LPC Online

The LPC is the final stage of training to become a qualified solicitor. You study the LPC after successful completion of a qualifying law degree, or other recognised qualifications. 

The LPC is recognised and well-respected and valued by law firms due to the level of practical preparation our students receive, beyond just theory. It’s a hands-on qualification and certifying means that you will be able to adapt to working life as a solicitor and thrive quickly.

We have designed our LPC to fit in with your life and plans - you can study full-time, part-time or take an accelerated course. Whatever you choose, all routes are designed to offer you the best possible preparation to practise law. At ULaw, we focus on the skills that employers are most interested in so that you can enhance your academic knowledge while preparing for the realities of life in legal practice.

Not exactly. The SQE is the new route to becoming a solicitor, being gradually phased in by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) . You can find useful, clear guidance and information surrounding the transition to the SQE on our SQE Hub.

A large majority of law students can still study the LPC, even with the (Solicitors Qualifying Examination) SQE being phased in over time. However, due to the reduction in available training contracts, and the SRA’s transitional arrangements, fewer students will be eligible to use the LPC route each year moving forward. If you have already started a qualifying law degree (QLD), GDL, MA Law or training contract there are transition arrangements in place until 31 December 2032 to qualify as a solicitor under the LPC route.

There’s no need to worry if your experience doesn’t match the requirements for the LPC. You’ll be able to qualify as a solicitor by following the new SQE path - find out more about the route available to you over on our SQE hub.

If you’re not sure whether you can study the LPC based on these requirements, get in touch with our friendly team. We’ll advise you based on your own ambition and previous studies. 

Email [email protected] or call +44 (0) 800 289 997

Should students choose to study the LPC or SQE?

The SRA has advised that LPC students or graduates who have not secured a training contract can combine the SQE pathway’s two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) and SQE2 assessment as an equivalent to a period of recognised training. On successful completion of this you would be admitted as a solicitor under the LPC route. You can find out more on the SRA website.

In more detail

You can still continue with the LPC route to qualify as a solicitor if you have completed, started, accepted an offer, or paid a non-refundable deposit for one of the following by 31 August 2021:

• Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) / Common Professional Examination
• MA Law
• Legal Practice Course (LPC)
• a period of recognised training (also known as a training contract)

For a qualifying law degree (QLD) and exempting law degree (ELD), such as our LLB, you must have completed, started, accepted an offer or paid a non-refundable deposit by 21 September 2021.

In most cases, for the QLD, ELD and CPE, the relevant course must have started at the latest on or before 31 December 2021.

If you started the full-time GDL or MA Law in September 2021, you should be eligible to commence the Legal Practice Course (LPC) in September 2022, once you have successfully completed your course.

• The LPC is eligible for financial support such as a postgraduate student loan, bursaries and scholarships.
• If you already have a training contract in place, the LPC is the route we would recommend. If you don’t have a training contract arranged already, then the SQE may be more suitable for you because it is more flexible in terms of options for work experience.

• Introduction to Professional Practice
  • Business Law and Practice Knowledge and Skills
  • Dispute Resolution Knowledge and Skills
  • Real Estate Knowledge and Skills

Students choose 3 electives for the LPC, and students on the LLM LPC must study a 4th elective. The University offers the following electives which cover corporate, commercial and private client practice areas.

Electives available to students starting the LPC in or after January 2025

Corporate and Commercial Practice Electives

• Commercial Law & Practice
• Employment Law & Practice
• Intellectual Property Law & Practice

Commercial and Private Client Practice Electives

• Advanced Criminal Law and Practice*
• Commercial Law & Practice
• Employment Law & Practice
• Family Law & Practice
• Intellectual Property Law & Practice
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law & Practice*
• Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Law & Practice
• Private Client Law & Practice

Please note:

1. *Students cannot study both Advanced Criminal Law and Practice and Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Practice as the exams take place at the same time.

2. All elective choices on all modes are subject to demand and timetabling constraints, and we cannot guarantee that all subjects will be available at any campus. To enable us to run appropriate transactional style workshop activities the minimum number of students required for a class is usually 10.

To receive an LLM in Professional Legal Practice students starting in September 2024 may choose to study either of the following taught modules:

• Law and Business module
• Or an additional elective module of your choice

Students starting in or after January 2025 will study an additional elective module.

All LLM students will also undertake a self-study Professional Practice Research Report module.
If you choose not to complete the LLM in Professional Legal Practice you will be issued with a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) and will still have completed the vocational stage of training requirements.