Learning law in Scotland

Part of our Directory of legal education in the UK, this page includes links to all Scottish law schools plus an overview of the stages involved in qualifying as a lawyer in Scotland.

For information on the practice of legal education in Scotland and support for learning and teaching see our Scotland mini-site.

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Law schools

Law is taught in the following Scottish institutions:

• University of Aberdeen – Law School | staff directory
• University of Abertay Dundee – Dundee Business School | staff directory
• University of Dundee – Dundee Law School | staff directory
• University of Edinburgh – Edinburgh Law School | staff directory
• Edinburgh Napier University – School of Management & Law | staff directory
• University of Glasgow – School of Law | staff directory
• Glasgow Caledonian University – Department of Law
• The Robert Gordon University – Department of Law | staff directory
• University of Stirling – School of Law | staff directory
• University of Strathclyde – Law School | staff directory
• University of the West of Scotland – Business School

A series of profiles of Scottish law schools, including facts and figures and student profiles, was published in the SCOLAG Legal Journal during 2007-08. QED Law publishes an LLB league table showing the percentage of students who graduated with a first or upper second at each law school.

Qualifying as a lawyer

The legal profession in Scotland is divided into two branches – solicitors and advocates. Advocates, similarly to their barrister colleagues in the rest of the UK, are specialists in the art of advocacy (the expert presentation of a case in court) and in advising clients on every aspect of litigation.

The Law Society of Scotland is the governing body for Scottish solicitors, while the Faculty of Advocates plays the same role for advocates. As in the rest of the UK qualifiying as a lawyer in Scotland consists of a combination of academic study and practical training – see the Law Society’s education and training section for further details, and their New Lawyers Portal for news and information aimed at students and trainee solicitors.

The Law Society has announced significant changes to the process from 2011 – download Changes to the route to qualification (PDF file) for an overview, and see Halfway to ‘Big Bang’, a presentation from the UKCLE conference in Scotland in November 2009 .

Law degrees

Degrees at all the above law schools except the University of the West of Scotland are recognised by both the Law Society of Scotland and the Faculty of Advocates as qualifying degrees in law, permitting direct entry onto the Diploma in Legal Practice.

Dundee Law School offers qualifying degrees in both Scots law and English law – students can follow a dual pathway, allowing them to proceed to professional training in either Scotland or England & Wales/Northern Ireland, or both. Two year ‘accelerated’ versions are also offered in both Scots law and English law.

Aspiring solicitors without a law degree may take the Law Society of Scotland’s professional examinations prior to studying for the Diploma in Legal Practice. In order to be eligible to sit the examinations a candidate must fulfill a three year training contract with a qualified solicitor.

Diploma in Legal Practice

After completion of the LLB degree intending solicitors and advocates are required to take the Diploma in Legal Practice, which is offered by:

• University of Aberdeen
• University of Dundee
• University of Edinburgh
• Glasgow Graduate School of Law (University of Glasgow/University of Strathclyde)
• The Robert Gordon University

From 2010-11 the universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde will be offering the Diploma independently – further information from Strathclyde.

Practical training

Following completion of the diploma intending solicitors must serve a two year training contract with a solicitor, during which time the trainee is required to maintain a logbook and submit quarterly performance reviews to the Law Society. At present these requirements, together with a statement from his or her employer as to fitness to enter the profession, constitute the Assessment of Professional Competence for a trainee.

At some point during this two year period trainees must also attend a two week Professional Competence Course (PCC). The course can be offered by any body accredited to do so by the Law Society. There are two models:

• in-house providers such as law firms
• external providers such as universities and other bodies

For further information on the professional training programme see the Becoming a solicitor section of the Law Society of Scotland website.

Intending advocates, known as devils, undertake advocacy skills training, commencing with a seven week foundation course. Devils then spend several months with a devil master, during which time they must undertake further advocacy skills courses culminating in the supplementary course. For further information see the Becoming an advocate section of the Faculty of Advocates website.

Postgraduate study

See the LLM Guide for details of masters level courses in Scotland.

Last Modified: 4 June 2010