Have a law degree, a GDL or CPE, and want to become a Solicitor?

There is still time to complete your vocational training via the traditional route with Northumbria University’s LPC.

Northumbria’s LPC provides vocational training across a range of subjects and skills, enabling you to apply your legal knowledge in a practical context. Our highly regarded course is approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) as a training route and offers flexible learning options to allow you to choose a specialism that is right for you. Our LPC course therefore offers you the chance to study the areas of law you are most interested in, whilst preparing you to become a solicitor.

While studying on Northumbria’s Diploma in Legal Practice you will receive tailored careers support to enhance your employability. The programme provides an excellent foundation for practice that will bridge your experience of academic law, from your undergraduate law degree or GDL, with the demands that will be made of you on entering legal practice.

You may have the opportunity to work in Northumbria University’s multi-award winning Student Law Office (subject to available places), where you will provide legal advice to members of the public under the supervision of qualified solicitors/barristers.

The course has been running very successfully for many years. We have graduates working in practice and in house at all levels and in all practice areas, please read some of our student and alumni testimonials about the course here.

“The teaching staff were all excellent and universally helpful. So many of the teaching staff have extensive experience of working in practice, lectures and seminars often involved discussions of how the topics at hand are played out in reality. This has better prepared me for a career in law.” Graduate, Elliot Chaplin

We look forward to welcoming you on the course, any further information at this stage please contact Dr Lyndsey Bengtsson, Programme Leader, or Bethany A’Court, Deputy Programme Leader.

Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)

Before September 2021 everyone wishing to qualify as a solicitor had to undertake the Legal Practice Course (LPC). The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) introduced the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) in September 2021. The SQE is  a national assessment for anyone who wants to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. It will provide a fair and consistent assessment for all candidates regardless of whether they have taken a law degree or qualified through new routes like the solicitor apprenticeship. The SQE will eventually replace the LPC entirely, but there is currently a period of transition

Broadly, if you started your law degree or an exempting law degree or Common Professional Examination (CPE)/Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) before the SQE is introduced, you should still be able to qualify under the LPC route. Find out more about the SQE.

Dr Victoria Roper, Associate Professor at Northumbria University, answers crucial questions about the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination in the BBC's podcast series; Not All Lawyers Have Law Degrees.

Northumbria’s LPC programme is taught in two blocks:

Stage 1- the three core practice areas of Business Law and Practice, Property Law and Practice and Litigation are taught and assessed, along with Wills and Administration of Estates, Solicitors'

Accounts and Professional Conduct. The skills of Legal Writing, Interviewing and Advising, Drafting, Research and Advocacy, are taught and assessed in the context of the core subjects.

Stage 2- you will choose three elective modules which you will decide on in consultation with your tutors, ensuring your LPC is tailored according to your interests and career goals. There are a wide range of electives modules available at Northumbria, which should suit all career aspirations. These usually include: Employment Law, Family Law, Commercial Law, Intellectual Property Law, Mental Health Law, Sales & Acquisitions and Student Law Office.

Northumbria’s LPC programme is taught in two blocks:

Stage 1- the three core practice areas of Business Law and Practice, Property Law and Practice and Litigation are taught and assessed, along with Wills and Administration of Estates, Solicitors'

Accounts and Professional Conduct. The skills of Legal Writing, Interviewing and Advising, Drafting, Research and Advocacy, are taught and assessed in the context of the core subjects.

Stage 2- you will choose three elective modules which you will decide on in consultation with your tutors, ensuring your LPC is tailored according to your interests and career goals. There are a wide range of electives modules available at Northumbria, which should suit all career aspirations. These usually include: Employment Law, Family Law, Commercial Law, Intellectual Property Law, Mental Health Law, Sales & Acquisitions and Student Law Office.

We know that embarking on a masters course is a big decision and knowing whether you will have enough time to balance all of life’s other demands is important.  

During this course your on-campus lectures, workshops and seminars will all be timetabled on a Tuesday and Wednesday. For a masters programme like this we expect a commitment of around 35 hours per week - how you do your self-directed study is completely up to you. We want you to be able to fit your studies in with your life, whether that be at our City Campus Library, the University Library Digital Commons, open 24/7 during term time, or at home with access to e-books and journals - make it work for you.

Our Legal Practice Course offers a high staff/student ratio meaning you will have regular contact with your tutors.

Our Law staff are highly-qualified and research-active, as well as being experienced practitioners, giving you access to the very latest knowledge from both the academic and professional worlds.

“The teaching staff were all excellent and universally helpful. As so many of the teaching staff have extensive experience of working in practice, lectures and seminars often involved discussions of how the topics at hand are played out in reality. This has better prepared me for a career in law.” Graduate, Elliot Chaplin

Northumbria Law School provides first-class teaching in a world-class environment. You will be based in our award-winning City Campus East building, which houses our mock courtroom and Student Law Office as well as an array of lecture theatres, classrooms and a dedicated postgraduate study area.

It is also home to our specialist Law Practice Library,which contains practitioner materials as well as a wide variety of journals, databases, and law reports. The range and depth of resources reflects our position as the largest law school in the North East region.

The 24/7 University Library achieves some of the highest levels of student satisfaction in the UK, and has held the Cabinet Office accreditation for Customer Service Excellence since 2010.

Northumbria Law School is one of the largest law schools in the UK and is ranked 7th?amongst UK law schools for research power?in REF 2021.? We have?a national and international reputation for excellence in legal education, enriched by the research excellence and professional practice expertise of our staff. This enhances your learning experience, giving you the very latest understanding of key legal issues.

Northumbria Law School is home to the Centre for Evidence and Criminal Justice Studies and the award- winning Student Law Office.

You will also profit from the research environment at Northumbria University, with regular talks given by internal and external speakers, organised by the Centre for Evidence or one of the various Research Interest Groups (e.g. RIG Science and Justice).

Employability

We run an excellent careers programme with law specific careers events held throughout the year, including employer presentations and workshops. Specialist career professionals from our Graduate Futures team provide 1-2-1 careers information, advice and guidance to support you at each stage of your career planning.

This quality support includes assistance with developing your networking skills, enhancing your job search skills and providing feedback on your CV and job applications. The programme teaching staff have previous practice experience in a range of practice areas and are happy to speak with you/share their experiences of working in local and national law firms.

We also offer a Law School Practice Interview Scheme - every student can make an appointment with a member of staff to do a practice interview and receive feedback prior to a graduate interview. Our central careers support provides a dedicated student employability hub that provides law students with access to job vacancies, automated CV checking software, interview simulator experience, a psychometric testing platform and a variety of additional resources to help you plan and manage your legal career. You can also participate in employability workshops and attend our annual Careers Fair.

We offer an Employability Learning Fund to support those from Widening Participation (WP) student groups. The aim of the scheme is to provide funds to further support WP students with employment opportunities. Additional employability support may be available and more details can be provided on request.