Common Professional Examination University Graduate Diploma

Part-Time Day
Attendance with 4 subjects a year over 2 years
Qualifications
Graduates from the Staffordshire Law School CPE/GDL get two awards:
the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), in line with other CPE providers
the University’s LLB (CPE) (Hons), based on entrants’ acquisition of 120 credits on entry, and 240 credits on completion of the programme’s eight modules. The award is a non-qualifying law degree.
There is a comprehensive induction programme which allows the student to gain an understanding of the English legal system, and introduces essential legal skills.
It then consists of the 'Foundation' subjects, namely:
Criminal Law
Contract and Problem Solving
Tort Law and Civil Remedies
European Union Law
Law of Trusts and Equitable Remedies
Constitutional and Administrative Law
Property Law and Application
An important skills development session is also included on an 'Introduction to Legal Sources'.
The programme includes directed study and library-based exercises and tasks.

There are three key stages to the course:
Induction/English Legal System (ELS) Course & ELS Assessment
Main Programme (in two “Teaching Blocks”)
Exams & Submission of the Individual Research Assignment
Subject to exemptions by either of the Law Professional bodies (Solicitors Regulation Authority or Bar Standards Board) granted following an application by the student, the student undertakes pre-course reading and tasks relating to the English Legal System, Legal Method, and EU Law. S/he then completes an Induction and English Legal System programme, and an ELS assessment that must be passed before s/he can progress to the Main Programme.
Induction and the English Legal System (ELS) introduction
An introductory welcome, a session in which students meet key staff and the CPE/GDL Course Administrator. There is then a session with the Award leader in which the programme, assessment and other key aspects of the CPE/GDL scheme are considered. Further sessions take place in which representatives from School and University support services explain how they can support students. The ELS course then begins comprising of a number of sessions on ELS/Legal Method topics including:
The English Legal System (including the EU & EC Law)
The Courts System (including the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights)
Sources of Law – Legislation, Case-law, Precedent etc
Legal Method
Accessing the Law
Funding Justice
Role of Judges
European Law & Human Rights Law
An important skills development session is also included on an 'Introduction to Legal Sources'.
The programme includes directed study and library-based exercises and tasks.
NB: It is a requirement that all students must attend the ELS Course, as required by the award specific regulations, and go on to take and pass the associated assessment.
ELS Assessment
It is a formal course requirement that students must attend and pass the Induction/ELS Course assessment after completion of the course, and before the Main Programme commences. In the event of the ELS assessment being failed, a student will normally have only one further opportunity to pass. If it is not passed s/he must leave the course.
The ELS assessment involves completion of a mandatory "seen" question (published a week before the examination) on a key topic, for example the operation of the system of "judicial precedent" or legislation.
Additionally
In addition, students attend workshops as part of the module ‘Use of Legal Sources & Research Skills. It is a course requirement to take and pass two skills assignments to complete this module.
Finally, students will study the Project which is of a piece of independent legal research as agreed with the award leader. This is assessed by a 5000 word assignment submitted after the Foundation module examinations.
The learning strategy for this award is based around problem-based and authentic learning experiences to enhance graduate skills for future employability and lifelong learning. Class contact will include a mixture of whole group and small group sessions, many taking place in a workshop setting to recreate problem-based and authentic learning scenarios and events. Students will be able to practise and develop oral and written communication skills, networking, conferencing and presentations, case-based scenarios as well as consideration of theoretical and critical perspectives to enhance knowledge and understanding.
The aim is to foster an academic community which promotes lifelong learning and is supported by research and practice informed teaching with learning strategies and technologies to support the student experience.
Learning will be organised into a series of small group sessions where students will be required to participate. Each session will be based around a problem or issue, and students will work towards a range of solutions by specifying objectives, identifying constraints, obtaining background information, applying both theory and practical skills to the subject matter and issue to be considered.
Large group sessions seek to establish an overview framework within which selected theories and principles of law can be more effectively developed. They will verify and consolidate knowledge and understanding and will engage in more detailed exposition of selected theories, rules and constraints.
The guided learning will incorporate a mixture of activities, some of which will require team work and online discussion. The learning will be facilitated by use of the VLE platform and discussions/interactions between students and tutors.
Students will be expected to be familiar with contemporary issues within the relevant field of law and although there will be a framework of knowledge and understanding, students will be actively, rather than passively, engaged in the process of both learning about, and increasing understanding of, the subject matter.