Advanced Diploma in Private Law
Course Overview
The Advanced Diploma in Private Law is a UK Level 5 senior-track qualification of 12 to 15 months for applicants who already hold a Diploma or comparable experience in law. The syllabus is aligned with the applied competencies referenced by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Bar Standards Board and CILEX and covers advanced contract, tort, property, equity and trusts, and remedies. The programme is a strong foundation for later SQE training but does not itself qualify a graduate to practise as a solicitor.
By graduation you will have drafted commercial contract clauses, negotiated a settlement in a mooted dispute, produced case comments on Supreme Court private law judgments, and completed a Diploma project on a chosen area of private law.
Key Features
- Aligned with SRA, Bar Standards Board and CILEX private law competencies.
- Structured drafting of commercial contract clauses, particulars and defences.
- Weekly moot-court sessions on contract, tort and equity questions.
- Practitioner sessions from commercial and Chancery chambers.
- Three parallel study modes: on-campus, live online and distance.
- Credit transfer into Bachelor's top-ups and LLB routes.
- Diploma project of 6,000 to 8,000 words.
What You Will Learn
- Draft commercial contract clauses, warranties and indemnities.
- Advise on breach, remedies and quantum in contract and tort.
- Analyse a proprietary estoppel or constructive trust claim.
- Argue a mooted tort of negligence appeal.
- Interpret a Court of Appeal or Supreme Court private law judgment.
- Structure a settlement negotiation and draft a Tomlin order.
- Prepare a case comment for a legal audience.
- Present submissions in the moot-court and case-room seminar tradition.
Who This Course Is For
- Diploma holders in law stepping into a senior track.
- Paralegals and legal executives moving into commercial or Chancery work.
- In-house counsel wanting a formal senior anchor.
- International lawyers seeking a UK private law specialism.
- Career changers with paralegal experience moving into commercial practice.
Career Pathways
- Senior Paralegal in a commercial or Chancery chambers.
- Legal Executive on the CILEX private law route.
- In-house Counsel in a corporate or fintech team.
- Contract Lawyer in a City or high-street firm.
- Legal Adviser in a commercial dispute team.
- Compliance Officer in a regulated firm.
- Legal Researcher in chambers or in-house.
- Corporate Counsel in a scaleup.
The LSLPE careers service maintains introductions to commercial chambers, in-house teams and City firms.
Entry Requirements
- A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Foundation Year, or at least two years of relevant professional experience in private law.
- GCSE English at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C or equivalent.
- IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
- One academic or professional reference.
- Applicants with case-work or drafting portfolios are encouraged to include them.
Why Study at LSLPE
LSLPE places the Advanced Diploma in Private Law within a short walk of the Rolls Building, the Royal Courts of Justice and the commercial and Chancery chambers of Lincoln's Inn and Gray's Inn. Guest sessions from working counsel keep the programme anchored in live UK private law practice.
Every intake shares the same weekly moot-court and seminar structure with a named tutor. The careers service refreshes curriculum alignment annually against Bar Standards Board, SRA and CILEX guidance, and the Advanced Diploma in Private Law functions as a strong foundation for later SQE training rather than a substitute for it.
Apply for Advanced Diploma in Private Law
The Advanced Diploma in Private Law is a senior-track legal credential with a drafting and moot-court spine. Enrol on a UK Level 5 Advanced Diploma at LSLPE, credit transfer into Bachelor top-ups confirmed in writing at enrolment. Enrol Now.
