeping a copy of documents such as your academic transcript to hand. Speak to your university to get a copy of this.

4. Two's company

You may apply to up to two Diploma providers so use both options available to you. By allowing applicants to apply to two Diploma providers, applicants have more chance of securing a Diploma place based on their ranking and not on their choice of Diploma provider. Remember that Diploma providers will take into account whether you have selected them as your first or second choice, so ensure your preference is in the top spot to improve your chances.

5. If in doubt reach out

There’s a lot of information to get through and you’re bound to have a question that you can’t find the answer to online. Remember that the Diploma providers set the admission criteria so any specific questions about this should go to them. However, the Law Society is always here to help and we can be contacted through our careers inbox: careers@lawscot.org.uk .

6. To infinity and beyond!

What do you want to do beyond your Diploma and will where you study for it help you narrow down this choice? It’s likely that you’re thinking about a traineeship so it might be beneficial to study in a city where your interests lay for traineeships. If you want more of an insight into the current traineeship market then you can check out our statistics and information hub.