Legal Practice Course (LPC)
The Legal Practice Course (LPC) gives you the essential training you need to become a qualified solicitor. It's your bridge between the academic world and professional life in a law firm, giving you the legal, business and commercial skills to thrive in today's market.
Our LPC is much more than a qualification; it's a grounding in the key skills you will need to succeed. We'll equip you with more than just legal knowledge – we focus on the all-round legal skills and commercial acumen employers are seeking. It's no coincidence that BPP's LPC is the first choice of many leading law firms and 26 exclusively send their trainees to us.
By choosing to study your LPC with BPP, you'll have the best possible start to your legal career.
Key Information
- Study alongside the best – 26 leading UK law firms exclusively send their trainees to BPP
- Receive extra preparation for your training contract with the 4th elective
- Broaden your learning from tutors who bring experience of working in practice
- Reduce the time it takes to qualify with the new Fast Track LPC
- Access excellent online materials both inside and outside the classroom
- Develop your commercial acumen through our new ‘Law Firm as a Business’ module
- Benefit from extensive tutor support throughout your LPC
- Build links with the profession through our networking events and career mentoring
- Convert your LPC to an LLM (Professional Legal Practice) or MA (Law with Business)
- Benefit from high levels of face-to-face interaction and business-focused teaching
- Specialise for practice through our free High Street Extra programme
- Put the theory to the test and build your CV by advising real clients via our award-winning pro bono centre
- Enhance your employability with support from our specialist careers service
Preparing you for practice
Our LPC teaching is business focused to reflect the demand by the profession for commercially-savvy graduates. Created in conjunction with leading law firms and BPP Business School, our curriculum reflects the challenges, and solutions, you'll encounter in your career.
To ensure you get the most from your LPC, we teach in small groups with programmes delivered by experienced tutors who are former solicitors. We believe in offering a high level of tutor-student interaction and, throughout your LPC studies, you'll have the support of a dedicated personal tutor and be able to sign up to one-to-one mentoring.
Flexible study modes and start dates
You can choose to study your Legal Practice Course (LPC) full-time, Fast Track or part-time. There are three start dates throughout the year – in January, August and September -so you can begin your studies at a time that suits you.
BPP was the first provider to offer a Fast Track LPC to those without a training contract. Available over seven months, rather than nine, it offers the same high levels of face-to-face contact, exceptional online materials and resources and pro-bono work opportunities.
Kick-start your career
Our LPC puts you in the perfect position to advance your career. You'll be given excellent opportunities to build your CV and get the all-important edge in a competitive jobs market.
Our award winning Pro Bono centre gives you an unrivalled opportunity to work on real life cases across the UK. As well as embedding your learning, this experience can be crucial in getting your career off to the best possible start.
Enhance your employability
From the moment you accept your place on our LPC, you'll have access to our careers service, which offers:
- Training and guidance on the recruitment process
- One-to-one appointments with a specialist careers advisor
- Access to our vacancy database
- Workshops and links to firms, giving you the opportunity to meet future employers and see law in action
- Schemes and networking opportunities with firms and previous BPP graduates.
Gain a competitive edge
New ‘Law Firm as a Business’
From 2012, all LPC students will be able to undertake the Law Firm as a Business module, which introduces them to the essential skills of business and commercial awareness and gives an insight into the practicalities of being a trainee in a law firm.
The 4th Elective
As all of BPP’s LPC teaching is also available in an online format, students’ are given the opportunity to sign up to a 4th elective. This enables students to prepare themselves for the 4th seat in a training contract or gain an extra area of expertise not covered by the LPC. The 4th elective is not examinable and does not form part of the students’ LPC studies.
High street options
The BPP High Street Extra programme gives you the opportunity to focus on areas of law relevant to High Street firms – such as conveyancing, partnerships and insolvency. This programme is perfect if you are pursuing a career in some of the most in-demand areas of law.
How the programme is structured
Full-time LPC
Our full-time programme is designed to fit around your lifestyle. For example, you can select from the following schedules:
- Four days a week, classes between 9am and 6pm
- Four days a week, morning classes between 9am and 1.15pm
- Four days a week, afternoon classes between 1.30pm and 6pm
- Three days a week, classes between 9am and 6pm (with online lectures)
- Two days a week, classes between 9am and 6pm (with online lectures)
Please note, these timetables are subject to availability and vary between centres.
Part-time LPC
Our part-time programme is designed to fit around your other commitments such as work and family. All lectures for the part time modes are online for maximum flexibility. For example, you can select from the following schedules:
- Two evenings a week, classes between 6.00pm and 8.00pm
- Every other Saturday between 10.00am and 5.00pm
- One day a week (Monday or Friday, morning or afternoon) depending on your chosen site
- A full weekend Saturday and Sunday 10.00 to 5.00pm every three or four weekends (Holborn only)
Please note these modes are subject to availability and vary between centres.
