Britol'sTemple Quarter has been confirmed as the site for a new law school.

The College of Law is planning on opening its Bristol centre next year and will occupy 20,000 sq ft on the ground and first floors of Temple Circus.

The move is a £1.2 million investment for the city.

Bristol will be the college's eighth site and will create 40 new teaching and admin jobs. The college also hopes to use local firms to fit out the building.

Nigel Savage, chief executive of the college, said: "The Temple Quarter site is ideally situated, being so close to the city centre and within walking distance of Temple Meads station.

"Students will also be close to many of the city's leading law firms."

The college provides postgraduate courses in law and legal practice and is keen to point out that those who have a degree which is not in law can still train to be a solicitor on the graduate diploma course.

Both Bristol University and UWE offer under and postgraduate courses in law. Mr Savage said: "We have seen a real need for improved postgraduate law education in the South West.

"We want to stop the haemorrhaging of students to London and keep them in Bristol.

"Law firms and aspiring law students are increasingly drawn to our flexible approach to legal education and training and our experience in Birmingham and Manchester has been that a strong College of Law presence helps the professional service sector retain the best talent."

The College of Law has been going since 1962. In 2006 it made history by becoming the first independent institution to be granted degree-awarding powers by the Privy Council.