| The Common Professional Examination or CPE | | | | research, critical judgement and problem solving) |
| (this qualification is also sometimes called the | | | | and learn how to construct arguments about legal |
| Graduate Diploma in Law or GDL) is a | | | | materials as well as evaluating the merit of more |
| postgraduate law course that is aimed at non-law | | | | than one point of view. |
| graduates who want to start a career within the | | | | In order to enter the course, the students must |
| legal sector. | | | | have graduated from a non-law course and |
| The CPE is a one-year full time course, even | | | | obtained at least a 2.2 even though most |
| though some institutions offer the qualification as | | | | employers will require a 2.1. That even though, |
| a 2-year part-time course. The maximum time | | | | graduates in law with a non-qualifying degree (e.g. |
| allocated for the completion of the full time | | | | a joint honours degree in law) are also elligible to |
| course is normally 3 years (4 years if the | | | | take part in a CPE course. In most cases, all |
| qualification is taken as a part time course). | | | | applicants will also need to provide references |
| However, in some cases, if the student has | | | | from either their university or their current |
| suffered extenuating circumstances, they may be | | | | employer. CPE courses are also open to overseas |
| able to apply for a time extension in order to | | | | applicants. However, they must prove that their |
| complete the course. | | | | English is good enough prior to getting onto the |
| The course provides non-law graduates with basic | | | | course. |
| academic legal training. Often a CPE/GDL course | | | | The CPE qualification courses often take part in |
| includes modules in: | | | | the so-called "new universities" (these include De |
| - Law of contract | | | | Monfort, Middlesex and Staffordshire University) |
| - Law of tort (obligations) | | | | or in some cases within private institutions. |
| - Criminal Law | | | | The assesment CPE course will often comprise |
| - Equity and the law of trusts | | | | written exams and a research dissertation. The |
| - Land Law | | | | dissertation will often be on a legal area of the |
| - Public Law | | | | choice of the student and is subject to their |
| - EU Law | | | | tutor's approval. In order to pass, the student |
| A CPE course generally takes part over a period | | | | must be awarded a mark of at least 40%. A |
| of 36 weeks, 32 of which are taken up by tuition. | | | | student must be awarded a distinction if they |
| The 4 remaining weeks are taken up by exams | | | | obtain an overall average of at least 70%. |
| and revision. Furthermore, the students on the | | | | However, a student may be awarded if they |
| course are required to attend 45 hours of | | | | obtain 70% in at least 50% of the subjects, or if |
| lectures and seminars each week. The aim of the | | | | they obtain an overall average of 67% and that |
| course is for the students to examine the | | | | the examination consider it is appropriate to |
| workings of the English legal system, develop the | | | | award the student a distinction. |
| key skills needed to become a lawyer (legal | | | | |