Course overview

The Legal Practice Course (LPC) is a postgraduate course for those seeking to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. Successful completion of the course will enable you to proceed to a training contract.

Location
We offer full-time options at both the Cambridge and Chelmsford campuses. Both our campuses are centrally located, with good transport links and are within easy walking distance of the train stations. Both have regular rail connections with London and the train takes about 35 minutes to Chelmsford and 50 minutes to Cambridge.

Flexible and blended-learning
Taught over one year, we are the only institution in the UK to offer the course via full-time study over two fixed days per week (Cambridge only). Our students are able to study around other commitments including employment and training opportunities. Most large group sessions are delivered by i-lecture, watched by students remotely adding further flexibility.

Cost
We are very proud of being able to deliver a high-quality course at a significant saving in price to our major competitors. A full list of LPC prices is available at the SRA website. We offer the best value for money LPC in the East Anglia area.

Added value
The LPC offers extra support, training and opportunities compared with other LPCs which include:

• full-scale mock assessments in all areas including interviewing
• engagement with employers of paralegals and trainee solicitors
• non-assessed training in areas such as billing, file management and commercial awareness and negotiation skills
• a specialist non-assessed course in careers and professional development
• LPC exclusive monthly vacancies bulletin direct to your inbox

Reputation
Feedback from employers suggests that they place much more emphasis on achievement and skills than the institution attended. The range and depth of skills of our students and the standard they achieve in the LPC make our students extremely attractive to employers. 84% of our 2011 graduated students did so with a commendation or distinction.

We were the first university in England and Wales to have our LPC accredited by Skillsmark, achieving a Grade 1-the top award of four possible grades for the course. Skillsmark was established by Skills for Justice, the Sector Skills Council which covers all employers, employees and volunteers working in the UK justice system, as part of its mission to link learning to reputable and valued qualifications.

Support
With a small staff-to-student ratio we are able to offer a level of pastoral care which is not always available from larger providers. We are able to address your individual needs, supporting you transition from undergraduate to LPC study, and from study to training contracts and employment.

Module guide

In addition to teaching time on-campus, all courses require intensive self-guided learning, research or private study and there may also be optional training, seminars, visits, lectures or master classes to attend.

Assessment

We use a combination of timed open book supervised assessments, oral practical and course work style assessments across the course. Unlike many other providers our students undertake full-scale mock assessments in all areas including all skills subjects.

Facilities

We have mock courtrooms on both campuses, enabling you to practice advocacy in a realistic setting. All teaching rooms are well-equipped.

To enhance the quality of your LPC experience, supporting materials are available through our Virtual Learning Environment, which can be accessed off-campus. These materials include i-lectures with supporting multiple choice questions and all workshop materials. You will also have access to our comprehensive online library, which likewise can be accessed off-campus.

Libraries
Our campus libraries offer a wide range of publications and a variety of study facilities, including open-access computers, areas for quiet or group study and bookable rooms. We also have an extensive Digital Library providing on and off-site access to e-books, e-journals and databases.

We endeavour to make our libraries as accessible as possible for all our students. During Semester time, they open 24 hours a day from Monday to Thursday, until midnight on Friday and Saturday and for 12 hours on Sunday.

IT resources
Our open access computer facilities provide free access to the internet, email, messaging services and the full Microsoft Office suite. A high speed wireless service is also available in all key areas on campus. If you are away from campus or a distant learner, our student desktop and its many applications can be accessed remotely using the internet. Your personal student email account provides free document storage, calendar facilities and social networking opportunities.

Throughout your studies you will have access to our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) (see above).

Special features

The development of legal skills underpins our LPC. We have established a national reputation for teaching client interviewing techniques, as evidenced by our students' success in the National Client Interviewing Competition on six occasions.

The LPC is validated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. In addition, our LPC is accredited by Skillsmark. Achieving a Skillsmark Grade 1 judgment in all areas, our LPC is described as 'meeting the needs of local and national employers through a number of effective mechanisms for canvassing and utilising employer views which are used to inform curriculum design and development'. In addition, teaching staff, learning outcome and assessment design, method of assessment, and quality assurance processes were all highly praised along with the Law School's 'excellent modern resources'.

Course convenor

Michelle McCanna - Chelmsford
Louise McKeon - Cambridge

Related links

Law school news and events

Links with industry and professional recognition

We have strong links with practitioners throughout the Eastern region and beyond. Regional practitioners are involved in developing our LPC to ensure its curriculum is current and appropriate. Local firms of solicitors visit our Law School to provide careers guidance and sometimes offer opportunities to interview for a training contract.

Associated careers

Upon completion of the course, unless you have a FILEX qualification (and exemption from the SRA), a two-year training contract must be completed in order to qualify as a Solicitor of England and Wales.

Students commonly elect to complete their two-year training contract with a firm of solicitors in private practice. However, there are other options, training contracts are available in: central government (through the Government Legal Service); the Crown Prosecution Service; local government and law centres etc. You will receive a salary during your two-year training contract. All students on our LPC also receive specialised careers guidance throughout the duration of the course.

Anglia Law School has recently developed links with the Essex Legal Services Board which will significantly enhance the opportunities for our LPC graduates for training contracts with local authorities in Essex.

Entry Requirements:

One of the following: A UK Qualifying Law Degree with a minimum classification of 2.2 Honours; a pass in the Common Professional Examination (CPE); OR a recognised Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). Filex students issued with a Certificate of Exemption from the CPE by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) are also eligible. Important Note. You must obtain written confirmation from the Solicitors Regulation Authority that you have enrolled as a student member and completed the academic stage of training before you can start any LPC course. You can only apply for this online through www.sra.org.uk/enrol. Please check the SRA website for information as there are deadlines to be adhered to.

If we have confirmed you do not meet our entry requirements you might want to consider a preparatory course at Cambridge Ruskin International College (CRIC), our partner college, based on our Cambridge campus, before coming to study with us.

Important note: You must obtain written confirmation from the Solicitors Regulation Authority that you have enrolled as a student member and completed the academic stage of training before you can start any LPC course. You can only apply for this online through www.sra.org.uk/enrol. Please check the SRA website for information as there are deadlines to be adhered to.