Masters Degrees in Legal Practice

Are you ready to make the transition from the classroom to the courtroom?

Designed to act as a bridge between the academic study of law and the practice of law, the LLM in Legal Practice will enhance your legal knowledge and enable you to develop the skills and values necessary to become an effective and successful legal professional.

This Master’s degree course offers you the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised LLM qualification in addition to your LPC. Completing an LLM project or reflective portfolio will help you to develop the professional and reflective skills necessary for practice, expanding on your legal knowledge, legal application and ability to critically analyse law, practice and policy.

The programme will equip you for the demands of the legal profession and prepare you for a training contract and life as a solicitor.

This LLM is also eligible for the Government’s £10,000 postgraduate loan, unlike a standalone LPC.

Learn from the best

You will benefit from the highest quality of practice-informed teaching, taught by staff who are professionally qualified as either barristers or solicitors and with considerable experience of legal practice. We have expertise in a range of areas, including an international reputation in the fields of evidence and criminal justice studies.

Northumbria has built up an enviable reputation for practical, innovative LLM courses. The combination of teaching excellence and practical relevance ensures that standards remain consistently high. We are committed to postgraduate studies that will enhance your professional career.

The LLM in Legal Practice has been designed with input from the sector and shaped by internationally excellent research, to ensure the course is up-to-date and relevant.

The course is delivered by Northumbria Law School, three times winner of the prestigious “Best Law School” accolade, at the Attorney General’s Student Pro Bono Awards.

Teaching and Assessment

The LLM in Legal Practice is a vocational course and teaching and learning reflect the focus on preparation for legal practice.

On this full-time programme you will attend two days per week, each Tuesday and Wednesday (the course is also available on a part-time basis). Please note that assessments can be timetabled on other days.

From September to May you will focus on the LPC component of the course. Teaching will take the form of workshops and larger group sessions. We deliver workshops in small groups, enabling strong staff-student contact and individually tailored feedback. Larger group sessions will introduce you to new areas of law.

You are encouraged to take responsibility for your own learning, with a focus on the development of professional attitudes and abilities, alongside the development of ethical responses to legal practice.  All students study legal research as a pervasive subject; this skill is practised throughout the course, and assessed as part of the LLM.

LPC modules are assessed by examination or in context throughout the course.

After completion of your LPC assessments in May you will move on to complete your project or portfolio. You will learn through a combination of tutor-directed and independent learning, and through reflective practice. The module will contain enhanced taught elements of research skills to support you in your learning. Additionally, you will be allocated a project supervisor for your project, who will provide formative feedback on your project research and writing. Your summative assessment for the module is your 15,000 to 17,000-word research project or 8,000 to 10,000-word reflective portfolio, which will be linked to an area of study under your LPC.

Learning Environment

You will have access to the very best facilities including Northumbria’s mock courtroom, extensive IT provision and dedicated Legal Practice Library. Close links with the North East legal profession, as well the option to study in our award-winning Student Law Office, mean that there are excellent opportunities to gain real life legal work experience.

We use technology to enhance your learning experience. Underpinning each module is an e-Learning Portal, which offers detailed learning materials including power point slides and self-evaluative tasks. All lectures are Panopto-recorded. This enables you to review lectures at your own pace and catch up on any you may have missed.

The skill of interviewing is taught in the context of criminal litigation as a police station interview, with actors playing the role of the suspect during the assessment.

Our specialist Law Practice Library contains practitioner materials as well as a wide variety of journals and law reports. The range and depth of resources reflects our position as the largest law school in the North East region. 

Research-rich Learning

Northumbria’s strong research ethos is an essential aspect of how you will develop as a critical, reflective and independent thinker. As a postgraduate student you’ll develop your research skills to a new and higher level.

Our academics are at the cutting edge of current legal issues, which will enhance your learning experience. They will discuss their own research as it relates to the topics you will study, and make use of opportunities to involve you in up-to-date enquiry-based learning.

Our research interests include employment law, information rights, international human rights, gender and sexuality, law and development, and sport law. Northumbria University is particularly known for our work in criminal justice.

Give your career an edge

The addition of an LLM qualification to the core LPC programme further develops key learning outcomes such as your knowledge and understanding of legal principles, ability to critically analyse legal problems and reflect on the development of your legal skills.

The project or portfolio component of the LLM gives you the opportunity to further research an area of study from your LPC, enhancing your LPC qualification and therefore your employability.

All students enrolled on the LLM Legal Practice are guaranteed either a mentor or a work placement. A work placement will provide valuable work experience to enhance your CV. A mentor is a trainee solicitor or newly qualified solicitor who can give you an insight into life in practice, help with your CV and advice about interviews.

Your Future

The LLM in Legal Practice at Northumbria is designed to give you the best possible training for life as a solicitor. On successfully completing the course you will be able to proceed directly onto a training contract and be well equipped with the skills and attributes required for a highly successful career across the legal profession, business or politics.

The programme is designed to be practical and directly applicable to students seeking a career as a legal professional; it is intended that you will be able to use the skills, knowledge, understanding and research from this programme on a daily basis within your working life.

Read less

The Swansea Legal Practice Course (LPC) is a professional practical course that develops important practice 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 (LPC) 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

The Legal Practice Course (LPC) is offered full and part-time and is staffed by a dedicated team of friendly and supportive professionals with extensive experience of legal practice. We operate with dedicated teaching facilities and a practitioner Resource Room with full network access to extensive electronic legal practitioner resources. Legal Practice Course (LPC) students at Swansea participate in Street Law and have the advantage of valuable networking opportunities and work experience placements supported by the course team.

Designed for Law and GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law) graduates.

This Legal Practice Course (LPC) is the compulsory course for those wishing to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.

Taught by experienced Solicitors and Barristers who bring with them a wealth of experience from practice.

Full time Course – 1 year September – June

Part –Time Course – 2 years September – June in each year

Legal Practice Course (LPC) 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.

Careers & Employability

The Swansea Legal Practice Course (LPC) has an established work placement programme and the majority of local firms participate in this with a high number of students securing paralegal positions and training contracts as a result of this scheme.

StreetLaw

Access to legal knowledge does not just mean people obtaining legal representation when they are involved in a dispute or complex legal process. In order for people to understand their rights and responsibilities they must know and understand their legal rights. To address this aspect of pro bono work, Swansea Legal Practice Course (LPC) students have set up a Streetlaw programme.

Under this scheme Legal Practice Course (LPC) students supported by their tutors, work with schools and community groups to identify legal concerns. The students then research the relevant material and ultimately present their findings to the partner groups in a user-friendly form. Through discussion, role-play and other interactive methods, students and the community group members both learn about the law in context.

Student Quote

"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)

Read less

Our aim is that the Glasgow Diploma comes to be regarded as the trademark of excellence, ensuring that you are not just employable but sought after by employers.

