Postgraduate Course
Legal Practice LLM (LPC)
If you want to become a solicitor in England or Wales, this is the postgraduate course for you.
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Develop your practical legal skills as you prepare for your law career. Working in the York St John Law Clinic will help you to develop transferable skills and experience legal practice.
Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
York campus
- Duration – 1 year full time
- Start date – September 2024, September 2025
- School – York Business School
Minimum entry requirements
2:1 degree in a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) approved by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority
Interview You will need to attend an interview for this course
Tuition fees
UK 2024-25 £11,400 full time
International 2024-25 £14,000 full time
Course overview
This course is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). If you are looking to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales you have several options. This includes the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination 1 and 2 (SQE 1 and 2) which was introduced in September 2021.
This course will allow you to progress to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales by doing one of the following:
- Completing a period of recognised training, usually a 2 year paid training contract with a law firm or other organisation authorised to provide training.
- Qualifying through equivalent means by compiling a portfolio of work documenting at least 2 years’ experience working under the supervision of a practising solicitor in a paid or voluntary role. This could be as a paralegal or equivalent.
- Taking the Solicitors Qualifying Examination 2 (SQE2) and completing qualifying work experience (QWE).
While studying with us you will gain work experience at York St John Law Clinic. This is a service open to individuals and small businesses who cannot afford legal advice and assistance. Working with people who have genuine legal problems will help you develop empathy and important practical and interpersonal skills. This will enhance your performance as a solicitor.
You will tailor your experience by choosing modules that align with your interests and ambitions. You can choose from areas such as:
- Commercial law
- Family law
- Employment law
- Immigration law
- Mental health law
The work we do at York St John Law Clinic reflects our passion for social justice. We will encourage you to make the same commitment and graduate with a lifelong focus on making a positive contribution to the community you live and work in.
This course builds on York St John University’s commitment to social justice and our aim is to ensure our students leave socially aware and with a lifelong commitment to social justice and to making a positive contribution to our communities. Teaching on this course will help you to bridge the more technical aspects of legal practice to the evidential, financial, practical and personal realities of clients’ cases and, in addition to developing the technical legal skills.
The Legal Practice Course (LPC) element of this course is prescribed by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA) and will give you the option of seeking to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales by completing a training contract even after the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). The qualification is also frequently an essential requirement of employers seeking to recruit to entry level positions, including paralegal roles, within the legal profession which offer further avenues into the profession.
Course structure
How you will study
Studying the course full time will take 1 year to complete. You will study:
- 7 compulsory modules
- 3 optional modules
- A Legal Practice Project throughout the year
You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications.
Modules
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will study a core practice area outlined by the SRA. Your focus will be on learning the practicalities of business law. You will learn how to advise clients on appropriate business structures and how to form a partnership or incorporate a company. We will also teach you how to advise on and understand the practicalities of running a company. This will include:
- Contractual issues
- Meetings
- Accounts and taxation matters
- Ceasing training and dissolution
Credits: 15
Compulsory module
On this module you will study a core practice area outlined by the SRA. Your focus will be on learning the practicalities of property law. You will learn how to complete basic freehold and leasehold transactions for domestic properties. This will include advising your client on and complying with all precontract searches and enquiries. We will teach you to advise your clients on tax matters, helping them to understand the requirements of mortgage lenders. You will understand how to draft contractual documents and learn to carry out pre and post-completion tasks.
Credits: 5
Compulsory module
On this module you will develop your professional conduct as a solicitor. You will study the 7 principles that form the regulations of the Code of Conduct for Solicitors. Together, we will identify conduct and ethical issues in different scenarios and you will consider the appropriate responses to each situation. This will include justifying your decisions and articulating how you are meeting your obligations as a solicitor.
Credits: 10
Optional module
On this module we will introduce you to the main areas of commercial law. This will build on your knowledge of contract law. You will consider how to form contractual relations. You will explore issues relating to the sale of goods from the perspective of the company and the consumer. We will also cover terms of contract and marketing arrangements.