Online LPC materials
Content from every LPC session (lectures and classroom teaching) is available online, so you can consolidate and revise whenever and wherever you choose.
Modules
Whether you choose to study full-time or part time, the LPC is broken into two stages:
- Stage One covers the core practice areas of business law and practice, property law and practice and litigation. The emphasis is on real world application, using specifically designed client portfolios and simulated transactions.
- Stage Two allows you to specialise in areas such as corporate finance, commercial law and intellectual property, employment law and media and entertainment law.
LPC study schedules
- Full-time students complete the two stages in one year - either September to June with results in July or January to September with results in October.
- Part-time students complete Stage One in the first year (September to June). You can then choose to complete Stage Two quickly (September to December in the second year), or if you have other commitments, over a number of months or years.
- Fast Track students complete Stages One and Two in seven months. This option is more intensive than our conventional LPC, and includes two additional hours of face-to-face teaching and approximately three hours extra preparation a week.
Small group sessions
At the start of each module, you will be provided with a comprehensive 'materials pack' containing chapter (lecture) handouts and Small Group Session (SGS) descriptions. Each module is then delivered by way of lectures and SGSs. Lectures typically last 1 hour and SGSs are 2 hours.
In preparation for each SGS, you will be required to read the relevant chapter handout, listen to the accompanying lecture and undertake the preparation detailed in the SGS Description. This preparation might require you to research an area of law, prepare a presentation, draft a contractual clause, prepare a letter of advice, analyse a cause of action, for example.
Small group sessions involve a wide range of different learning and teaching techniques. Activities combine individual and team work, and might involve:
- presentations
- mock hearings
- negotiations
- drafting exercises or problem solving.
Classroom materials are drafted by our tutors, all of whom have worked in practice as either solicitors or barristers. This ensures that the practical activities undertaken in your SGSs are all in the context of realistic case studies which really prepare you for practice.
During your core practice areas (Business Law and Practice, Property Law and Practice, Civil Litigation and Criminal Litigation), you will undertake work for three key 'clients'. By considering their businesses as a whole, you will appreciate how they operate and how decisions made in the context of a property or business transaction might impact upon ongoing litigation.
In the elective term, you will act for a broad range of clients reflecting the diversity of experience in practice. This will help to develop not only your legal acumen but also your commercial awareness.
Stage 1
You will work through case studies which require you to determine the inheritance for particular beneficiaries and to calculate the inheritance tax due on lifetime gifts and the death estate. You will also be introduced to the practical steps required to administer a deceased person’s estate, including some of the official paper work that must be completed.
Revenue law is a pervasive subject on the LPC. It is not separately assessed and is taught (and examined) where appropriate within the other subject areas of the LPC. For example, when you are studying Business Law and Practice you will develop your understanding of the various taxes as they relate to the business environment and then these tax issues will be examined as part of the Business Law and Practice assessment.
To assist with your learning during the compulsory stage of the LPC, you will be provided with a revenue law workbook. The purpose of this workbook is to introduce you to the basic principles of individual and corporate revenue law. It provides you with an overview of how the UK taxation system works. Your knowledge of revenue law will be developed throughout both the compulsory and elective terms.
This a module in Stage 1 of the Legal Practice Course (LPC).
The first part of the Property Law and Practice module introduces you to the steps to take when acting for either the buyer or the seller in the acquisition or sale of registered and unregistered freehold properties. The second part of the module introduces you to the steps to take when acting for either a landlord or tenant in the grant of a commercial lease( including a detailed look at some of the key clauses in commercial leases such as buying/selling leases, alterations, repair and service charge). You will also look at the security of tenure which is generally available to tenants of commercial leases; how a landlord might exclude that security of tenure or, if a tenant has security of tenure, the circumstances in which a landlord can recover possession of the leased premises.
All of the above is done through case studies - one for freehold and one for leasehold.
Professional Conduct and Regulation (‘PCR’) is a pervasive module: as well as being assessed in a standalone two hour PCR exam, PCR issues will also arise on the LPC in all of the Core Practice Areas and, to a lesser extent, in most elective modules.
Some of the areas covered include:
- The SRA Principles
- SRA Code of Conduct 2011:
- Client Care
- Conflicts of Interests
- Confidentiality and disclosure
- Your duties to the court
- Undertakings
- Money laundering and the proceeds of crime
- Financial Services
The module is very practical; you are given dozens of scenarios where you face a variety of ethical dilemmas. By the time students complete the module, they should to be able to spot the relevant PCR issue and explain what course of action they would need to take in order to comply with their statutory and regulatory obligations.
This Litigation (Civil and Criminal) module is part of Stage 1 of the LPC.
