Diploma in Professional Legal Practice wins LexisNexis University Commercial Impact Award
Wed 29 April 2026
We are delighted to share that Edinburgh Law School's Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (Diploma) has won the LexisNexis 2026 University Commercial Impact Award. The award recognises universities that excel in equipping law students with strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking. The winners were announced at an awards ceremony held in London on 16 April 2026.
The win recognises the Diploma's embedding of commercial awareness throughout its curriculum through a range of practical, real-world activities and reflects the professionally focused, practice-led teaching that Diploma lecturers and tutors bring to the classroom. Learning activities include managing a notional investment portfolio, engaging with the life cycle of a company, and experiencing real-world scenarios such as a mock shareholder meeting. Following an AI for Teaching Innovation project led by Hermione Hague, the Diploma has also made innovative use of artificial intelligence through the introduction of ClientConnectEd, a client interview simulation tool that enables students to complete a simulated written client interview, receive immediate AI feedback, and bring a transcript to class for further discussion.
Laura McBrien, Director of the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, said: "I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supports our Diploma, whether as lecturers and tutors, professional services colleagues or supervisors within our Free Legal Advice Centre. This achievement is truly a shared success!"
Learn more about our DPLP