Professional Legal Practice Diploma

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Law

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Key facts

School

Edinburgh Law School

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme website
Study location

Old College

Accreditation

Not available

Apply now

19 to 21 November 2025: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days

Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply.

Register now

About the degree programme

The Diploma in Professional Legal Practice is suitable for those seeking to enter the professions of solicitor or advocate in Scotland.

The content is determined by the national Joint Standing Committee on Legal Education, the Diploma Co-ordinating Committee and various working parties, which include representatives of all the universities and members of the legal profession.

The focus is on the practical skills required in the legal profession.

In addition to the compulsory courses, there are also a large number of elective courses on offer, covering specialisms such as Banking Law, Employment Law, Mediation and Human Rights. The breadth of options available enables you to tailor your learning to your interests and career aspirations.

On this programme, you will have a very full timetable in comparison with that at undergraduate level. There is a large amount of contact hours, much of the time spent in small workshop groups.

Participation in practical class work is extremely important and your attendance is expected.

There may also be the need for substantial preparation for exercises and in-class assessment. There is an emphasis on legal skills throughout.

Opportunities on the diploma include:

  • a unique chance to deliver a plea in mitigation before a Sheriff in Edinburgh Sheriff Court
  • participation in a team presentation exercise, working collaboratively to research and present on a legal technology product or idea
  • hands-on experience through working with our Free Legal Advice Centre - finalist in the Scottish Legal Awards 2020 (Community Contribution Award)
  • a variety of competitions to further develop the professional skills which are central to the Diploma:
    • a Mediation Competition
    • a Client Consultation Competition
    • a Negotiation Competition

In addition, the Edinburgh University Mooting Society runs a series of mooting competitions which Diploma students are welcome to participate in.

By providing these opportunities, along with a broader range of support from our University careers team, we are able to support your career ambitions.

As a Diploma student at Edinburgh Law School you will also form connections and friendships which will provide an invaluable network when you join the profession.

Study options

The Diploma can be studied full-time over 9 months (2 semesters) or part-time over 18 months (4 semesters). 

Programme benefits

  • Benefit from exceptionally practical teaching and learning based on real-world legal work
  • Opportunity to deliver a plea in mitigation before a Sheriff in Edinburgh Sheriff Court
  • Hands-on experience working with our Free Legal Advice Centre
  • Supported by a strong community in a dedicated teaching space
  • Study in the heart of Scotland’s capital city and financial and legal centre

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Costs

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

To gain entry to this programme, candidates must:

  1. Have obtained an undergraduate law degree from a Scottish university (LLB), including passes in the required foundation subjects or;
  2. Have passed or obtained exemption from the professional examinations of the Law Society of Scotland in all subjects required under the Admission as Solicitor (Scotland) Regulations 2011.

At the University of Edinburgh, foundation subjects are normally taken in the first two years of the LLB, or during the Graduate LLB, and include:

  • LAWS08123 Public Law of the UK and Scotland
  • LAWS08125 European Union Law (Ordinary) A
  • LAWS08126 Family Law (Ordinary)
  • LAWS08130 Succession and Trust Law
  • LAWS08131 Commercial Law (Ordinary)
  • LAWS08132 Public Law and Individual Rights
  • LAWS08133 Property Law (Ordinary)
  • LAWS08134 Business Entities
  • LAWS08135 Delict
  • LAWS08139 Critical Legal Thinking
  • LAWS08141 Evidence (Ordinary)
  • LAWS08142 Criminal Law (Ordinary
  • LAWS08127 Contract and Unjustified Enrichment
  • LAWS08128 Scottish Legal System

These subjects map to outcomes that are universally required regardless of which university you study at. However, the individual subjects that are required can differ in name at each university. You should check with your LLB university law school to confirm what the correct subjects are.

Selection criteria

Detailed information on our selection criteria can be found in the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice Admissions Policy.*

*Admissions policy 

International applicants

International qualifications cannot generally be used to meet the entry requirements to this programme. If you have graduated from an LLB in a different country, including England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you will need to meet the subject requirements of the Scottish Foundation Programme before proceeding to the Diploma. More information can be found on the Law Society of Scotland's website.

Law Society of Scotland

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other components. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 25 in writing and 23 in all other components. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 185 in writing and 176 in all other components.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 8 in writing and 7 in all other components.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 155 in writing and 145 in all other components.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

Courses on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice are designed to provide you with the core practical skills and knowledge to enter the legal profession. The programme commences with a Foundation Skills Week which forms part of core teaching.