The Business Law and Practice module is the largest of the core practice areas. The course essentially follows the life cycle of a company (from how to set up and finance a company through to insolvency). The module is split into six key topic areas:
- Setting up and financing a company
- Directors Shareholders Acquisitions
- Tax (individual and corporate)
- Business Accounts Insolvency
You will be taught through a combination of lectures and small group sessions and you will work with realistic client scenarios to provide context for your learning and to assist with developing your ability to provide accurate, practical and commercial advice which is crucial in practice.
- the difference between client money and office money
- how to account for VAT on various transactions
- how to make a variety of ledger entries in a double-entry book-keeping system, and
- how to prepare a financial statement for a buyer or a seller client
Stage 2
The personal injury and clinical negligence option covers the essential areas of Personal Injury Practice. It looks in detail at road traffic accidents, trips and slips and accidents at work. This is both in terms of ordinary claims and those by dependants in respect of fatal accidents such as death from asbestosis, as considered by the House of Lords in Fairchild v Glenhaven Funeral Services.
The intricacies of quantum and assessing future losses using Ogden tables are considered in detail. The module is also an introduction to clinical negligence, including understanding medical jargon and the difficulties of proving causation.
Entry requirements
To apply for the BPP LPC you'll need to hold a minimum of one of the following:- a qualifying law degree at grade 2.2 or above
- qualifying non-law degree at grade 2.2 above and a GDL, CPE, or similar qualification such as ILEX/FILEX
If you wish to study our Fast-Track LPC you will usually be required to hold a 2.1 at degree level.
If English is not your first language you will need to hold IELTS level 6.5 or equivalent.
Please note we do not accept students with third class degrees onto the LPC.
How to apply
Full-time applications for September 2012 must be made through the Central Applications Board (CAB). This can be done by going to www.lawcabs.ac.uk. CAB applications for January 2013 study will open on 1 October 2012.
For the part-time programme apply direct to BPP by completing the direct application form at the top of this page. Alternatively, please contact Admissions on 0845 077 5566 or at admissions@bpp.com to discuss your application.
Applications will be accepted from 1 October 2011 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with offers sent out by BPP from November.
Please note that different application deadlines apply depending on whether you wish to study the full-time or part-time Legal Practice Course (LPC).
The fast-track LPC starts in August and you apply via www.lawcabs.ac.uk.
The Law Loan
We advise students to apply early to ensure their application is considered, and to allow sufficient time for their Law Loan application.
International students
For more information:
Tel: +44 (0)207 430 7065
Email: internationaladmissions@bpp.com
Study locations
You can study for the LPC in many of the UK's major cities – allowing you to complete the course without moving from where you live or work.
Study centres in the following cities:
- BPP Birmingham
- BPP Bristol
- BPP Cambridge
- BPP Leeds
- BPP Liverpool
-
- BPP London – Holborn
- BPP London – Waterloo
- BPP Manchester
LPC Fast Track study centres:
You can also view the start dates for each location.
Online LPC lectures
Stage One lectures on the full-time combined LPC will be delivered live in London (Holborn and Waterloo), Leeds and Manchester but elective lectures at all centres will be online only.
Online lectures only (for both stages of the LPC) are delivered on the following programmes:
- All part-time LPCs
- All LPCs delivered in Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge and Liverpool
- January start LPCs
- Fast track LPCs
All centres offer face-to-face small group sessions.
LPC Fast Track study centres:
- BPP Birmingham
- BPP London - Holborn
- BPP Manchester
- BPP Leeds
The Fast Track LPC starts in August.
LPC Lecturers:
- Zia Ahmad
- Rachel Andrews
- Tracey Banks
- Althea Cusick
- Lynn Davies
- Abigail Flack
- Stephan Ford
- Keri Goddard
- Glenn Gordon
- Jane Houston
- Katie Jukes
- Eamonn Mcnamara
- Helen Morley
- Bob Picken
- Liz Polding
- Liz Roddis
- Elisabetta Sammarco
- Damian Smith
- Alison Wells
Paying for your course
LPC fees are structured to allow staggered, interest-free payments – so you can start your course and pay as you progress.
Fees are the same whether you are a citizen of the UK/EU or an international student. However, as an international student you will follow a different payment plan (PDF, 12KB).
If you're a Fast Track student, the same fees apply as for the full-time LPC.