Key facts

• PgDip: 9 months full-time;
• Contact: [email protected]

Why Glasgow

• This highly practical programme has been designed by practising lawyers to replicate the work that you will do when you commence your traineeship, ensuring that you will be a confident and competent trainee solicitor.
• The Glasgow Legal 40, legal alumni of the university who practise across a wide range of areas, support our Diploma students in various ways including mentoring them and attending networking events.
• We have developed strong links with employers and work with them to ensure that the programme we offer meets their requirements enabling you to commence your traineeship with the necessary skills and knowledge.
• Extensive use is made of our library of filmed resources which link to course materials developed in collaboration with the judiciary and our tutors.They include various court hearings including criminal trials, proofs, debates, motions and a judicial review as well as a mediation, collaboration and negotiation.
• Students attend Glasgow Sheriff Court and appear before sheriffs to deliver pleas in mitigation; police officers attend the university to take part in court cases.
• Almost every one of our 150 tutors is a practising lawyer, and all are dedicated, enthusiastic, committed and keen to share their experience with the next generation of lawyers.

Programme Structure

You will take 5 core and 3 optional courses. This allows you to select courses which suit your areas of interest or meet the requirements of your future employers in the legal profession. Courses are delivered through a combination of on-line resources, e-modules, lectures and by small group tutorials (12 or less). Our team of 150 highly experienced, enthusiastic and committed tutors, almost all of whom are practising solicitors or advocates, are all focused on ensuring that you meet the requirement of a “Day 1 ready trainee” by the end of each course.

Core courses
• Criminal litigation (incorporating advocacy, evidence and procedure and negotiation)
• Civil litigation (incorporating advocacy, rules of procedure, evidence, negotiation and pre-action protocols)
• Property Law and Conveyancing (incorporating commercial leases)
• Private client (incorporating wills, trusts, deeds of variation and guardianship)
• Business, ethics, finance and practice awareness.

Optional courses
• Advanced civil litigation (incorporating advocacy, remedies, debates, proofs and appeals)
• Advanced criminal litigation (incorporating advocacy)
• Commercial contracts
• Commercial conveyancing
• Corporate
• Family law (incorporating negotiation, mediation, collaboration and litigation)
• Human rights (incorporating employment, asylum and immigration, legislative competence, children's hearing referrals)
• Contemporary Scottish Public Law

Industry Links and Employability

Our Services to Students

Following completion of the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice students must complete a traineeship within a legal firm as a pre-requisite for legal practice.

We strive to increase our students’ employability through our links with the legal profession by working with colleagues in the School of Law, the University's Career Service and other relevant organisations. Our aim is to support and guide our students to help them make the correct career choices.

When planning future career choices, Glasgow DPLP students can access
• The Glasgow Legal 40 mentoring network: exclusive to Glasgow Diploma students
• Professional Legal Practice events including Glasgow Legal 40 networking events and "Life in Law" autobiographical talks from distinguished members of the profession
• Expert advice from the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice team
• Projects such as CLASP pilot in which corporate law students advise start-up businesses
• An annual Law Fair to network with Scottish Law Firms and other employers
• Information about traineeships and other jobs direct from employers
• Employability website
• After completion of the progrmme - invitations to events to improve employability.

Legal 40 Mentoring Network

The Glasgow Legal 40 is an initiative designed for University of Glasgow School of Law Diploma students. The group comprises 40 successful University of Glasgow legal alumni, drawn from all sectors of the legal profession. The main activities of the group include a mentoring programme and a series of social and educational events which allow Diploma students to engage with distinguished members of the legal profession and which will benefit the next generation of lawyers to emerge from the School of Law.

Since 2013, the group has been strengthened and developed by the introduction of Glasgow Legal 40 associates. This involves students who benefited from support and mentoring offered by Glasgow Legal 40 members undertaking the same role for their successors.

Launched in September 2010, our programme aims to bridge the gap between academia and professional legal practice; the Glasgow Legal 40 is a unique and key initiative which allows us to achieve our goal of ensuring our students are not just employable, but sought after by employers. Eileen Paterson, Director of Professional Legal Practice (Operations) explains: “The Glasgow Legal 40 initiative has already been of enormous benefit to our students. We are extremely grateful to our alumni who have supported our students in numerous ways and have been enthusiastic in their commitment to this initiative."

Our Diploma students benefit from
• Easing students' transition from university to practice
• Allowing students to draw on the experience of expert mentors
• Increasing student networking skills
• Providing role models for students pursuing careers in legal practice
• Increasing student links with the legal profession
• Increased employability.

Students contemplating pursuing a career as an advocate at the Scottish Bar are able to take courses in International Private Law and/or Roman Law at no additional cost. These courses are compulsory entry requirements for the Faculty of Advocates.

Career Prospects

Upon successful completion of the programme you will be eligible to progress through your traineeship to work as a solicitor or advocate. The Diploma in Professional Legal Practice is a requirement for entry into these roles in the legal profession.

Read less

About the course

The Legal Practice Course trains you to masters standard, allowing you to develop an excellent knowledge and understanding of legal practice, whilst also providing you with the vocational qualification you need in order to go on to practise as a solicitor.

Highly regarded by the profession and consistently recognised for the quality of its teaching, the course is part of a top-ranking Russell Group University within a vibrant city, and yet is small enough to remain personal.

The MA in Legal Practice is very much a hands-on course, using case studies and files based on those used in practice. We ask you to research and acquire knowledge, put that into context, identify issues and place the client at the centre of the problem. Upon completion of this vocational aspect of the course, you then go on to submit a dissertation.

Students who choose not to submit a dissertation will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma (which satisfies the vocational requirements).
You can opt to take the course part-time, in which case you are only required to come in for approximately six hours per week – allowing you the rest of your time to gain valuable work experience, something which is highly regarded by employers.

Who we are

We’re a forward-thinking, innovative law school. Our research helps shape global policy. We do what we do to empower people, to protect people and improve people’s lives.

The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) ranks us joint tenth in the UK, with Oxford and Warwick. Ninety per cent of our research was judged world-leading or internationally excellent.

We offer a wide range of law and criminology courses. Our leading criminology courses are delivered by internationally-renowned academics within our Centre for Criminological Research; one of the four original criminological centres of excellence in the UK.

Uniquely among English Russell Group law schools, we also offer the opportunity for you to complete both the academic and vocational stages of qualifying as a solicitor in our Centre for Professional Legal Education.

Your career

Our graduates include CEOs, lawyers, partners in big corporate firms, judges and barristers. Others are solicitors, academics, politicians and policy makers or work in criminal justice or at the Home Office.

Many of our graduates become legal practitioners. But you can use your postgraduate training in different ways, including business, policy development, teaching or research. Our staff can support you in whichever path you choose, having a wealth and variety of experience across all these areas.

Your course will give you the opportunity to meet and engage with professional organisations. And our excellent careers service will support you from the outset, helping you to identify your strengths and plan your next move. At the School of Law we also have an in-house careers adviser, offering specialised advice to Legal Practice Course, Graduate Diploma in Law and other postgraduate students who wish to pursue a career in the legal profession.

