Legal Practice

Overview

All LPC students are guaranteed either a placement with a legal firm or a mentor, who is a recent LPC graduate either undertaking a training contract or a newly qualified solicitor. Our placements offer a range of opportunities and can accommodate individual preferences in legal practice. These can include placements in small or large firms, commercial or high street firms or in-house with companies such as Virgin Money and Sage group.

The Legal Practice programme from Northumbria University has a high staff/student ratio meaning you will have regular contact with highly qualified and experienced practitioners.

The course is taught in two blocks: in 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.

In 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 plans.

Solicitors Regulation Authority

Studying law? Or thinking of studying law?

Thinking of becoming a solicitor?

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced it will be introducing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). The earliest date for introduction is September 2021.

This will be 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.

If you have already started your law degree or an exempting law degree, or will do so before the SQE is introduced, you will be able to finish and qualify in the same way as before or qualify under the new system.

Under the current system you must complete both the academic and vocational stages of training as well as meeting the character and suitability requirements to become a solicitor. The academic stage is achieved by either a) a qualifying law degree or b) a non law degree in a different subject and completing the Common Professional Examination. The vocational stage comprises:

• the Legal Practice Course
• a two year period of recognised training
• the Professional Skills Course