Thinking about the GDL, LPC or BPTC? Enrol with your eyes open

High tuition fees and intense competition for a limited number of training contracts and pupillages mean that the decision to enrol on the GDL, LPC or BPTC should not be taken lightly. Concern about this issue is growing; Baroness Hale, deputy president of the Supreme Court, is the most recent high-profile lawyer to voice concerns about increases in the "numbers of law schools, the numbers of law graduates, the numbers of people qualifying as barristers, solicitors and legal executives, at a time when the numbers of law jobs available are diminishing".

While Hale admitted that she would currently find it "very hard" to encourage young people to pursue careers in law, a more helpful piece of advice would be to urge anyone about to embark on the LPC or BPTC, or convert to law via the GDL, to carefully consider their decisions based on a number of factors.

Firstly, you need to be absolutely sure that a career in law is what you really want. This certainty should be based not only on your passion for the field, but on a realistic perception of what your working life would entail - this comes from research, talking to practitioners and work experience, not watching Silk.

You also need to realistically assess whether you have the right credentials and skills to land a training contract or pupillage. Law is an academically rigorous profession, so while many law schools will accept a 2.2 as entry criteria and there are exceptional examples of highly successful lawyers who graduated with 2.2s themselves, you can rest assured that the vast majority of these candidates will lose out in the competition for training contracts and pupillages to those with 2.1s or (in many, many cases) first-class honours. Academic credentials are also often not enough to impress employers these days, so it's also crucial to gain as much work experience as you can.

Finally, you must consider the financial implications of taking a postgraduate course. The fee to enrol on the BPTC in London in 2013-14 is as much as £17,350, so taking it is a big decision for the majority of people who cannot rely on wealthy families for help. Aspiring barristers should investigate Inns of Court scholarships, while some law firms will pay the LPC fees of those to whom they have offered training contracts, often retrospectively. Indeed, if you have gained some work experience, it is probably a good idea to apply for a training contract before taking the LPC, though - frustratingly - securing one is not possible for many people at this stage.

When choosing a postgraduate course provider, some will ask for fees up front while others will allow you to pay in instalments, so investigate your chosen provider's fee-paying system thoroughly. You should also remember that the most expensive course fees do not necessarily ensure that your tuition will be better than at a less costly provider, so base your assessments of course quality on more extensive research. Investigate the number of graduates from your provider's courses that go on to secure careers in the legal profession, while you can get an idea of what students are saying about their experiences on forums like The Student Room.

Choosing to embark on an expensive postgraduate course is a big decision, so if you feel in need of frank, more personal advice on your academic grades, work experience credentials or anything else related to starting a career in law, email us at [email protected] and we promise to get back to you.