How we teach

Many of our academics are internationally respected for their research. Their groundbreaking work informs what we teach.

Our research groups cover a lot of ground, including criminology, commercial law and law in its international context. You’ll benefit from their expertise and that of their professional contacts. Your course will equip you with an in-depth knowledge of your chosen area of law or criminology. Our Legal Practice Course is highly regarded. It will provide you with all the skills and knowledge you need to enter the legal profession in England or Wales.

We have our own courtroom, a dedicated postgraduate computer room and quiet study space. Wi-Fi is available throughout the building so you can easily access the library’s online collections. Our students can also access our e-resources from anywhere in the world.

Legal Practice Course Stage One (compulsory)

Business Law and Practice; Property Law and Practice; Litigation and Advocacy; Drafting; Writing; Practical Legal Research; Interviewing and Advising; Advocacy; Professional Conduct; Solicitors’ Accounts; Wills and Administration of Estates.

Stage Two (optional, choose three)

Acquisitions and Mergers; Advanced Commercial Litigation; Corporate Finance; Commercial Property; Commercial Law; Family Law; Employment Law; Advanced Criminal Litigation; Private Client; Personal Injury Litigation.

Read less

Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Legal Practice and Advanced Drafting at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).

The LLM in Legal Practice and Advanced Drafting which commences in 2015 combines the Swansea Legal Practice Course, a professional practical course that develops important practice skills and confidence for a successful career in law in England and Wales, with an independent learning module which facilitates the completion of a drafting project by a student which may then be used to evidence enhanced important legal skills to a potential or existing employer for career starts or progression. This programme in Legal Practice and Advanced Drafting is an extension to the LPC (Legal Practice Course).

Key Features of Legal Practice and Advanced Drafting

A key feature of the module in Legal Practice and Advanced Drafting is flexibility; the ability to work at your own pace combined with choice of topic in consultation with your supervisor. In addition to usual study on the Legal Practice Course students on the Legal Practice and Advanced Drafting course are required to produce a project of around 15,000 words on a drafting topic of your choice.

This may be a prenuptial agreement in Family Law as merely one example; with three meetings with your supervisor you would be expected to critically consider the rationale for the agreement and comment and analyse on the drafting of a precedent agreement and critically assess its impact. We emphasise this is only an example for illustration.

As a student of the Legal Practice and Advanced Drafting course, you would complete the project in your own time during Stage 2 of the LPC (March to June. It would not increase class contact time as there are no additional classes

Stage 2 of the LPC only comprises 3 ten credit optional modules at a most delivered over 3 days per week – you will have 2 days a week to devote to your project plus week ends and the Easter break – should you wish to refine over the Summer you can do so and submit on the Universal submission date in September rather than in June (end of Stage 2) if you wish –the LLM would be awarded in July if you submit in June and in October if your submit in September should the project be a pass against the learning outcomes.

You can either apply at the outset or during the LPC to upgrade but must do so before Stage 2 commences in March of each year, so if you are unsure you can enrol on the LPC and see how this goes before deciding to upgrade.

Modules

Modules for the LLM in Legal Practice and Advanced Drafting include:

- Business Law and Practice

- Litigation

- Property Law and Practice

- Wills and Administration of Estates

- Professional Conduct and Regulation

- Solicitors Accounts

For further information on modules, please visit the LLM Legal Practice and Advanced Drafting page.

Careers and Employability

In addition to the benefits of the Swansea Legal Practice Course the successful completion of a drafting project may be used to evidence enhanced important legal skills to a potential or existing employer for career starts or progression.

An LLM is also an internationally recognised qualification that will enhance your CV.

Read less

The Legal Practice Course (LPC) aims to prepare you for employment as a trainee solicitor and to provide you with a solid foundation for subsequent practice as a solicitor. This course can be studied full-time or part-time (day or evening). In the most recent (2014-15) Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey, 98.2% of graduates from this course were in work or further study within six months.

More about this course

This course provides graduates who have completed the academic stage of legal training with the professional stage of training required to qualify as a solicitor. We have a long-standing reputation for training solicitors and were one of the first universities to be validated to run the Legal Practice Course.

The course emulates the nature of the work encountered in practice and is transactional, following clients through various legal transactions and court hearings. It builds on the substantive law that you will have already learnt and includes the study of both law, and procedure in the major areas of practice. It also teaches the 'lawyerly' skills of practical legal research, interviewing and advising, writing, drafting and advocacy to prepare you for your subsequent professional training and for practice as a solicitor.

The LPC is entirely taught in a modern building with a mock court room, audio visual recording facilities, IT resources and library. Materials and case studies are provided.
-The LPC at London Met provides you with the required knowledge and skills that you will need to qualify as a solicitor.
-We offer work placements and pro bono opportunities to enhance your employment prospects.
-It is the most competitively priced LPC provided by a London university with flexible study options to suit you.
-All teaching is undertaken by qualified lawyers with extensive practice experience and students benefit from personal feedback.
-There is an option to top up the LPC on completion of the course to an LLM in Legal Practice by completion of dissertation.


Teaching is highly interactive and you will be taught in a small groups in three-hour sessions. The tutors are accessible and friendly and classes are supplemented with online tests and revision lectures and materials. The emphasis is on face to face teaching although some lectures, covering more complex subjects, are available online,. The overwhelming response from student feedback is that they prefer live contact with tutors and fellow students. You learn by “doing” on this LPC.

Students attending on either the one year full-time or the two year part-time LPC are required to attend an intensive foundation course for the first week of term in September from Monday to Friday, 10am until 5pm. Compulsory attendance is required for all students, irrespective of whether you are studying full-time or part-time. Please take this into consideration when arranging work, family and holiday commitments.

You can choose to have all your face-to-face tuition and workshops for the core practice areas concentrated into two set days a week on our one year course. This is usually Tuesday and Thursday from September until June. It enables you to reduce your travelling costs and plan your week. You attend an average of 12 hours face to face contact per week with the remaining time devoted to private study. Please note however, you may have to come into the university on additional days for assessments. Also Stage 2 elective subjects may run on different days.

Students who wish to complete the Legal Practice Course over two years can attend either in the evenings or during the day. The part time evening classes are taught from 6pm until 9pm on Tuesday and Thursday in the first year and Monday and Wednesday in the second year. The part-time day classes are taught from 10am until 5pm on Friday in the first year and on Monday in the second year.

Assessment methods are designed to reflect how solicitors work today, and include skills assessments and open book examinations.

Professional accreditation

London Metropolitan University is an SRA (Solicitor Regulation Authority) approved LPC provider.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2016/17 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.

