Programme content
If you study the LPC full-time, stages 1 and 2 will be combined and covered in a year (September to June or January to October). If you do the part-time programme, stage 1 will be covered in the first year (September to June) and stage 2 can be completed the following year or at a time convenient for you.
Don't worry if you need to work full-time whilst studying part-time and don't want your LPC to drag on too long. You can complete stage 2 of the part-time LPC between September and December of the second year, meaning you can graduate in as little as 16 months (without missing a pay check!). Equally, if you would prefer a slower pace stage 2 can be spread over more months or even years. You could opt, if preferable for you, to complete the second stage a year or two later. The choice is yours!
Stage 1
Stage 1 modules use specifically designed client portfolios and simulated transactions to reflect the realities of practice and essential legal skills are practised in the context of relevant subjects. Stage 1 subjects can be seen in the table below.
Stage 2 - electives
We offer a wide range of stage 2 electives so that you can specialise in your chosen area of practice, whether you intend to work in a commercial or City firm, in-house, with a high street practice or for the not-for-profit sector. Stage 2 subjects can be seen in the table below.
High Street Extra
In addition to electives, new for September 2010, we will be offering High Street Extra at our law schools in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London (Waterloo) (if you are studying in London (Holborn) you are welcome to attend the sessions at London (Waterloo)) and Manchester. This is an optional programme, completely free of charge, on the areas of practice that are key to High Street or small firms that provide general legal services to individuals and local businesses. For more information on the High Street Extra, please click here.
Stand alone modules and electives
If you have already done all or part of the LPC at BPP or elsewhere or you don't wish to do the whole programme but you have completed the academic stage of training and you are a student member of the SRA, you can study our modules (Business Law and Practice, (Civil and Criminal) Litigation, and Property Law and Practice) and electives as stand alone subjects. This could be an advantage to you if you wish to brush up on what you learnt all those years ago, change practice area or simply add an extra string to your bow. If you are a practising solicitor and wish to become a notary public, studying stand alone modules could be the route! You can begin a module or elective in March or September. The subjects available as stand alone electives can be seen in the table below.
| Stage 1 |
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Core Practice Areas
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Course Skills
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Other Areas
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| Stage 2 |
Electives* (choose three)
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*All electives run subject to minimum student numbers.
**Subject to validation.
High Street Extra
High Street Extra, new for 2010, is an optional programme on the areas of law that are key to High Street or small firms that provide general legal services to individuals and local businesses. The programme, which is offered free of charge to LPC students, covers topics such as:
- acting for sole practitioners and partnerships
- Community Legal Service funding
- fast track and small claims in the county court
- insolvency and police station representation
- personal taxation
- residential conveyancing
High Street solicitors tend to manage a great number of files and have a lot of client contact from an early stage in their career. With this in mind the module also includes a number of additional skills sessions including good practice in file management and advanced interviewing skills. As High Street firms rely on all staff to take responsibility for the marketing and generation of new business - which may come through word of mouth and local advertising or sponsorship - the programme also covers how to help generate and pitch for new work.
Also included are a series of talks by external speakers from different areas of High Street practice and a bespoke High Street careers provision.
The programme will be timetabled to fit around your LPC and will provide the features detailed in the table below. Most talks and all small group sessions will be available for download from the Virtual Learning Environment, so you can review them in your own time.
On completion of the programme you will be awarded a High Street Extra certificate of attendance - an excellent boost for your CV, particularly if you are considering a legal career with a small to medium-sized firm.
| Small group session subjects | External speaker subjects | Careers programme | Additional features |
|---|---|---|---|
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*Subject to applying.