Full or part-time courses starting in January 2012
Full-time and Fast Track LPC
| Location | Fee (inc £350 deposit) | SRA and CAB | Total |
| London | £12,900 | £126 | £13,026 |
| Leeds | £9,450 | £126 | £9,576 |
| Manchester | £9,450 | £126 | £9,576 |
LPC Stage 1 only - January 2012 Start
| Mode | Location | Stage 1 Fee |
| Full-Time | London | £8,653 |
| Full-Time | Leeds | £5,928 |
| Full-Time | Manchester | £5,928 |
LPC Stage 2 only - January 2012 Start
| Mode | Location | Per Elective | 3 Electives |
| Full-Time / Part-Time | London | £1,325 | £3,975 |
| Full-Time / Part-Time | Leeds | £1,065 | £3,195 |
| Full-Time / Part-Time | Manchester | £1,065 | £3,195 |
Full or part-time courses - September 2012
LPC Full-time - September 2012 Start
| Location | Fees (incl. £350 deposit) | SRA & CAB | Total |
| Birmingham | £10,660 | £126 | £10,786 |
| Bristol | £10,660 | £126 | £10,786 |
| Cambridge | £10,660 | £126 | £10,786 |
| Leeds | £9,930 | £126 | £10,056 |
| Liverpool | £9,930 | £126 | £10,056 |
| London (Holborn) | £13,550 | £126 | £13,676 |
| London (Waterloo) | £13,550 | £126 | £13,676 |
| Manchester | £9,930 | £126 | £10,056 |
LPC Part-time - September 2012 Start
| Location | Fees (incl. £350 deposit) | SRA & CAB | Total |
| Birmingham | £10,660 | £120 | £10,780 |
| Bristol | £10,660 | £120 | £10,780 |
| Cambridge | £10,660 | £120 | £10,780 |
| Leeds | £9,930 | £120 | £10,050 |
| Liverpool | £9,930 | £120 | £10,050 |
| London (Holborn) | £13,550 | £120 | £13,670 |
| London (Waterloo) | £13,550 | £120 | £13,670 |
| Manchester | £9,930 | £120 | £10,050 |
Standalone electives
| Location | Per elective | 3 electives | Total | Course price |
| London | £1,440 | £4,320 | £13,676 | £9,356 |
| All other | £1,180 | £3,540 | £10,056 | £6,516 |
Payment plans
Our flexible payment plans let you spread the cost of your course across the duration of your studies:
- Download a full list of fees and payment plans (PDF, 12KB)
- Download information on the international payment plan (PDF, 64KB)
Scholarships
BPP welcomes and supports applications for student scholarships. We offer a number of scholarships and discretionary awards for our law programmes.You can also contact the Student Finance Office for more information:
BPP University College of Professional Studies
68-70 Red Lion Street
London
WC1R 4NY
Tel: +44 020 7061 1301
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7404 1389
Email: studentfinance@bpp.com
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The choice of leading law firms
Exclusive provider to:
- Addleshaw Goddard
- Bircham Dyson Bell
- Boodle Hatfield
- Bristows
- Dewey & LeBoeuf
- Eversheds
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Herbert Smith
- Hogan Lovells
- Jones Day
- Macfarlanes
- Norton Rose
- Olswang
- Reed Smith
- Reynolds Porter Chamberlain
- Simmons & Simmons
- Sidley Austin
- SJ Berwin
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
- Slaughter and May
- Squire Sanders
- Stephenson Harwood
- Taylor Wessing
- Travers Smith
- Withers
View BPP videos
The choice of leading law firms
Exclusive provider to:
- Addleshaw Goddard
- Bircham Dyson Bell
- Boodle Hatfield
- Bristows
- Dewey & LeBoeuf
- Eversheds
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Herbert Smith
- Hogan Lovells
- Jones Day
- Macfarlanes
- Norton Rose
- Olswang
- Reed Smith
- Reynolds Porter Chamberlain
- Simmons & Simmons
- Sidley Austin
- SJ Berwin
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
- Slaughter and May
- Squire Sanders
- Stephenson Harwood
- Taylor Wessing
- Travers Smith
- Withers
View BPP videos
The choice of leading law firms
Exclusive provider to:
- Addleshaw Goddard
- Bircham Dyson Bell
- Boodle Hatfield
- Bristows
- Dewey & LeBoeuf
- Eversheds
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Herbert Smith
- Hogan Lovells
- Jones Day
- Macfarlanes
- Norton Rose
- Olswang
- Reed Smith
- Reynolds Porter Chamberlain
- Simmons & Simmons
- Sidley Austin
- SJ Berwin
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
- Slaughter and May
- Squire Sanders
- Stephenson Harwood
- Taylor Wessing
- Travers Smith
- Withers
View BPP videos
The choice of leading law firms
Exclusive provider to:
- Addleshaw Goddard
- Bircham Dyson Bell
- Boodle Hatfield
- Bristows
- Dewey & LeBoeuf
- Eversheds
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Herbert Smith
- Hogan Lovells
- Jones Day
- Macfarlanes
- Norton Rose
- Olswang
- Reed Smith
- Reynolds Porter Chamberlain
- Simmons & Simmons
- Sidley Austin
- SJ Berwin
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
- Slaughter and May
- Squire Sanders
- Stephenson Harwood
- Taylor Wessing
- Travers Smith
- Withers