Year 1 modules include:
-Advocacy Skills (core, 0 credits)
-Business Law and Practice (core, 24 credits)
-Drafting Skills (core, 2.25 credits)
-Interviewing Skills (core, 5.5 credits)
-Legal Writing Skills (core, 2.25 credits)
-Litigation (core, 39.5 credits)
-Professional Conduct and Regulation (core, 1.5 credits)
-Property Law and Practice (core, 24 credits)
-Research Skills (core, 2.75 credits)
-Solicitors Accounts (core, 6 credits)
-Wills and Administration of Estates (core, 2 credits)
-Advanced Business Law and Practice (option, 13.5 credits)
-Child Law and Practice (option, 13.5 credits)
-Civil and Commercial Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (option, 13.5 credits)
-Commercial Law and Practice (option, 13.5 credits)
-Corporate Law and Practice (option, 13.5 credits)
-Employment Law and Practice (option, 13.5 credits)
-Family Law and Practice (option, 13.5 credits)
-Housing Law and Practice (option, 13.5 credits)
-Immigration Law and Practice (option, 13.5 credits)
-Intellectual Property Law and Practice (option, 13.5 credits)
-Private Client Law and Practice (option, 13.5 credits)

After the course

Helping LPC students to get a training contract and legal work experience is central to what we do. Each student is designated a professional mentor to provide individual advice and guidance. We offer a number of work placements within solicitor’s firms, at court or within not-for-profit organisations to enhance your CV, provide contacts and networking opportunities. We also offer pro bono work for students who need to enhance their links with the solicitors’ profession. In March each year we run a career development week to help focus on your career prospects. We offer mock interviews, CV surgeries and networking workshops. Our excellent careers service can also help you in obtaining training contracts and valuable work experience.

Read less

Would you like the opportunity to integrate new knowledge with your current area of practice to further enhance your skills and career prospects?

The LLM Advanced Legal Practice course will allow you to undertake an in-depth study of a specialised legal topic under the supervision of one of our dedicated teaching team. You will also develop your skills in legal research and the coherent presentation of this research in written format.

Designed for qualified lawyers, solicitors, barristers and those with an equivalent qualification, this course is delivered via distance learning across a one to two year period, allowing you to study at times convenient to you. Applicants must successfully have completed the Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) or equivalent. This course is also open to those who are currently completing their legal qualification at Northumbria University.

Are you a qualified lawyer who would like to develop your knowledge in a specialist area of law? If so, this course could be for you.

Learn From The Best

This course is delivered by our specialist team, who all boast extensive knowledge of general law and their own related specialisms.

Although a majority of this course is delivered online, you will have ongoing access to staff who will support you through every step of your degree.

The initial stage of this course is focused on tutor-directed learning and you will be allocated a personal tutor who will provide guidance and feedback as you begin to work towards producing your dissertation project.

They will work with you throughout all stages of your dissertation, providing feedback on each chapter and advice on the suitability of your chosen topic, research techniques and whether your project is sufficiently analytical.

Teaching And Assessment

This course is primarily delivered online to provide flexibility and the ability for you to study at times convenient to you. Teaching will be delivered via guided reading, self-evaluative tasks and formative writing exercises that will help you to develop your analytic, research and writing skills.

In the early stages of your course you will have the opportunity to participate in a ‘surgery’ session, where you can discuss your expectations and explore issues relating to the mechanics of this course and its delivery.

You will then study a Legal Research and Study Skills Unit, before progressing to your dissertation, which is the sole assessment method for this course.

Your dissertation must concentrate on the law in England and Wales but, providing there is an appropriate tutor available to supervise, its topic can be of your choosing and can include a comparative study of international legal jurisdictions. Since the project requires in-depth research it may be closely related to your intended or current area of practice.

Learning Environment

As a distance-based learner a large proportion of your course’s content will be delivered online using the latest innovative software.

Learning materials such as module handbooks, assessment information, lecture presentation slides and reading lists will be available via our innovative e-learning platform, Blackboard. You can also access student support and other key University systems through your personal account.

In addition to Blackboard, you will also be provided with access to innovative learning and assessment platform, pebble+, where you can store your written material.

Video platform, Panopto, will also allow you to view recorded lectures and other content that will support your learning.

Research-Rich Learning

Research-rich learning is embedded throughout all aspects of this course and focused into three signature areas: of Law and Society, Legal Education and Professional Skills, and the Centre for Evidence and Criminal Justice Studies. These groups act as a focus for research activity, informing and pervading our law courses as appropriate.

Our team are all research-active and regarded as thought-leaders in their own areas of specialism.

The core focus of this LLM Advanced Legal Practice course is a research project that will allow you to develop your own research skills and apply them to your dissertation and daily practice in the workplace.

Give Your Career An Edge

Providing the opportunity for you to undertake a research topic in your current field of work or in a new area of particular interest to you, this course aims to ensure development of legal knowledge, legal application and critical analysis skills to equip you with professional and reflective skills necessary for effective practice.

This will allow you to integrate the knowledge acquired during this course in to your current practice, whilst developing your professional research and writing skills.

It will also give you further academic credit for your existing legal qualification to further enhance your career and progression opportunities, whilst allowing you to focus on one specialist area of legal practice.

Your Future

Building on your previous Legal Practice Course, Bar Professional Training Course or related qualification, the LLM Advanced Legal Practice course provides the ideal opportunity for professional development in a specialist area of law.

The skills acquired during this course are directly relevant to the needs of modern legal practice and can help to improve future job prospects and the progression to higher level roles.

Successful completion of this course will allow you to demonstrate your skills and knowledge in a specialist area of law, in addition to providing you with a master’s level qualification.

Throughout the duration of this course you will have access to our online Employability and Leadership Attributes portal, which can further help increase your employability by providing an insight into the indicators of leadership potential valued by employers.

Read less

Prepare to practice as a solicitor in England or Wales: completing our course will allow you to move on to take a training contract. We’ll explore a number of areas of legal practice, and keep you up to date with the latest opportunities in the legal profession. Thanks to our flexible teaching, you’ll have time to follow these opportunities up, too.

Overview

On our Legal Practice Course at Anglia Law School, you’ll explore civil litigation and dispute resolution, criminal law, property law and business law. As well as this, our range of optional modules will give you the chance to learn about family law, employment law, child care, commercial dispute resolution and private client work.

You’ll benefit from extra support and training, too. We offer non-assessed training in areas like billing, file management, commercial awareness and negotiation skills, plus a specialist non-assessed course in careers and professional development.

With our links to practitioners, who also help to develop the course, you’ll have access to the latest careers advice and maybe even the opportunity to be interviewed for a training contract. We’ll also keep you up to date on vacancies in the legal job market through our monthly email bulletin.

Our high staff-to-student ratio means we can give you an excellent level of pastoral care, addressing your individual needs and supporting your transition from undergraduate study to the Legal Practice Course, and from the Legal Practice Course to training contracts and employment.

And thanks to our flexible teaching, you’ll be able to fit study around other commitments such as employment or training. Most of our large group sessions are delivered by i-lecture, so you can join remotely from wherever you want.

When you're studying on-campus in Cambridge, you'll benefit from a range of facilities including our mock courtroom, which will allow you to practice advocacy in a realistic setting.

