Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)-GDL News
GDL News
An EMPLOYMENT LAW ELECTIVE Guest Lecture:
“The Immigration Rules in Commercial Legal Practice”
Morgan Cole LLP is a UK law firm committed to providing the highest quality legal services and commercially focused advice from offices in South Wales and southern England.
Swansea LPC would like to invite all LPC, GDL and Level 3 Law Swansea University students to a presentation by Glyn Lloyd, a solicitor with Morgan Cole LLP who will talk about his experiences as an employment solicitor in a commercial law practice, with particular reference to his work as a specialist in immigration law and practice.
The lecture will primarily focus on:
- the immigration system and its legal context;
- issues which are particularly relevant for employers;
- the employer's obligations on recruiting and dismissing overseas workers; and
- compliance and enforcement
Date: Monday 21st May 2012
Time: 4-5pm
Location: Advocacy Suite, School of Law
For further details, please contact :
Richard Leonard-Davies at:
r.s.leonard-davies@swansea.ac.uk
Forthcoming Open Days
Postgraduate Open Days, including visits to the School of Law are planned for:
Wednesday 7th March 2012: Postgraduate Open Day
Tuesday 12th June 2012: Postgraduate Visit Day
To book your place visit http://www.survey.swansea.ac.uk/pgopenday/
Independent visits can also be arranged. For more information, visit:
http://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/open-days/visits/
and/or contact the Programme Director at karen.davies@swansea.ac.uk
National Interviewing Competition
The School of Law is delighted to announce that two Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) students represented Swansea University at the 2011 National Interviewing Competition. Emma Morgans and Rachel Parker travelled to Sussex University to take part in the prestigious competition, which is sponsored by the Law Society and provides an opportunity for students to develop and test some crucial legal skills - and network too! The competition in interviewing and counselling skills, which is held annually, is assessed by means of live interviews with role-playing clients and allows students to develop the inter-personal skills and legal knowledge necessary to be a successful lawyer.
Swansea Legal News 2011, Autumn Newsletter
For a copy of our School of Law Newsletter, please click on:
http://www.swansea.ac.uk/law/newscentre/news/swansealegalnews2011.php
Work Experience News
The importance of obtaining work experience in today’s difficult graduate jobs market can’t be overestimated. Just take a look at the achievements of Swansea GDL students …..
Study on the GDL and end up in Jail!
2011 GDL alumnus Anthony O’Connell tells us how he has been spending his time recently………
I spent some time in prison this summer… and loved every minute. Now, before the SRA start looking to kick me off my course, let me explain. The prison visit was just one of the highlights of two summer work placements that followed the completion of the GDL at Swansea Law School. One of the placements was arranged through the school’s criminal placement scheme and the other was a return visit to a firm I worked closely with when, before I opted for a career change, I was a newspaper court reporter. Compared to first degree students there is a huge advantage to work placements for GDL students – because you are a little older the firms realise you are serious about law as a career and you don’t spend the week making coffee and doing photocopying. That’s not to say I didn’t become acquainted with the copier, but I was never asked to remember who took milk and needed sugar.
Instead I spent my time in the magistrates’ courts, Crown Court and police stations. I got to sit in the police interview room as clients were questioned by officers, I went to Parc Prison in Bridgend to sit in on a client visit, I met barristers and made contacts with other firms, I read client files for some pretty serious offences and I generally got to understand how a solicitors’ firm runs.
Not every placement will be the same – and I suspect that my age (43!!!) helped me get some of the experiences that I did – but my placements were invaluable and, rather than putting me off what can be a difficult career to get into, they have made me more determined. I still have one more placement lined up this summer… and I can’t wait.
Diplomacy in Action!
Congratulations also to GDL alumnus Hannah Cholewka who has been accepted on to an internship with the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy in Berlin, starting in September for three months. Her work will involve organising conferences and seminars, where topics such as human rights will be debated. The involvement of young people is strongly encouraged by the Institute as a means of strengthening future relations between European countries. It’s understood that Hannah is very much looking forward to the experience of living and working in Berlin.
Hannah is no stranger to government and politics however, as she has already completed a graduate internship with the National Assembly of Wales. Her role in the WAG related largely to communications and involved attendance at press conferences, compiling news summaries and drafting press releases. Hannah was also given her own projects, including development of a local media strategy on the utilisation of local newspapers and social networking as a means of communicating with constituents. Hannah feels that working in such a busy and energetic environment enhanced her ability to use her initiative and to ‘think on her feet’. She also accompanied her local AM to constituency surgeries, where she was able to use skills gained while studying on the GDL, particularly when assisting the Case-Work Manager in the drafting of correspondence to MPs, council members etc.
Work Experience in the Land of Pizza and Peroni
GDL graduate Sarah Bell, who originally studied International Development at Swansea, recently enjoyed a summer of work experience with the UN in Italy after successfully applying for a legal internship at their Rome Headquarters. Sarah explains “the legal department there consists of maritime, contract, employment and administrative law. My internship was primarily in the employment and administrative branch, although I assisted in contract related issues dealing with disputes which affected UN missions. Although it was daunting at first, it was definitely one of the greatest and most inspirational experiences of my life, often working alongside ex-partners and solicitors from City and international commercial firms. The first legal drafting documents I submitted were returned to me covered in red pen and it often took a number of attempts before they were accepted. If there is one lesson I learned it is to accept criticism, learn from your mistakes and strive to improve!”
