The course is designed to be especially suitable for part-time students, including country residents. Many find previous study, and also work experience, particularly in a law-related area to be advantageous.

Students need to possess initiative and a strong motivation towards self-directed study in order to succeed in the Diploma in Law. Most of the teachers are practitioners who are not generally accessible to the students outside of lectures (as are university teachers) and the level of on campus support typically provided in undergraduate university courses is not available.

Pressure of work, time management, and the difficulties of a new discipline mean that a relatively high proportion of students experience difficulty with the early subjects.