We're the only university in East Anglia to offer the Legal Practice Course. We were also the first university in England and Wales to have our course accredited by Skillsmark.

Teaching times: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am-6pm. You'll also attend a five-day induction week at the beginning of the course.

See the website http://www.anglia.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/legal-practice-course

Careers

This course will prepare you for life as a practising solicitor in England or Wales, and allow you to continue on to the two-year training contract that will fully qualify you for professional practice*.

You will most likely choose to complete your two-year training contract with a firm of solicitors in private practice, but might prefer to take one with an alternative employer, such as the UK government (through the Government Legal Service), local government, the Crown Prosecution Service or a law centre. Whatever you decide, you can be sure of receiving specialised careers guidance on our Legal Practice Course.

*unless you have a FILEX qualification and exemption from the SRA.

Modules

Core modules:
Litigation
Property Law and Practice
Business Law and Practice
Interviewing and Advising
Writing
Practical Legal Research
Advocacy
Drafting
Professional Conduct and Regulation
Solicitors Accounts
Wills and Administration of Estates
Career Development
Billing, File Management and Commercial Awareness
Negotiation

Optional modules:
Family Law and Practice
Employment Law and Practice
Child Care
Private Client
Commercial Dispute Resolution

NB optional modules will only run if there is enough demand.

Assessment

You’ll show your progress through a combination of timed open book supervised assessments, oral practical and coursework-style assessments across the course. You’ll also undertake full-scale mock assessments in all areas, including all skills subjects.

All students take our core modules, plus three vocational subjects from the list of optional modules. Please note that the availability of optional modules is subject to demand.

Where you'll study

Whether you aim to work in the creative industries or the social sciences, the legal profession or public service, the Faculty of Arts, Law & Social Sciences will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need for professional life.

Our lively, diverse community and ambitious academic environment will broaden your horizons and help you develop your full potential - many of our courses give you the chance to learn another language, study abroad or undertake work placements as you study.

If you’re interested in art, music, drama or film, check out our packed programme of events. Together with our partners in the creative and cultural industries, we’re always working to enrich the cultural life of the university and the wider community.

Our research is groundbreaking and internationally recognised, with real social impact. We support the Cultures of the Digital Economy Research Institute (CoDE), whose projects include interactive music apps and documenting lifesaving childbirth procedures, as well as nine international research clusters, such as the Centre for Children's Book Studies and the Labour History Research Unit.

In the Research Excellence Framework 2014, six of our subject areas were awarded world-leading status: Law; Art and Design; English Language and Literature, Communication, Cultural and Media Studies; History; Music, Drama, Dance and Performing Arts.

Read less

This course is part of the vocational stage of your training if you wish to qualify as a solicitor. It is recognised by the Solicitors' Regulatory Authority (SRA) and meets their Legal Practice Course outcomes.

We offer a learning environment that focuses on realistic case studies providing a general foundation for practice in the legal profession. Our workshops support you in developing your understanding and exploration of the concepts and demands of professional practice.

Our Leeds Law School helps you to improve your employment prospects by building your links with the legal community. The subject coverage is prescribed by the SRA and delivered by qualified lawyers with significant professional expertise and experience.

You will have a professional mentor - a legal practitioner in the local area who can provide practical support and advice during the period of study and work-based learning and career opportunities.

Alternatively, you could choose to study for a masters in legal practice. You can find further details on our LLM Legal Practice Course page (http://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/legalpractice_llm).

- Research Excellence Framework 2014: twice as many of our staff - 220 - were entered into the research assessment for 2014 compared to the number entered in 2008

Visit the website http://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/legalpractice_pgdip

Mature Applicants

Our University welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. We usually require some evidence of recent academic study, for example completion of an access course, however recent relevant work experience may also be considered. Please note that for some of our professional courses all applicants will need to meet the specified entry criteria and in these cases work experience cannot be considered in lieu.

If you wish to apply through this route you should refer to our University Recognition of Prior Learning policy that is available on our website (http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/recognition-of-prior-learning.htm).

Please note that all applicants to our University are required to meet our standard English language requirement of GCSE grade C or equivalent, variations to this will be listed on the individual course entry requirements.

Careers

Upon completion, you will be able to proceed to the next stage of legal training as a solicitor by way of a training contract. The LPC provides credit points at masters level. You can enhance future employability by completing a top-up dissertation with a view to being awarded a masters in Law.

- Barrister
- Solicitor
- Conveyancer
- Partner

Careers advice: The dedicated Jobs and Careers team offers expert advice and a host of resources to help you choose and gain employment. Whether you're in your first or final year, you can speak to members of staff from our Careers Office who can offer you advice from writing a CV to searching for jobs.

Visit the careers site - https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/employability/jobs-careers-support.htm

Course Benefits

Our course is delivered by qualified lawyers with significant professional expertise and experience. You will engage in activities designed to optimise your employment prospects and enhance professionalism.

All students on the LPC have a professional mentor - a legal practitioner in the local area who can provide practical support and advice during the period of study and provide work-based learning and career opportunities. Local law firms engage with us by teaching, leading career development sessions, acting as mentors and judging and providing prizes for a number of legal competitions.

Core Modules

Advocacy
Learn practical advocacy skills and knowledge to present cases before courts and tribunals.

Business Law & Practice
You will be introduced to a range of business operations, primarily partnerships and companies, and you will examine law and practice in relation to their formation, ongoing management and dissolution.

Drafting
Learn to apply the principles of good drafting in the creation and amendment of formal legal documents.

Interviewing & Advising
Gain effective interviewing skills for communicating with clients so you can respond to their needs and provide instructions and advice.

Litigation: Civil & Criminal
Gain the skills required to provide advice and assistance to a client in the critical stages of civil and criminal litigation.

Practical Legal Research
This module will introduce you to a range of primary and secondary legal sources. You will learn how to analyse and evaluate them to produce legal solutions.

Professional Conduct & Regulation
Gain an understanding of professional ethics and learn to apply and act in accordance with the core duties of the Solicitors' Code of Conduct.

Wills & Administration of Estates

Solicitors' Accounts
This module will teach you a basic understanding of the Solicitors' Accounts Rules 2011.

Taxation
Gain the skills to be able to advise clients about the taxation framework in England and Wales.

Yvonne Marsh

Senior Lecturer

"Being able to make a positive impact, however slight, on a student's development is extremely rewarding. My life as a solicitor also enables me to enrich my teaching sessions by drawing on my legal experiences. I aim to show the practical application of the law in a variety of real-life commercial and personal situations to bring this fascinating subject to life."

As well as leading our Legal Practice Course, Yvonne teaches intellectual property law, commercial law, civil litigation and a variety of legal skills. She is responsible for co-ordinating our mentoring scheme, which offers a valuable insight into the legal profession.