Courses will be taught by lectures and workshops. You are expected to prepare in advance for all workshops by reading the required materials and by reflecting on the issues to be discussed.

Compulsory courses

Core courses
  • Civil Court Practice
  • Company and Commercial
  • Conveyancing
  • Criminal Court Practice
  • Financial Services and Related Skills
  • Private Client
  • Professional Skills and Responsibility

Option courses

We offer one of the widest ranges of practical electives in Scotland, enabling you to focus on specialist areas in which you have a real interest or to tailor your learning to reflect the areas of practice of your future employer in the legal profession.

Over the past few years we have run the following elective courses:

  • Advanced Commercial Leasing
  • Advanced Private Client
  • Banking Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Construction Law
  • Corporate Finance
  • Criminal Advocacy
  • Employment Law
  • Environmental / Renewable Energy Law
  • Family Law
  • Human Rights
  • Intellectual Property
  • Mediation
  • Personal Injury
  • Scottish Contemporary Public Law
  • Technology Law, Innovation and Legal Practice

Disclaimer

Courses shown above are scheduled to run in the 2025-26 academic year and are subject to change in future academic years. Courses for the 2026-27 academic year will be confirmed by May 2026.

Due to unforeseen circumstances or lack of demand for particular courses, we may not be able to run all courses as advertised come the start of the academic year.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Ordinarily, our Diploma students attend on campus for lectures as well as weekly workshops in each course. You are expected to attend all workshops fully prepared, having completed any advance reading and/or activities beforehand. 

Preparing effectively allows you to engage fully and make the most of your workshops. Workshops are delivered by experienced practitioners and, as such, are a great opportunity for you to develop core practice skills which you will need for your future legal career.

Though the programme can be challenging, with a high number of contact hours each week, at Edinburgh Law School you will be supported by a strong community, in a dedicated teaching space, providing you with a strong foundation upon which to make a smooth transition into practice.

Assessment

We use a range of assessment formats on the Diploma, to suit the content of the individual courses. 

Our assessment model is based around a principle of ‘continuous assessment’, with marks assigned for performance in workshops as well as assignments completed throughout the duration of each course. 

In addition, some courses also include assessment by way of a ‘modified open folder’ examination, in which students can refer to permitted materials.

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Our academic staff

Our Diploma tutor team is made up of experienced practitioners, providing practical insights into the skills-focused courses they teach. You will benefit from exceptionally practical teaching and learning based on real-world legal work.

Where you will study

Study location

The Law School is based in the historic building of Old College. Law has been taught here for over 300 years, and with the highest courts in Scotland and the Scottish Parliament minutes away, it is ideally placed for students studying law.

Old College was built between 1789 and 1827, with the iconic dome added later in 1887. In 2019 after an ambitious refurbishment project, the building was transformed into a 21st century campus for the School, reflective of our world-class teaching and research, while preserving the history of Old College. 

You will be studying in the heart of Scotland’s capital city and financial and legal centre, only a few minutes from the Sheriff Court, the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary, as well as the Scottish Parliament.

Academic facilities

Teaching and study spaces

Designed for the way you study, our facilities include spacious seminar rooms, and dedicated student social and study spaces providing plenty of options for individual or group work.

Classes will take place across a range of buildings in the University’s central campus including the Law School.

The Law Library 

Edinburgh Law School is proud to house one of the largest Law Libraries in the UK and Europe. The Law Library saw one of the biggest changes as part of the School’s refurbishment project. It now occupies the entire northwest corner of Old College and boasts spectacular study and reading spaces such as the Senate Room. 

Social spaces 

The heart of the Law School features an open social space with a modern and bright cafe providing a space for students to meet. There is also a dedicated social space for postgraduate students on the lower level.

Find out more about Edinburgh Law School

Accreditation

The University of Edinburgh is a Law Society of Scotland accredited provider of the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice.

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

You should also review our application guidance before applying:

View Law School guidance on the application process

If you have any questions about applying to the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice please don't hesitate to contact us.

law.diploma@ed.ac.uk

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
There is no EUCLID data available for this programme.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have enough time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.

For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts.

If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You do not require a reference to apply to this programme.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

Our community

At Edinburgh Law School, we develop and nurture a wide range of outward facing initiatives, engaging with the wider community and our local and international partners and collaborators. We seek to build bridges and develop connections across our teaching, research and knowledge exchange activities.

Edinburgh Law School Community

University Societies and Clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

If you have any questions about the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice please don't hesitate to contact us.

law.diploma@ed.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)131 650 2004

Related degree programmes