Legal Practice Course LPC

The Swansea Legal Practice Course (LPC) is a professional practical course commencing 10th September 2018 that develops important practical skills and confidence for a successful career in law in England and Wales. Consistently rated as excellent by both students and external organisations in support of students the Swansea Legal Practice Course represents the best of innovation in professional legal education.

The Swansea Legal Practice Course (LPC) is known for the excellence of its pastoral care and support of students and personal tutors provide best practice guidance for personal development and training.

Key Features of Legal Practice Course (LPC)

• Legal Practice Course (LPC) is the compulsory course for those wishing to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. It is taught exclusively by experienced Solicitors and Barristers who bring with them a wealth of experience from practice.
• Designed for Law graduates and students holding a Graduate Diploma in Law, the course is offered on a full time (over 1 year September - June) and part-time (over 2 years September - June each year) basis
• Dedicated Legal Practice Course (LPC) teaching facilities and a practitioner Resource Room with full network access to extensive electronic legal practitioner resources.
• Students at Swansea also have the advantage of valuable networking opportunities and work experience placements.
• Students at Swansea are encouraged to adopt a professional attitude, become business focused and treat the course as a ‘dry-run’ of the first year of their training contract, with the professional tutors adopting the roles of supervising partners within the firm of Caswell Clyne set up by the course team.
• Preparation for practice takes place within a supportive but professional environment with a key emphasis on the development of business awareness and transferable skills.

Legal Practice Course (LPC) Structure

The Legal Practice Course (LPC) is taught in two distinct stages. Core subjects (Stage 1) and the elective subjects (Stage 2).

Stage 1 – Core Subjects

• Business Law and Practice
• Property Law and Practice
• Litigation (Criminal & Civil)
• Wills and Administration of Estates

In addition students will have stand-alone sessions in Professional Conduct & Regulation, Solicitors Accounts and Taxation. These subjects are also taught pervasively throughout the other modules.

Stage 2 – Electives

Students can choose 3 of the following:

• Business Leases
• Family Law & Practice
• Employment Law
• Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
• Advanced Commercial Law
• Advanced Criminal Law

(It should be noted that not every elective module listed may be available every year and is dependent on amongst other things at least 6 students electing to take the module)

Course Skills

A unique feature of the Swansea Legal Practice Course (LPC) is that we deliver a separate skills course in addition to the skills being delivered pervasively. Students build up a portfolio of skills in the following areas:

• Advocacy
• Interviewing & Advising
• Practical Legal Research
• Drafting
• Writing

Part-time structure

The part time programme is delivered on a Wednesday during the day and some Thursday evenings in Year 1 and Thursday day and some Wednesday evenings in Year 2.

The day mode of delivery requires you to attend with the full time students during the Foundation Course and then one full day each week with a separate evening when you will be taught independently of the full time students. The teaching materials are the same. You will need to attend for assessments which can take place on any day of the week including a Friday. All assessments are identical to those of the full time course.

Assessment

Assessments are through written examinations, written assessments and live skills assessments (advocacy and interviewing). 

Written examinations are held mainly at the end of Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the course together with assessments in Skills. The written examinations are usually ‘open book’ and students are allowed to take into the examination books and materials permitted by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. 

To help students prepare for final examinations in Stage 1 there is an opportunity to sit mock assessments under examination conditions which provide valuable feedback and build confidence for the real examination. Mock assessments also give an early indication of performance (enabling students to be proactive when applying for a training contract). 

Modules

Modules on the Legal Practice Course (LPC) may include:

• Business Law and Practice
• Litigation
• Property Law and Practice
• Wills and Administration of Estates
• Professional Conduct and Regulation
• Course Skills
• Solicitors Accounts
• Family and Child Law and Practice
• Advanced Commercial Law
• Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence
• Business Leases
• Employment Law and Practice
• Advanced Criminal Practice

Teaching Methods

Teaching methods are through large group and small group sessions.

The large group sessions are similar to lectures but are much more interactive. The small group sessions are practical and transactional workshops designed to replicate the work of a trainee solicitor in practice. Trainees effectively act for fictional clients in these sessions in order to develop the skills and knowledge to deal with real situations that arise in practice.

These sessions have been designed to build confidence and essential skills in a friendly, professional and, ultimately, rewarding environment.

Careers and Employability

The Swansea Legal Practice Course (LPC) has an established work placement programme with a high number of students securing training contracts and paralegal positions as a result. 

In addition, the Legal Practice Course (LPC) is also relevant to those wishing to enhance their job prospects:

• Advice worker
• Barrister
• Barrister's clerk
• Chartered accountant
• Chartered legal executive
• Civil service
• Company secretary
• Lecturer
• Licensed conveyancer
• Paralegal
• Patent attorney
• Police
• Researcher
• Solicitor
• Stockbroker
• Trading standards officer

Meet our students

"Undertaking the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at Swansea University allowed me excellent access to tutors and a studying environment conducive to success. There were many work experience opportunities in a wide variety of areas of law, ranging from high street firms to the Welsh Assembly Legal Services Department".

Tom Lloyd, Legal Practice Course (LPC)

Visit the Legal Practice Course LPC page on the Swansea University website for more details!