Facilities

- Portland
Our Leeds Law School is located in our Portland building, close to the city’s legal quarter. Our students can hone their legal expertise in purpose-built facilities, including our very own courtroom.

- Library
Our libraries are two of the only university libraries in the UK open 24/7 every day of the year. However you like to study, the libraries have got you covered with group study, silent study, extensive e-learning resources and PC suites.

- The Rose Bowl
The Rose Bowl has impressive teaching spaces, auditoriums, conference facilities and an outstanding local reputation as a business hub. The Rose Bowl puts our students at the centre of a dynamic business community.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/postgraduate/how-to-apply/

Read less

Supported by expert staff with invaluable industry experience, you will learn using real-life case studies. Your independent project will see you conduct extensive research on a specific topic, enabling you to sharpen your knowledge and specialise in an area of particular interest.

Recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), your course forms part of the vocational stage of training to become a solicitor and meets the SRA's Legal Practice Course requirements.

You will be paired with a professional mentor from the local legal community, who will offer support, guidance and possibly work-based learning and career opportunities.

Alternatively, you could choose to study for a postgraduate diploma in legal practice. You can find further details on our PG Dip Legal Practice page (http://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/legalpractice_pgdip)

Visit the website http://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/legalpractice_llm

Mature Applicants

Our University welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. We usually require some evidence of recent academic study, for example completion of an access course, however recent relevant work experience may also be considered. Please note that for some of our professional courses all applicants will need to meet the specified entry criteria and in these cases work experience cannot be considered in lieu.

If you wish to apply through this route you should refer to our University Recognition of Prior Learning policy that is available on our website (http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/recognition-of-prior-learning.htm).

Please note that all applicants to our University are required to meet our standard English language requirement of GCSE grade C or equivalent, variations to this will be listed on the individual course entry requirements.

Careers

You could becomea solicitor and practise in a variety of areas, either in a law firm in privatepractice or in-house. Your dissertation will allow you to become an expert in atopic of special interest, which you could focus on in the workplace and could makeyou highly sought after by employers.

- Solicitor
- Paralegal

Careers advice: The dedicated Jobs and Careers team offers expert advice and a host of resources to help you choose and gain employment. Whether you're in your first or final year, you can speak to members of staff from our Careers Office who can offer you advice from writing a CV to searching for jobs.

Visit the careers site - https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/employability/jobs-careers-support.htm

Course Benefits

You will be taught by lawyers with extensive professional expertise. Our close links with the legal profession in Leeds will enable you to widen your industry networks and enhance your employment prospects.
Your course will be highly focused on enhancing your employability and developing your professionalism. You will be paired with a professional mentor from the local legal community, who will provide practical support and professional guidance to help you excel in your course and progress in your career.
Leeds is one of the UK's largest legal centres with a wealth of placement and job opportunities. You will be able to take advantage of the established professional networks we have built up over many years. Local law firms engage with us by teaching, leading career development sessions, acting as mentors and judging and providing prizes for a number of legal competitions.

Modules

Advocacy
Learn the basic, practical advocacy skills and knowledge to present cases before courts and tribunals.

Business Law & Practice
You will be introduced to a range of business operations, primarily partnerships and companies, and you will examine law and practice in relation to their formation, ongoing management and dissolution.

Drafting
Learn to apply the principles of good drafting in the creation and amendment of formal legal documents.

Interviewing & Advising
Gain effective interviewing skills for communicating with clients so you can respond to their needs and provide instructions and advice.

Litigation
Gain the skills required to provide advice and assistance to a client in the critical stages of civil and criminal litigation.

Practical Legal Research
This module will introduce you to a range of primary and secondary legal sources. You will learn how to analyse and evaluate them to produce legal solutions.

Professional Conduct & Regulation
Gain an understanding of professional ethics and learn to apply and act in accordance with the core duties of the Solicitors' Code of Conduct.

Property Law & Practice
Gain the skills so you can provide advice and assistance to a client at each critical stage of a property transaction.

Solicitors' Accounts
This module will teach you a basic understanding of the Solicitors' Accounts Rules 2011.

Taxation
Gain the skills to be able to advise clients about the taxation framework in England and Wales.

Wills & Administration of Estates
Gain an understanding of the common clauses of a will, what happens when someone dies without making a will and the necessary steps to administer an estate. You will also learn about the tax consequences of death.

Writing
Develop your writing skills so that you can communicate clearly with your reader and inspire confidence in your capability as a lawyer.

Independent Legal Research Project
Become an expert in an area of particular interest through researching and writing your dissertation.

Yvonne Marsh

Senior Lecturer

"Being able to make a positive impact, however slight, on a student's development is extremely rewarding. My life as a solicitor also enables me to enrich my teaching sessions by drawing on my legal experiences. I aim to show the practical application of the law in a variety of real-life commercial and personal situations to bring this fascinating subject to life."

As well as leading our Legal Practice Course, Yvonne teaches intellectual property law, commercial law, civil litigation and a variety of legal skills. She is responsible for co-ordinating our mentoring scheme, which offers a valuable insight into the legal profession.

Facilities

- Courtroom
Our Leeds Law School is located in our Portland building, close to the city’s legal quarter. Our students can hone their legal expertise in purpose-built facilities, including our very own courtroom.

- Library
Our Library is one of the only university libraries in the UK open 24/7 every day of the year. However you like to study, our Library has you covered with group study, silent study, extensive e-learning resources and PC suites.

- The Rose Bowl
The Rose Bowl has impressive teaching spaces, auditoriums, conference facilities and an outstanding local reputation as a business hub. The Rose Bowl puts our students at the centre of a dynamic business community.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/postgraduate/how-to-apply/

Read less

Key fact

Our LLM in Advanced Legal Practice equips you with an LLM qualification and includes the Legal Practice Course (LPC) needed for professional practice as a Solicitor. Our LPC is the longest established in Bristol, with strong links with the legal community and training contract opportunities.

Introduction

Whether you are intending to practice in the City, in a commercial firm, in a small high-street practice or in a niche area of law, our LLM in Advanced Legal Practice will give you the broad and rigorous foundation you need.
The course includes the interim award of the PG Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC), which is the programme of vocational training required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for students wishing to qualify as solicitors.
There are different options to complete your LLM in Advanced Legal Practice, which allow you to focus on your continuing professional development as a reflective practitioner, with responsibility for your own development and learning. This reflects the SRA's new Continuing Professional Development regime.

Highly rated

The LPC at UWE Bristol is highly rated by the Law Society and received a rating of 'commendable practice' in every area of the course under the SRA's grading scheme.
"Whilst my Law degree gave me theoretical legal knowledge, the LPC at UWE Bristol has been invaluable in putting that knowledge into practice." Katie Amos LPC graduate

Practical tuition

Tuition is provided by a small, dedicated team of solicitors, who ensure the course is relevant, up to date and, above all, prepares you fully for practice. You will gain critical awareness of how legal practice works, and develop the foundations of the legal skills you will need to excel in your role as a solicitor.