Credits: 10
Optional module
On this module we will introduce you to family law and practice. You will focus on the law relating to divorce and dissolution. This will include children's arrangements and financial provisions. You will also consider how issues of domestic abuse factor into these considerations.
Credits: 10
Optional module
On this module we will introduce you to employment law and practice. You will build on the principles of both contract and tort law as you study. Together, we will consider the nature of employment relationships. You will learn about common contractual and implied terms in employment contracts. We will also learn how employment can be terminated and how to resolve disputes that arise from ending someone's contract. As part of this module you will also consider discrimination in the workplace and how this can lead to disputes.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will work on your own cases within York St John Law Clinic. You will offer advice and assistance to individuals and small businesses who could not otherwise afford to pay for it. You will be working with the community and gaining valuable industry experience. Working individually or in pairs, with the support of a supervisor, you will:
- Interview clients
- Identify legal and factual issues
- Research those issues and prepare written legal advice
- Present this advice to clients
Credits: 15
Compulsory module
On this module you will learn about civil and criminal litigation. By the end of the module you will be able to identify the steps that make up the process of litigation. You will also develop the basic skills needed for the preparation and presentation of cases before courts and tribunals. You will learn how criminal courts are run and become familiar with the rules, procedures and standards of professional conduct in these settings. You will develop the skill of advocacy, as required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Credits: 10
Compulsory module
This module teaches you the skill of drafting, as required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. You will become familiar with the law relating to estates, learning about the validity, revocation and alteration of wills and codicils. We will explore:
- How estates are administered, including valuing assets
- How claims against an estate are considered
- How an estate is distributed
- What happens when gifts in wills fail
- How intestacy rules require estates to be distributed in the absence of valid wills
Credits: 5
Compulsory module
On this module we will introduce you to the roles and responsibilities of solicitors in handling client’s money. You will become familiar with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 2019 and the requirements they place on practising solicitors. You will learn to:
- Record client transactions
- Prepare accounts relating to transfers
- Deal with VAT issues
- Deal with bills and mixed money
- Prepare financial statements
We will deliver this module through practical workshops and hands-on exercises.
Credits: 10
Optional module
On this module you will receive a thorough and practical introduction to immigration law and practice. You will learn about the different categories of immigration entry into the UK. We will also cover the protections offered to refugees and the process for applying for asylum. You will consider the impact of Brexit on immigration and freedom of movement between the European Union and the UK. You will also learn about the enforcement of immigration law, and the process of appealing and reviewing immigration decisions.
Credits: 10
Optional module
On this module we will introduce you to mental health law and practice. You will develop an understanding of the mental health legislative framework. This will include learning about when and why a person may be admitted for compulsory mental health treatment. You will also consider human rights issues as part of this module. Together we will examine the roles and functions of the:
- Court of Protection
- First-tier Tribunal
- Official Solicitor
- Office of the Public Guardian
You will learn to support your clients as they prepare for a time when they might not be able to make decisions for themselves.
Credits: 10
Optional module
On this module we will introduce you to the practical areas of commercial and dispute resolution. You will learn how to prepare for and engage in dispute resolution, learning practical skills in negotiation and mediation. We will teach you the process of litigation and the role of specialist courts in commercial dispute resolution. We will also consider how the risk of commercial disputes can be reduced with contractual procedures.
Credits: 10
Optional module
On this module we will introduce you to personal injury and clinical negligence law and practice. You will consider the duty of care owed in certain contexts. You will also examine the evidence you need to establish and prepare a claim. We will teach you about all aspects of the dispute resolution and litigation process, using simulated cases to practise your skills. Finally, you will examine the law relating to fatal accident claims.
