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 28 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 – 28 leading UK law firms exclusively send their trainees to BPP
  • Specialise for practice through our free High Street Extra programme
  • Build links with the profession through our networking events and career mentoring
  • Access excellent online materials both inside and outside the classroom
  • Receive extra preparation for your training contract with the 4th elective
  • Put the theory to the test and build your CV by advising real clients via our award-winning pro bono centre
  • Convert your LPC to an LLM (Professional Legal Practice) or MA (Law with Business)
  • Develop your commercial acumen through our new ‘Law Firm as a Business’ module
  • Broaden your learning from tutors who bring experience of working in practice
  • Enhance your employability with support from our specialist careers service
  • Benefit from high levels of face-to-face interaction and business-focused teaching
  • Benefit from extensive tutor support throughout your LPC
  • Reduce the time it takes to qualify with the new Fast Track LPC
Apply for Aug/Sept start:
UK part-time >Lawcabs application >
Contact us to find out more: 020 3131 0616
Request a callback >
International student support >

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.


Stage 1

Compulsory
Credits
Wills and Administration of Estates
NA
This module introduces you to the key areas relevant for advising clients in relation to their personal financial affairs both during lifetime and after death. The topics you will study include will drafting, administration of estates, the distribution of property following death (including intestate estates) and inheritance tax.

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.

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Advocacy
NA
This Advocacy Skills module is part of Stage 1 of the LPC.
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Taxation
NA
This Taxation module is part of Stage 1 of the LPC.
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Writing
NA

This a module in Stage 1 of the Legal Practice Course (LPC).

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Drafting
NA
This module is part of the LPC, stage 1.
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Property Law and Practice
30

This Property Law and Practice module is part of Stage 1 of the LPC.
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Interviewing and Advising
NA
This module is part of Stage 1 of the Legal Practice Course (LPC).
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Professional Conduct and Regulation
NA

This module is part of Stage 1 in the Legal Practice Course (LPC).


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Litigation (Civil and Criminal)
30
 

 

 

This Litigation (Civil and Criminal) module is part of Stage 1 of the LPC.

 

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Business Law and Practice
30
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Solicitors' Accounts
NA
This module will prepare you for dealing with money in practice and help you to avoid breaching the SRA Accounts Rules. In particular, you will cover:
  • 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

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Stage 2

Optional
Credits
Debt Finance
10
This module is part of Stage 2 of the LPC. You will study three electives from those listed under stage 2.
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Media and Entertainment Law
10
This module is part of Stage 2 of the Legal Practice Course (LPC).
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Equity Finance
10
This module is part of Stage 2 of the LPC. You will study three electives from those listed under Stage 2.


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Family Law
10
This module is part of Stage 2 of the LPC. You will study three electives from those listed under Stage 2.

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Immigration Law
10
This module is part of Stage 2 of the LPC. You will study three elective from those listed under stage 2.
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Employment Law
10
This module is part of Stage 2 of the LPC. You will study three electives from those listed under Stage 2.

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Private Acquisitions
10
This Private Acquisitions module is part of Stage 2 of the LPC.
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Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence
10

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.


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Advanced Commercial Litigation
10
Advanced Commercial Litigation is part of Stage 2 of the LPC.
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Commercial Law and Intellectual Property
10
Commercial Law and Intellectual Property
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Advanced Criminal Litigation
10
This module is part of Stage 2 of the LPC. You will study three electives from those listed under stage 2.
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Insurance Law and Practice
10
This module is part of Stage 2 of the LPC. You will study three electives from those listed under stage 2.
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Advanced Commercial Property
10
This module is part of Stage 2 of the LPC. You will study three electives from those listed under Stage 2.


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Private Client (Wills, Probate and Estate Planning)
10
This Private Client (Wills, Probate and Estate Planning) module is part of Stage 2 of the LPC.

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Corporate Finance
10
This module is part of Stage 2 of the LPC. You will study three electives from those listed under stage 2.
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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

From October 2011 full-time applications must be made through the Central Applications Board (CAB). This can be done by going to www.lawcabs.ac.uk.

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:


LPC Fast Track study centres:


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
The Fast Track LPC starts in August.

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

Payment plans

Our flexible payment plans let you spread the cost of your course across the duration of your studies:


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