Extensive careers support

You will have access to employment-enhancing activities (such as our placement scheme and accredited mediation training) and focused careers support, including help with applying for training contracts and links to potential employment through our extensive network of local firms.

Learning and Teaching

We are solicitors ourselves, teaching in our own practice areas. We know how much practitioners value the development of skills required to be an effective trainee lawyer and this lies at the heart of our teaching. Our enthusiastic and experienced team come with a wide range of experiences, and our pastoral and academic support is provided by our tutors themselves.

Most LPC teaching takes place in practice-based workshops (where you will be in a group of approximately 12-16 students), allowing you to gain an understanding of many common legal transactions and procedures.

You will have lots of opportunities, through role play, to practice legal skills, such as interviewing, advocacy and negotiation. Additionally, we run virtual case studies and filmed skills sessions to help you develop your client-facing skills.

Study facilities

You will study in our modern, dedicated LPC teaching and common rooms, an ideal learning environment not just for your scheduled workshops but for private study as well. You will also have access to:
- Three mock courtrooms where you can develop your advocacy skills
- Dedicated study rooms, for independent or group work
- An online interactive learning environment for practising case working skills, using technology that feels exactly like that of a modern professional law office.

A £50m project is also underway to build the new Faculty of Business and Law building. Find out more: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/aboutus/visionandmission/uwenewcampus/businessandlawbuilding.aspx

Open Events

We hold a number of University-wide open evenings as well as a number of subject specific events throughout the year for anyone considering postgraduate and professional study. Visit http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/whatson/opendays/postgraduateopendays.aspx

Read less

Whether you are intending to practice in the City, in a commercial firm, in a small high-street practice or in a niche area of law, our LLM in Advanced Legal Practice will give you the broad and rigorous foundation you need.

There are different options to complete your LLM in Advanced Legal Practice, which allow you to focus on your continuing professional development as a reflective practitioner, with responsibility for your own development and learning. This reflects the SRA's new Continuing Professional Development regime.

Key benefits

Our LLM in Advanced Legal Practice equips you with an LLM qualification and includes the Legal Practice Course (LPC) needed for professional practice as a Solicitor. Our LPC is the longest established in Bristol, with strong links with the legal community and training contract opportunities.

Course detail

You will study in our modern, dedicated LPC teaching and common rooms, an ideal learning environment not just for your scheduled workshops but for private study as well. You will also have access to:

• three mock courtrooms where you can develop your advocacy skills
• dedicated study rooms for independent or group work
• an online interactive learning environment for practising case working skills, using technology that feels exactly like that of a modern professional law office.

Modules

Core modules:

• Business Law and Practice
• Civil and Criminal Litigation
• Property Law and Practice
• Interviewing and Advising
• Practical Legal Research
• Writing, Drafting and Advocacy
• Solicitor's Accounts
• Professional Conduct and Regulation
• Wills and Administration of Estates
• Taxation

Optional modules:

• Acquisitions
• Commercial Law
• Employment Law
• Family Law and Practice
• Private Client (Estate Planning)
• Public Company Finance
• Intellectual Property and Competition Law
• Advanced Criminal Litigation
• Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Commercial Property
• Media and Entertainment Law
• Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence
• Public Childcare and Housing Law Practice

Format

Tuition is provided by a small, dedicated team of solicitors, who ensure the course is relevant, up to date and, above all, prepares you fully for practice. You will gain critical awareness of how legal practice works, and develop the foundations of the legal skills you will need to excel in your role as a solicitor.

Careers / Further study

The LLM in Advanced Legal Practice prepares you for a successful career as a solicitor. Many of our graduates have gone on to practice in the City, or in commercial firms, small high-street legal practices or niche areas of law. UWE Bristol alumni can be found in almost every local firm.

How to apply

Information on applications can be found at the following link: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/study/applyingtouwebristol/postgraduateapplications.aspx

Funding

- New Postgraduate Master's loans for 2016/17 academic year –
-
The government are introducing a master’s loan scheme, whereby master’s students under 60 can access a loan of up to £10,000 as a contribution towards the cost of their study. This is part of the government’s long-term commitment to enhance support for postgraduate study.

Scholarships and other sources of funding are also available.

More information can be found here: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/feesandfunding/fundingandscholarships/postgraduatefunding.aspx

Read less

The Legal Practice Course (LPC) is the first stage of a solicitor's professional training. It is an intensive, practical course designed to equip you with the law, procedure and legal skills you will need to work as a solicitor or trainee solicitor. We are validated and monitored by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and receive excellent feedback from our students, so you can feel confident in the quality and standards of our course.

You will receive the training and support you need in order to become an effective trainee solicitor. In addition you will be able to access work experience opportunities as well as guidance and expertise from previous graduates who are now working as trainees or qualified solicitors.

Course detail

To complete the LPC, you must pass stages one and two within five years. Most students do both stages together (the Postgraduate Diploma) but you can do stage one (the Postgraduate Certificate) then do stage two later (provided this is within five years). This means you spread the cost of the course over several years rather than paying the fees in one year.

If you have successfully completed stage one elsewhere, you can study stage two at the University of West London, and on successful completion of stage 2 and accreditation of your stage 1 by the University, you can be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma.

Modules

Stage one modules are compulsory:
• Criminal and Civil Litigation
• Property Law and Practice
• Business Law and Practice
• Professional Conduct and Regulation
• Wills and Administration of Estates
• Legal Skills: Advocacy, Interviewing and Advising, Drafting, Practical Legal Research and Writing
• Solicitors Accounts
• Taxation

For stage two, you will study three options (vocational electives), usually from the following:
• Advanced Litigation/Personal Injury
• Commercial Leases
• Employment Law and Practice
• Family Law and Practice
• Housing and Residential Landlord and Tenant Law
• Immigration Law and Practice

Format

Our teaching is very practice-based and delivered mainly through small group sessions. These give you experience of both legal tasks and legal skills that closely simulate the work of a real legal office. You will act for specific 'clients' and see their cases through from beginning to end.

Jobs and placements

We know how important it is for your future career to get good quality legal work experience on your CV and therefore we provide opportunities for you to participate in our LPC Mentoring and Work Experience Scheme with local firms, qualified alumni and courts.

In addition you will have the opportunity to become involved with the Law School's Community Advice Programme – a free legal advice clinic run fortnightly in conjunction with Ealing Equality Council. Other legal work experience opportunities are advertised by employers directly with our Careers and Employment Service and these are posted electronically for you on our LPC Community site.

Career and study progression

As an LPC graduate, you will be able to apply for a period of recognised training to complete your training and qualify as a solicitor. Many firms offer paid paralegal positions, which sometimes lead to a period of recognised training and we encourage you to explore such opportunities as part of planning for qualification.

Our graduates are now employed in a wide range of legal work, including in private practice at partnership level, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Government Legal Service, charities and in-house. Several provide work experience opportunities to our students.

