Dear All
I'm Duc from Vietnam. I want to become a solicitor in UK.
I want to have some advices from you in order to choose the school for CPE/GDL course. Recently, I have had offers from three school including (i) BPP (centre in London), (ii) College of Law (Guildford Centre) and (iii) a CPE course provided by University of West England in Bristol (UWE). I will not take the course in UWE given that it is not a reputation law school for CPE/GDL. In consideration of BPP and College of Law, I prefer College of Law because of the following reasons:
- it has similar reputation with BPP;
- it has a close relationship with Clifford Chance (they said that some lessons will be taught by the solicitor from Clifford Chance, Baker and other great firms. They provided that these firms also send their trainees and non-legal staffs exclusively to College of Law for their CPE/GDL and LPC); and
- College of Law will save around £2000 (tuition fee of BPP is nearly £9000 while the tuition fee in College of Law is £7000) and cheaper cost of living (I will stay in Guildford, thus I think that the cost of living will be cheaper than in London).
However, what I care the most is the education quality of the school other than financial issues. Because of this, I still have some concerns as below
- Some people tell me that I will be more employable if I take the course in London, the course in London is much better than the course provided in other cities. Is there any difference in education quality between BPP in London and College of Law in Guildford. I wonder if the CPE qualification from Guildford Centers may bring me more difficulties in seeking for a traineeship?
- College of Law has other two centers in London (Bloomsbury, Moorgate). Are these two centers much better than Guildford Center?
- Do you know anything about Guildford center, can you give me any information about this institution?
Please kindly advise me if you have any information about them and please also tell me which institution is a better option for me. I will be very appreciate your advices. They will help me so much.

You are more employable in the city in which you have taken the course whether it be London or it be any other city.

the education quality is almost the same. But BPP has many advantages over the COL....i think you reallly missed those...!

1. BPP offers lectures in MP4, DVD,MP3, etc. Formats....these are in addition to your daily lectures (Incase if you wish to hear those lectures again)
2. BPP has similar tie-ups with Magic-Circle firms...even in the city of London.
3. BPP is more technically equipped than COL....! And technology is an essential part of the programme becoz when the firms are looking-out for trainees...they want someone whom they don't have to teach Techno-Legal stuff...(e.g.using various online-research websites, programs, softwares, etc.)
4. BPP guarantees you a place on the LPC on the completion of your CPE/GDL course....(College of Law does not)

I hope you take these things into consideration....! I keep posting incase if I remember more points