ULaw programme lead Sophie Jones discusses the law school’s approach to the law conversion programmes, the support available, and why it remains an important step for many aspiring lawyers on the path to practice
Sophie Jones is the programme and student lead for postgraduate conversion and academic masters courses at The University of Law’s Birmingham and Nottingham campuses, where she helps hundreds of students each year make the leap from non-law backgrounds into legal practice.
Alongside attending employment tribunals and advising on complex workplace issues, Jones discovered another passion — training clients. She became one of the go-to people for explaining workplace rights and employment regulations in clear, practical terms. That realisation eventually sparked a career change. In 2017, she left practice to join ULaw Birmingham as a lecturer, and within two years she was leading the postgraduate conversion programmes. Today, as programme and student lead, she combines her practical knowledge and experience with a focus on preparing the next generation of law converts.
The conversion courses (consisting of the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL), the MA Law (Conversion) and MA Law (SQE1) courses) compress all the core subjects of English and Welsh law — contract, criminal, public, land, equity and trusts, tort and EU — into a relatively short period of time. For example, a student studying the PGDL full-time will complete their course in just 35 weeks. “Intense” is the word students most often use to describe studying these courses, and Jones agrees. But ULaw, she stresses, is built to support students through that intensity. From day one, students are matched with both an academic coach for subject-specific guidance and a student journey advisor for non-academic matters. A dedicated study skills team runs workshops on time management and organisation, while well-being services and a 24/7 student assistance programme provide ongoing support. Staff also keep a close eye to make sure students aren’t heading towards burnout. Students often tell her that this feels “so different to our undergraduate” experience, and she encourages anyone struggling to speak up early. “It’s normal to find the course challenging,” she says, “but great support is available!”
For Jones, success on the conversion programmes is about more than memorising cases and statutes. ULaw takes a “practical approach”, where students work through hypothetical legal scenarios — “This has happened to this person… what do you advise?” — that build essential problem-solving skills. Single best answer questions are also embedded into teaching and assessment, effectively priming students for both the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) and the bar’s multiple-choice style assessments.
The programme also instils the core skills necessary to make a successful lawyer. Communication is “vitally important”, Jones notes, and students get regular practice explaining complex issues clearly and succinctly. Teamwork comes built in with workshops and group tasks mimicking the collaborative environment of legal practice. And lecturers constantly push students to go beyond the black-letter law, encouraging analysis and evaluation, and asking whether the law should change, what impact it has, and how it works in practice.
Beyond academics, ULaw runs an extensive range of employability initiatives. The careers team organises skills workshops, networking events and one-to-one coaching on everything from industry insights to CV strategy. Students also have access to dedicated careers advisors, as well as law fairs and panels where they can speak directly with partners and trainees. This is especially valuable for non-law students, who may arrive without pre-existing legal networks or any idea of how to break into the profession. But far from being a disadvantage, Jones thinks that non-law backgrounds are an asset, and coming from another discipline is “absolutely not a disadvantage”. In fact, it can bring valuable perspectives which peers and employers alike appreciate. “It is really important to have that kind of diversity,” she says, noting that law firms are increasingly seeking it out in their future trainees.
Even under the SQE regime, which technically removes the requirement for a law degree or even a conversion, the courses remain an important step for many on the path to practice. Many City firms still sponsor non-law trainees through the conversion courses because they provide a strong foundation before moving on to the SQE. These courses deliver the core legal knowledge and fundamental skills necessary to succeed in practice.
So, what advice does Jones have for students tackling the conversion courses? First and foremost is organisation. “Be really organised and disciplined with your time,” she insists. The workload can be a shock, so she recommends researching the course before term begins. Attend open days, talk to current students, and work out how many hours you’ll realistically be spending on study. Full-time may not suit everyone, and ULaw offers both part-time and online alternatives. Whatever the route, she says, it’s vital to build a realistic plan for balancing commitments.
That said, she stresses that the conversion year isn’t only about work. “You have a life outside of [the] course as well,” she reminds students. Social and extracurricular life at ULaw is vibrant. The student info team runs events throughout the year — think breakfast clubs, a law ball in the summer, community Iftar dinners — and there are endless extra-curricular activities (mooting, debating, pro bono projects you name it). Getting involved can help take your mind off studies and build friendships with classmates who are in the same boat. Jones recounts that when she herself did her LPC, she went “tunnel vision” and focused solely on successfully completing the course, only to later regret not “taking advantage” of such opportunities. So her final piece of advice is to enjoy the campus experience while you can: “make friends, join a club, and remember that there is really great support here at ULaw for when you need it.”
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