Credits: 10
Optional module
On this module you will study the legal practice and law relating to private acquisitions. You will learn about the matters you must investigate when planning an acquisition. We will also examine the employment and tax implications you must consider as part of the process. You will learn how to progress negotiations relating to acquisition, including allocation of risk and contractual protections. We will also teach you how to transfer assets and shares, making sure you understand the practicalities associated with acquisition.
Credits: 10
Optional module
On this module we will introduce you to commercial property practice. We will help you to understand the legal framework that governs commercial landlord and tenant relations and the matters that need to be agreed between parties. You will explore the structure of commercial leases and learn to draft key terms. We will explore the obligations of both parties along with enforcement issues. You will also learn how to address issues that arise on termination of a lease.
Credits: 60
Compulsory module
For this module you will complete an extended piece of independent research. You will choose a topical issue in legal practice that is original and advanced. This is your chance to focus your learning on an area that interests you and aligns with your ambitions. A supervisor will support you throughout this project.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning
Teaching will consist of a mixture of lectures and small group workshops. This includes sessions with staff from across the university.
We encourage you to take responsibility for managing your own learning and its outcomes. Our Academic Support team can help with written English, study, research and technology skills if needed.
We keep our group sizes small so we can get to know you and support your aspirations. We deliver your modules through:
- Lectures
- Workshops
- Meetings to discuss the progress of your Law Clinic cases
- 1 to 1 supervision
Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.
Assessment
Our assessments reflect how you will need to work in legal practice. This means that in most exams, you will have access to a computer. All assessments will be based on the law in force at the time of the assessment, regardless of the law taught during the course. We will advise you of any changes to the laws you have learned. Types of assessment will include:
- Unseen, open book exams (where you can bring notes with you)
- Multiple choice exams
- Written portfolio
- Oral presentation
- Essays
For each assessment you will have the chance to talk to a tutor about your work before submission. Each assessment will be marked and returned with feedback so you can improve your academic writing.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
Minimum entry requirements
2:1 degree in a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) approved by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority
Interview You will need to attend an interview for this course
The minimum entry requirements for this course are:
- A 2:1 degree in a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) approved by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority
or - A 2:1 undergraduate degree classification in any discipline and a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).
Interview
You will need to attend an interview for this course. This interview can take place online or you can visit campus by appointment. The interview aims to ensure this is the right course for you.
International students
If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.
Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.
If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.
International entry requirements
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)
If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission.
Terms and conditions
Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.
Fees and funding
UK 2024 - 2025
The tuition fee for 2024 entry to this postgraduate course is:
- £11,400 for full time study
This cost applies to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.
Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.
postgraduate funding opportunities
International 2024 -2025 entry
The tuition fee for 2024 entry to this postgraduate course is:
- £14,000 for full time study
This cost applies to all students living outside the UK.
Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.
Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.
Tuition fees
UK 2024-25 £11,400 full time
International 2024-25 £14,000 full time
Alumni Scholarships
If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.
Additional costs and financial support
Course-related costs
While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.
Accommodation and living costs
View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.
Career outcomes
Where could Legal Practice LLM take you?
Choosing to study our Legal Practice LLM will help you stand out to small and medium law firms. It prepares you to start your career with confidence and make a positive contribution to your employer from the outset.
With these skills, you could pursue many careers in law. This qualification can prepare you for a career as a:
- Solicitor (England and Wales)
- Paralegal
- Licensed conveyancer
- Chartered legal executive (England and Wales)
Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study.
Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Those with a postgraduate qualification will earn an average of £7,000 a year more than those with only an undergraduate degree. (Department For Education Graduate Labour Market Report 2020)
Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:
- Employer events
- LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
- Workshops on application writing and interview skills
- Work experience and volunteering opportunities
- Personalised career advice
This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.
Course highlights
Core texts included
The text books you need are included in the course fee. Additional texts are available online through your module reading list with hard copies available in our law library.
Practise Law in York St John Law Clinic
Apply your knowledge and practise your legal skills by helping individuals and small businesses who cannot afford legal advice and assistance.
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