5th January 2023
So after all of that, we’re finally ready to look at level 7 options. And I’ll be honest, there’s more to this than I thought. Some options are being replaced (such as the LPC) and some options are becoming obsolete if you’re going down the solicitor route (like the LLM, the P/GDL, and the MA Law Conversion Masters), so I won’t cover these in too much detail.
But there’s a lot to cover, so best we get started!
Law Conversion Masters (P/GDL, LLM, MA Law Conversion)
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Professional Title upon Completion
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Graduate
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Costs
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Tuition Fees:
P/GDL – £5,000 to £13,000
LLM – £8,650 to £18,000
MA Law Conversion – £15,400
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Overall Cost of Course
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Up to £30,800 (however, this doesn’t include living expenses or course costs such as textbooks, and is assuming full-time study)
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Length of Time
(Full-Time Study)
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1 to 2 years
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Entry Requirements
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Varies depending on the university, but most require a 2:2 minimum degree.
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Topics Studied
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If doing a conversion course, then your compulsory modules are:
Contract Law
Criminal Law
Equity And Trusts
European Union (Eu) Law
Land Law
Public Law
Tort Law
But your other modules will vary, as will the modules on any non-conversion Law Masters Degrees. But some modules I came across in my research included:
Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain in Law (The University of Law LLM)
Comparative Equality Law (University of Portsmouth LLM)
Warfare and Lawfare (University of Manchester LLM)
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Where to Find One?
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The University of Law is a key provider of postgraduate law courses, but many universities offer a Level 7 law degree. However, these level 7s will likely be either the LLM or MA, with the P/GDL and the MA (Conversion) being phased out or replaced. UCAS can help you search for a Masters in Law
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Pros
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You can take a specialised Masters Degree. This means that if you know you want to become a lawyer specialising in technology, a Masters degree will give you a strong foundation within that specialisation.
It can help you find a job, since getting a job in the legal sector is extremely competitive. A masters can show your dedication to the subject, which may give you a competitive edge.
If you’ve already started, you have the choice to stick with the LPC route, which is the tried and true method that law firms understand and trust.
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Cons
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Taking a course conversion Masters is no longer necessary to become a lawyer if you completed a non-law degree.
Extremely expensive for something that isn’t necessary.
You still need to complete the LPC, SQE or the CPQ to become a lawyer.
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Legal Practice Course (LPC)
The LPC will remain a valid route until 2032, but only for those who, prior to the 1st of September 2021, have completed, started, accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit for the GDL (and started it before the 31st December 2021), the LPC, a period of recognised training (PRT), or have completed, started or accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit for a qualifying law degree (QLD) / exempting law degree (ELD) that starts before 31 December 2021.
Basically, if you were an LLB law student, an LLM student, a P/GDL student, an MA Law Conversion student in December 2021, you can continue down the LPC route.
But if you started after December 2021, you’ll need to take the BPC (to become a barrister), the SQE (to become a solicitor) or the CPQ (to become a Chartered Legal Executive).
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Professional Title upon Completion
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If you’ve secured a training contract, you’ll be a Trainee Solicitor – you’ll need to complete a period of recognised training (PRT) before you’re a qualified solicitor.
If you don’t have a training contract, then there’s no title change. You’d still be a graduate.
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Costs
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Dependent on your provider but can range from £7,850 to £17,950
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Overall Cost of Course
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£7,850 to £17,950
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Length of Time
(Full Time Study)
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1 year
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Entry Requirements
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Either a LLB or a BA/BSc and a Conversion Masters (P/GDL, LLM, or MA Law Conversion)
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Topics Studied
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Split into two stages, you’ll study the following in Stage One of the LPC:
Business Law And Practice
Litigation, Including Civil And Criminal
Property Law And Practice.
Then there are the skills of:
Advising and advocacy
Interviewing
Practical legal research
Writing and drafting.
In addition are the areas of:
Professional conduct and regulation
Solicitors’ accounts
Taxation
Wills and administration of estates.
Then Stage Two of the LPC allows more choice which allows you to develop a specialisation within the legal sector. Stage 2 consists of two vocational electives which might include:
Private Acquisitions
Public Companies
Debt/Banking</span
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