GUERNSEY will become the first offshore jurisdiction to offer a Graduate Diploma in Law qualification. The two-year programme provides an entry path into the legal profession, enabling graduates in subjects other than law the opportunity to train as lawyers and possibly go on to become an advocate.

The course will be taught by staff from the College of Law, the biggest provider of such training in Europe.

The Joint Academics Standards Board of the Law Society has recently approved the College of Law and the Training Agency to provide the diploma in Guernsey from September 2004.

‘Being able to study for the GDL without leaving the island opens the door to those people who, due to family or job commitments, would not previously have had the opportunity to undertake the course,’ said Training Agency chief executive Professor Richard Conder.

The diploma is useful for would-be lawyers and those who want to develop an understanding of the key law disciplines or have law links with their job.

The local Bar Council and Royal Court have been supportive of the course. Students will be able to use the latter’s law library to support their studies.

‘I am proud to be able to offer this prestigious qualification on-island; it is a real coup for Guernsey. The requirements of the Joint Academic Standards Board are very demanding and we suspect that few other offshore jurisdictions or even some UK universities would be able to meet the board’s expectations,’ said Professor Conder.

He added that the support of the local Bar was a key factor in enabling the course to be run in the island.

A presentation by the College of Law and the Guernsey Training Agency will be held at the latter’s offices in Nelson Place, Smith Street, at 12.30 on Tuesday 15 June.

* For further information on the Graduate Diploma in Law, contact Andrea Sarchet-Luff at the Guernsey Training Agency on 721555 or visit www.guernseytrainingagency.com