CoL strikes second Bristol deal
College of Law (CoL) has established itself as the dominant predator in Bristol’s legal education market after it announcing its second exclusive tie-up with a local firm.
The school has struck a deal with the Osborne Clarke to provide all of the firm’s future trainees with a tailor-made Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), Legal Practice Course (LPC) and Professional Skills Course (PSC) from September 2010.
Nigel Savage, chief executive of CoL, said: “It’s a great boost for our new centre in Bristol that we’ve been appointed by a firm that attracts high profile domestic and international work from clients across the UK.”
The college kick-started its assault on the Bristol legal education market earlier this year by striking its first exclusive deal with Beachcroft (see story).
The news will come as a blow to the Bristol Institute of Legal Practice (BILP) after CoL announced it had poached BILP’s LPC director Kerry James earlier this week (see story).
And to make sure it has fully made its mark in the city, CoL has also signed up the University of Bristol to its Pathways to Law diversity access programme.
The new collaborations are significant as they coincide with CoL’s forthcoming launch in Bristol this September and are expected to increase pressure on BILP, which has had a near monopoly in the Bristol LPC market.
The CoL has officially named Bristol’s busy Temple Quarter as the site for its latest branch. It is just minutes from Queen Square, where BPP is expected to launch its Bristol arm.
Readers' comments (2)
Steve Dinning | 21-Apr-2010 3:04 pm
From the Head of the Bristol Institute of Legal Practice at UWE:
We weren't given the opportunity to comment on this development before it went to print but it is important to record that the news does not come as a "blow" to us. In a market the size of Bristol with three providers present, it is to be expected that some firms will seek individual arrangements with particular institutions. Several Bristol firms have pledged their continued support to BILP. Far from pressure mounting on BILP, we have confirmed to the Lawyer2B on several occasions that our LPC full time acceptances for 2010/11 remain high and nearing the 200 mark. I understand from the Lawyer2B's previous reports that the College of Law is hoping to attract some 110 full time students to its Bristol LPC but that it has refused to confirm its level of acceptances to the press. In the circumstances, it is surely wrong to draw conclusions as to who is expected to feel the pressure!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Mr M | 21-Apr-2010 5:03 pm
BILP represents far better value for money and portrays the impression that students will be treated as individuals as opposed to 'a number' at the CoL.
The fact that CoL holds as much weight as it does, I think is largely down to it's history and and perceived prestige as opposed to higher quality teaching
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment