The Untold Benefits of the GDL & LPC
The Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and Legal Practice Course (LPC) are well-known qualifications within the legal profession. However, their benefits extend far beyond those looking to become solicitors or barristers. Studying these qualifications have been instrumental in my roles as a trainer, auditor, and business owner.
I studied the GDL which is designed to condense the knowledge of a three-year law degree into a one-year course. The intensity and breadth of the course forced me to develop time management skills and a sharp ability to absorb large amounts of information efficiently.
As a trainer, having a strong grasp of legal principles has allowed me to present complex regulatory frameworks to trainees in a way that is accessible and comprehensible. In the training courses I deliver, understanding the legal background behind regulations allows me to explain not just what the rules are, but why they exist.
Ikigai - What that means to me
I’ve been asked the same question over the last , well, almost 3 years since I started studying the GDL - Graduate Diploma in Law in 2018. Why are you studying something so complicated at your AGE? The reply was often a jumbled response - because I can, because I’m a life-long learner, because, because,because. It wasn’t until I actually graduated, that I realised studying, learning new skills, research was part of my DNA.
Studying the GDL and now the LPC became my way of perfecting the quasi rustic knowledge I had gained over 14 years as a trainer- advisor, in order to formalise not only what I had learnt but be trained in a very formal way. It was tough especially when the Pandemic hit and it meant that I would not see the inside of a lecture theatre for just over a year. Whilst I am a self-motivated learner, I regale in the engagement that takes place in a training room, classroom or lectures- not only is the camaraderie great, the psychological aspects assist with the learning process - bouncing ideas off one another, Q& A without interruption or tech issues, relating to lecturers who provide a much more convincing performance in person than they do online.