Kaplan Law School will close in 2016

Aug 28, 2015

Written By Sofia Gymer, Editor, AllAboutLaw.co.uk

In a somewhat surprising announcement, Kaplan Law School has revealed its intention to stop providing the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and the Legal Practice Course (LPC) from the academic year 2016/2017.

The decision coincides with the end of its contract to provide the GDL and LPC for Nottingham Law School.

In spring last year the school made the decision to shut down its BTCP course, instead sending those due to start the course in the academic year 2014/2015 to the University of Law (ULaw) to complete their studies.

Kaplan stated that the ‘economics’ of the course were the predominant reason for the decision.

Kaplan’s smaller size has arguably made it difficult to compete with its main rivals, ULaw and BPP, in the provision of such courses. In the past year major clients such as Trowers & Hamlins and Shearman & Sterling have defected from Kaplan in favour of the larger providers.

A spokesperson for the school said: “Kaplan Law School’s GDL and LPC will run for its final year in 2015/16. Students will continue to receive the high quality tuition and strong focus on individual student outcomes that made it a leader in the market. The contract with Nottingham Law School to run their LPC and GDL comes to an end in 2016.

“The SRA’s Training for Tomorrow programme has opened up the prospect of exciting new possibilities for the route to qualification as a solicitor of England and Wales.

“Kaplan has therefore taken the view that it will not invest in a traditional LPC and GDL to replace the existing one but rather will concentrate its resources on developing innovative new products that draw on the Training for Tomorrow framework and reflects the competence statement.”

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