As an LPC graduate, you can top up your LPC to a Master's in Legal Practice, undertaking part-time study in research methodologies and doing a dissertation on a topic related to legal practice.

How to apply

Click the following link for information on how to apply to this course: http://www.uwl.ac.uk/students/postgraduate/how-apply

Scholarships and bursaries

Information about scholarships and bursaries can be found here: http://www.uwl.ac.uk/students/postgraduate/scholarships-and-bursaries

Read less

Study a career-enhancing postgraduate Legal Practice Course and qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. Taught by an award-winning teaching team, this course also allows you to take on live client work through the Sunderland Student Law Clinic.

Course overview

LLM Legal Practice is a full Masters course which includes the Legal Practice Course (LPC) – the vocational qualification you need to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.

Law in Sunderland was ranked second in the UK for Satisfaction with Teaching in the Guardian University Guide 2014. In 2015, we were ranked best in the North East for Satisfaction with Feedback.

Research in law has been rated as 'internationally excellent' in the latest Research Excellent Framework, making Sunderland an excellent place to study law.

Employers are increasingly looking for candidates with the Legal Practice Course qualification for entry level roles such as Paralegal positions, which are often a stepping stone to a Training Contract, therefore, this LPC has been uniquely designed to meet all the requirements of the Solicitor Regulation Authority (SRA).

You will develop public speaking and leadership skills and gain practical experience, enabling you to have the strongest possible application to employers of your choice. Your skills will be further developed through bespoke optional modules routes, live client experience in Sunderland Student Law Clinic and a Legal Practice Project.

Strong connections between the Sunderland Law School and a number of local, regional, national and international law firms allow you to learn from experts in the field.

Course content

The course mixes taught elements with independent research. The topic of your project will be designed to fit both your personal interests and the supervisory expertise of Sunderland’s tutors.

Modules on this course include:
Semester 1
-Business Law and Practice (includes Taxation and Business Accounts) (25 Credits)
-Property Law and Practice (20 Credits)
-Optional module of your choice (10 Credits)

Semester 2
-Litigation and Advocacy (20 Credits)
-Wills and Administration of Estates (15 Credits)
-Solicitors’ Accounts (5 Credits)
-Two optional modules of your choice (20 Credits)

Optional modules
-Commercial Contracts (10 Credits)
-Commercial Property (10 Credits)
-Employment Law and Practice (10 Credits)
-Family Law and Practice (10 Credits)
-Housing Law and Practice (10 Credits)
-Advanced Personal Injury Litigation (10 Credits)

Semester 3
-Legal Practice Project (60 Credits)

Teaching and assessment

We use a wide variety of teaching and learning methods which include weekly three-hour workshops. These are interactive and require a high level of preparation. The research project and dissertation are supervised by your tutor.

Compared to an undergraduate course, you will find that this Masters course requires a higher level of independent working. You will encounter a range of practical supervised and portfolio assessments across the programme followed by an extended piece of researched coursework for your Legal Practice Project.

Facilities & location

The University of Sunderland has excellent facilities for law students including a purpose-built mock courtroom and specialist collections of books and resources.

Course location
This course is based on the banks of the River Wear at the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s. It looks out over the River Wear and is less than a mile from the seaside.

Mock courtroom
We are one of the few universities in the UK to have a mock court that allows you to develop advocacy skills and apply legal knowledge in a realistic environment. The mock court is also used for mooting competitions. It’s one of the features that ranked Sunderland second in the UK for Course Satisfaction and Student Satisfaction with Teaching (source: The Guardian University Guide 2014).

Law Library
The Law Library, which is located within the St Peter’s Library, offers an excellent selection of books. There is also a range of electronic sources of information such as Lexis and West Law.

University Library Services
The University boasts a collection of more than 430,000 books with many more titles available through the inter-library loan service. There are nearly 9,000 journal titles, mostly in electronic format. Each year the University invests around £1 million in new resources.

IT provision
When it comes to IT provision you can take your pick from hundreds of PCs as well as Apple Macs in the David Goldman Informatics Centre and St Peter’s Library. There are also free WiFi zones throughout the campus. If you have any problems, just ask the friendly helpdesk team.

Learning environment
Sunderland offers a vibrant learning environment with an international dimension thanks to the presence of students from around the world. At the same time, the University is fully plugged into relevant professional organisations, with strong links and an exchange of ideas and people.

Employment & careers

This course is designed to prepare you to secure your first legal job or training contract. Two days of the induction programme are devoted to kick-start a specialised careers and employability programme. You will carry out a SWOT Analyses identifying your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats when it comes to securing your ideal first legal job.

You will then prepare your CV and a covering letter for a simulated training contract role before going through a mock assessment centre with your course mates and a personal interview with a small panel. This is to help you get to grips with the kind of recruitment processes you are likely to encounter.

The panel will use your SWOT Analysis to personalise their feedback from the day so that you can get the most from the experience and this will lead into a programme of activities throughout the year aimed at increasing your confidence to go out there and secure your first legal job.

Throughout the year, your Personal Tutor will work with you on individual job applications and will ensure you are signposted to other specialists in the university so that you get the best possible support and best possible chance to get your career off to a fantastic start.

Read less

The LLM Legal Practice Course (LLM LPC) aims to prepare you for practice as a trainee solicitor and to provide you with a solid foundation for subsequent practice as a solicitor.

This course, which can be studied full-time or part-time, is a key part of the vocational stage of training to become a solicitor for graduates or Members or Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives who have completed the academic stage of legal training.

The course emphasises and develops the skills which are required for a successful career in practice, and it must be successfully completed prior to the commencement of a training contract.

Additionally, the course will provide you with the opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge of an area of chosen legal interest through completion of a Masters’ level dissertation.

The LPC is designed to give students a strong foundation for general legal practice. Therefore, equal weight is given to the core practice areas of Business Law and Practice, Property Law and Practice and Litigation.

Vocational Electives are provided at Stage 2 of the course. The choice of electives offered provides a balance between 'High Street' private client and “Commercial” areas of practice.

Students are provided with textbooks and practice-based materials for each element of the course.

LPC students have a specially designated resources room with access to practitioner texts and reference materials. You will also have access to on-line practitioner reference materials and resources, such as precedents, statutes and legal databases.

Students are supported in their search for employment with a dedicated Careers Tutor and a number of initiatives throughout the academic year. We have strong links with both local and national firms and are engaged with the local legal community. LPC students will have the opportunity to participate in Mentoring Schemes, to attend the University’s Law Careers Fair and to attend practitioner presentations and workshops.

You can apply and develop your legal knowledge and skills by volunteering as a student legal adviser in the University's acclaimed Legal Advice Centre, assisting members of the public with legal queries.

Our LPC has excellent academic staff and course teams who will make every effort to ensure that each student gets the support they need.

The addition of a Masters’ level dissertation will give students the opportunity to obtain a higher level, Masters’ degree, qualification and gain specialised knowledge and insight into an area of law relevant to their intended legal practice.

Read less