Sarah doesn’t, however, pretend that it was all work, work, work. As she says, “I made some great friends from all over the world, went to some of the best parties I have ever been to and spent my weekends on the beach.”
As wonderful as Rome was, all too soon it was time to return home and join the LPC, again at Swansea University, which she says was a lot of work but very enjoyable. Sarah will now move on to a training contract with Oxford firm Darbys in September 2011, which gives her time for a trip back to Rome and remind herself of her summer of Pizza and Peroni!
More on placements and enhanced work experience……
This year saw a GDL student take part in the ‘Summer Programme USA’ for the first time, which took place in Oklahoma. The 4 week programme involved a 4-day-a-week internship, with focus placed on counter-terrorism and criminal justice. Participants gained experience observing court-room trials, visiting correctional facilities, OSBI and forensic facilities and working at MIPT. The programme was not ‘all work and no play’ as it also included a variety of cultural and fun activities with a south-western US flavour, including visits to a Native American Pow Wow, nature reserves, baseball game and rodeo!
English Graduate finds a Novel way of Gaining Employment:
Following a successful placement with Geldards LLP law firm in Cardiff, Joanne Thompson was offered a training contract with the firm, where she will focus on employment law. Read more about her story below.
Student Awards
Science Graduate Receives Law Prize
Neuroscience graduate Rhiannon Osborne is the latest student to win the Nigel Kayanni Award for her achievements while studying for a Graduate Diploma in Law at the School of Law, Swansea and it is hoped that her success will inspire others who may be considering a change of direction in their careers.
Rhiannon says she became interested in law while working as a medical rep and when she discovered that it was possible for her to qualify as a lawyer despite not having completed a degree she immediately enrolled on the one-year law diploma course. She admits her legal studies have been challenging but also rewarding. Her experiences on the GDL helped her make up her mind to remain at Swansea in order to complete her LPC, which in turn has lead to her joining Cardiff firm of solicitors, Berry Smith, where she hopes to specialize in Employment Law.
International GDL Student Gains Success in Law
International GDL student Jing Xu from China has been awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award for his studies on the Graduate Diploma in Law.
Jing, who impressed his tutors with his hard work and commitment to his studies, previously studied law in China but now intends to quality as a solicitor in the UK. He has already taken the next step towards his goal and has successfully completed his LPC, also at the School.
Law student receives top honour from department
Pictured below is top GDL graduate Joanne Thompson, receiving her award from Karen Davies, GDL Programme Director and Admissions Tutor.
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The £500 prize is awarded to the student who demonstrates outstanding performance on the GDL course.
Joanne, originally from Swansea, joined the Swansea GDL immediately after graduating with a BA in English Literature from Oxford University. Following a successful placement with Geldards LLP law firm in Cardiff, Joanne was offered a training contract with the firm, where she will focus on employment law. Joanne said: "I am delighted to receive the GDL award from the School of Law. The GDL is an intensive course focusing on how the law works in England and Wales. Although challenging, the way the course is structured makes it manageable, and my tutors were very supportive. There is also a lot of interaction with other students which makes the course stimulating and enjoyable. Studying the GDL at Swansea has increased my confidence and has been great preparation for my placement at Geldards."
Archaeologist Digs for a Change of Career Direction and nets Top Swansea Law Student Award
Pictured is Kate Howell, awarded the Nigel Kaiyanni Law Prize for her achievements on the Graduate Diploma in Law. Kate, who previously worked as an archaeologist, also completed her vocational legal studies at Swansea, planning to move on to practice in the area of Environmental Law. Kate is a girl in great demand, as she was offered a training contract by not one, but TWO law firms, finally taking up a place at the Cardiff offices of Eversheds.
When Kate discovered that, as a non-law graduate, it was possible for her to qualify as a lawyer without the need to first study for a traditional 3-year a law degree, she immediately enrolled on the 36-week Law Diploma course, only to become one of its top students. Kate comments “I have enjoyed studying law at Swansea University, and found the subject both interesting and intellectually stimulating. The GDL is certainly a challenge, but I have found it very rewarding. This has been the starting point for my career change into law, and I am looking forward to a long career in law.”
Another School of Law Prize Winner
Another GDL prize winner, Laura Davies, who completed her GDL with Distinction was awarded the School of Law prize and commented “The GDL was a demanding course and required a lot of hard work and commitment but I found that it was thoroughly enjoyable and a really rewarding challenge. It has definitely provided me with a good grounding for my legal career.”
Lord Williams of Mostyn Scholarship
Law Student plans to Practice in Wales:
After beating off stiff competition from law graduates, the Lord Williams of Mostyn Scholarship was awarded to former GDL student Kathryn Novis. The award is funded jointly by the School of Law and the Swansea Legal Charitable Trust and is intended to assist students who hope to practice law in Wales. Kathryn has gone on to study for her LPC, again in the School of Law at Swansea.
Other Award News:
A past recipient of the Nigel Kaiyanni prize, Charlotte Jones, a former Sociology graduate who has recently successfully completed her LPC, also at Swansea, has now taken up a training contract with the local firm of Cameron, Jones, Hussell and Howe.
Charlotte acknowledges that her legal studies have been challenging at times but her determination to succeed in her chosen career has seen her through and she is now looking forward to a life in legal practice.
