LLM Legal Practice Course (LLM LPC)

The highlights

• This course prepares you for a training contract - the next stage in the route to becoming a solicitor
• Tailor your LLM LPC to suit your own professional interests by choosing from a range of elective modules, including Advanced Criminal Litigation, Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury, Commercial Law, Commercial Litigation, Commercial Property, Employment Law, Family Law and Practice and Private Client (Estate Planning)
• Professional facilities including mock courtroom and interview suites, enabling you to improve your vocational skills and make the transition from graduate to lawyer
• A flexible course enabling you to meet other commitments; 2 days attendance per week full-time or 1 day per week part-time and flexibility over when you sit your assessments
• Excellent pastoral care, careers advice and opportunities - increase your chances of gaining a training contract via our Professional Mentoring Scheme and our influential network of contacts within the legal profession
• Learn from a high calibre, enthusiastic teaching team made up of experienced local practitioners
• Volunteering opportunities as a student legal advisor in our Student Legal Advice Centre (SLAC)

For those interested in becoming a solicitor, the route to qualification is changing. At Derby Law School we are working hard to ensure that the necessary changes are made to our undergraduate and postgraduate courses to provide our students with maximum opportunity and flexibility to further their legal career.

A head start in your career

This course is highly practical in nature. You’ll gain a thorough understanding of common legal transactions and procedures. You’ll also take part in client interview sessions, negotiation exercises, legal research projects, drafting advices and presenting a case to a court or tribunal. In addition, the LLM LPC allows you a certain amount of specialisation through a range of vocational optional modules.

Influential partnerships

We have longstanding relationships with legal professionals and the local judiciary, which open the doors for you to gain valuable insights into the legal profession. In recent years, our students have been offered exciting opportunities to be considered for work shadowing and networking in the local legal community. Our Professional Mentoring Scheme offers students the opportunity to access a wealth of invaluable support and advice from local practitioners.

Student Legal Advice Centre

You will have the opportunity to apply to be a voluntary student legal advisor in our Student Legal Advice Centre (SLAC) where you will work on real cases and help members of the community in a number of pro bono projects.

Dedicated to your success

Our experienced teaching team provides the full range of academic and pastoral support to help you maximise your potential. Our tutors are all solicitors, teaching mainly in their practice areas.

First-rate facilities

Based at our modern and iconic building in the heart of Derby’s vibrant city centre, One Friar Gate Square creates the perfect environment for innovative and engaging teaching. This dedicated site offers unique opportunities for sharing knowledge, expertise and experience in all aspects of the legal and justice fields.

The specialist facilities include a mock Crown Court, fully equipped modern teaching rooms, interview rooms, private study area with computers, printers and legal resources.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

The main objective of the LLM LPC is to prepare you for a training contract. Study is practice based, allowing you to gain an understanding of many common legal transactions and procedures. Workshops are taught in small groups, with a 30-minute review session to allow in-depth feedback.

You’ll have every opportunity to practice legal skills, such as interviewing and negotiation, through role play. When not in classes you will work individually and with other members of your group on preparatory tasks and exercises to consolidate your learning.

Additional support is available through our e-learning delivery system. This will help you assess your progress regularly through self-test questions and exercises with instant feedback.

Who you will meet

The LLM LPC is taught by a team of experienced solicitors, with most still active in practice. 

The team includes:

• Liz Haysom
• Claire Greenhalgh
• Romasa Butt

Flexible study

If you are a part-time student, you will attend compulsory weekend study sessions every Saturday during term time over two academic years, although some electives will be taught on Fridays or Sundays. Full-time students will attend compulsory study sessions every Friday and Saturday over one academic year.

Assessments

Most assessments are written but there are also skills assessments. The nature of assessments is largely determined by the SRA, but we do offer students a choice of when to take their assessments. Full details are set out in the Student Handbook.

This course is for those wishing to become a solicitor. It is the second stage of your path towards qualification after your qualifying law degree. The course is based on work-related skills and introduces you to the vocational skills of legal practice. Whether you aspire to work in a city or commercial practice, a high-street or niche practice, or in-house, our LLM LPC provides an excellent foundation for your future career in law.

You will need:

• A Qualifying Law degree (2.2 or above)
• Graduate Diploma in Law/CPE with an undergraduate degree (2.2 or above)

Overseas students will also need:

• A minimum IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each skills area

Accredited Prior Learning (APL)

Applications from students who have successfully completed either a Bar Vocational Course (BVC) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) within five years of enrolment to our LLM LPC may be considered for exemption from attendance and assessment in the following:

• Stage One - Litigation; Advocacy; Drafting
• Stage Two - Two Vocational Electives

It is important for such students to contact the Programme Leader as promptly as possible prior to their application to the Central Applications Board to allow their APL application to be considered.

SRA’s Suitability Test

If you wish to qualify as a solicitor, you need to be aware of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) "character and suitability" test. You are required to satisfy this prior to commencing a Training Contract.  

Please take a look at the SRA Suitability Test 2011. If you have any concerns about a character and suitability issue, please contact the SRA.

Examples of matters which the SRA will take into account include but are not limited to:

• Being found guilty of an academic offence
• Serious financial issues (such as bankruptcy, Individual Voluntary Arrangements or County Court Judgments
• Being subject to adverse regulatory findings
• Demonstrating any other behaviour that we would not expect of a solicitor (for example behaviour that was dishonest, violent or discriminatory)
• Criminal offences

If you are aware of any issues which could affect your ability to satisfy this test you can apply to the SRA in advance of starting a Training Contract for a decision of your suitability. If the SRA’s decision is not confirmed prior to the LLM LPC start date, you can continue with the course but do so at your own financial risk.

2024/25 (August 2024 - July 2025)

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable

Additional costs and optional extras

About postgraduate awards

Please note at postgraduate level, you’ll need to gain the following number of credits in total to obtain the respective awards. If you have any questions please contact us.

This means you will gain 180 credits in total to complete the full MA or MSc. If you are studying part time you will normally complete your studies over two or three years, depending on the course structure.

Funding your studies

Find out more about fees, postgraduate loans and support you may be entitled to.

Find out about funding your studiesFind out about funding your studies

Alumni discount for Derby graduates

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.

Find out about the Alumni discountFind out about the Alumni discount

Skills for success

As a University of Derby LLM LPC graduate, you’ll be highly employable. Employers rate our graduates not just for their knowledge and skills but also for their work ethic, commercial awareness and standards of professional behavior - all the attributes which ensure they can make a valuable contribution from day one in a solicitor’s practice.

Specialist careers advice

During your LLM LPC studies you’ll have access to:

• Specialist careers tutors
• Dedicated employability advisor
• Professional Mentoring Scheme

We run regular careers sessions, talks and presentations where guest speakers from the profession provide invaluable advice on commercial awareness, CV-building skills, interview techniques and what firms are seeking in successful training contract applicants.

Continuing support

Our Careers and Employment Service offers support from day one of your course - and this continues once you’ve completed your LLM LPC studies too. You are entitled to further help and guidance from the Service for up to three years after leaving the University.

What our students say

“The practical aspect of the course really prepares you for life in practice.” James Newton

“Thanks for offering this high-quality LPC for people like myself who would have had to give up the dream of becoming a lawyer had it not been for this course.” Donna Wilson

"The very best institution to study the LPC." Elroy Turner

“The LPC at Derby is excellent value for money. We got more than we paid for and had a great experience.” Irena Stavrinidou

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

† Additional information about your studies

Full-time: 2 days per week

Download programme specification

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Additional costs and optional extras

We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, excellent facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

Included in your fees

• Core texts provided and access to the online university library resources.