Examius
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Law
Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) Syllabus
Conversion course allowing non-law graduates to qualify for legal practice training in England and Wales.. The complete Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) outline — 7 subjects, 25 chapters and 102 topics — laid out so you can see exactly what has to be covered and tick each item off as you go.
Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) subjects
Each subject below has its own page with the full chapter → topic → sub-topic tree and a set of real exam-style flashcards.
4 chapters · 18 topics · 27 sub-topics
Tort Law4 chapters · 16 topics · 19 sub-topics
Criminal Law4 chapters · 16 topics · 23 sub-topics
Public Law (Constitutional and Administrative Law)4 chapters · 16 topics · 18 sub-topics
Land Law3 chapters · 12 topics · 15 sub-topics
Equity and Trusts3 chapters · 12 topics · 11 sub-topics
EU Law3 chapters · 12 topics · 12 sub-topics
Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) flashcard decks
412 question-and-answer cards across 7 decks, written against this syllabus. Preview any deck free.
How to work through the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) syllabus
The outline on this page is arranged the way the syllabus itself is: subject, then chapter, then topic, then sub-topic. That last level is what most study plans skip, and it is where coverage actually goes wrong — a chapter marked "done" often has three sub-topics inside it that were never touched.
Weight your plan accordingly: Contract Law carries 18 topics while EU Law carries 12. Giving both the same number of weeks is the most common planning mistake for Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).
The ~100 hour estimate above is a first pass only: roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic. Revision cycles, past papers and mocks sit on top of that number.
Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) syllabus FAQ
What subjects are in the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) syllabus?
Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) covers 7 subjects: Contract Law, Tort Law, Criminal Law, Public Law (Constitutional and Administrative Law), Land Law, Equity and Trusts and EU Law. Together they contain 25 chapters and 102 named topics.
How many topics does the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) syllabus contain?
The full Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) outline breaks down into 25 chapters, 102 topics and 125 sub-topics. Contract Law is the largest single subject with 18 topics across 4 chapters.
How long does it take to cover the whole Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) syllabus?
Roughly 100 hours for one full pass. That estimate allows about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, so it is first-pass coverage — revision, past papers and mock tests sit on top of it. At 3 hours a day that is about 5 weeks.
Are there Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) flashcards?
Yes — 412 question-and-answer flashcards across 7 decks, one per subject, written against this syllabus. A sample of every deck is readable on this site for free, and the complete decks are in the Examius app.
Is this Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) syllabus free to use?
Yes. Every page here is free to read, and importing the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) syllabus into the Examius app to tick off topics as you finish them is free too, in United Kingdom and everywhere else. No account is needed to start.
Related Law syllabuses
Vocational course (largely replaced by the BTC) preparing law graduates to become barristers in England and Wales.
Bar Training Course (BTC) syllabusCurrent vocational training stage for aspiring barristers, offered under various provider formats approved by the Bar Standards Board.
CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) syllabusChartered Institute of Legal Executives qualification route to becoming a CILEX Lawyer, an alternative path to solicitor/barrister routes.
Common Professional Examination (CPE) syllabusLaw conversion qualification for non-law graduates, equivalent to the GDL, recognised across England and Wales.
Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (DPLP) syllabusPostgraduate vocational qualification required to begin a traineeship as a solicitor in Scotland.
Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT) syllabusAdmissions test for undergraduate law applicants at several leading UK universities, testing verbal reasoning and essay writing.
Law Society of Scotland Professional Education and Training (PEAT) syllabusTwo-stage (PEAT 1 and PEAT 2) professional education and training programme for qualifying as a solicitor in Scotland.
Legal Practice Course (LPC) syllabusVocational postgraduate course (legacy route, being phased out by SQE) preparing graduates for solicitor training.
Period of Recognised Training / Training Contract syllabusPeriod of practical legal work experience required for solicitor qualification in England and Wales (traditionally the training contract).