What’s the lowdown on the postgraduate law courses? In brief, this is the compulsory vocational stage that must be completed before you do either the training contract (solicitor) or pupillage (barrister). The LPC and the BPTC are usually one-year courses, but each can be done two years part time, or by distance learning. The three largest providers are The College of Law, BPP Law School and Kaplan Law School, but there are many others which offer the courses.
Are postgraduate law courses expensive? Do I have to pay for them myself?
The total cost of qualifying as a solicitor or barrister is not to be underestimated. Over and above the potential £9,000 per year you may have to pay for your undergraduate degree, you will fork out between £5,000 and £12,500 (plus living costs) for the GDL, LPC and BPTC. Not exactly small change! For this reason it's best to have a training contract or pupillage before embarking
on any of the courses - that way, you should have the fees covered or at the very least a job at the end of all the study. Bank loans are usually the preferred option for those who self- fund; note, however, that some banks have withdrawn the preferential loan products they used to offer to postgraduate law students. For more detailed funding advice, look at the “Finances” section on
LawCareers.Net.
Have all lawyers been to private school and Oxbridge?
No. Most firms and chambers fully understand the benefits of a representative workforce, which means recruiting the best candidates regardless of background. These days, most go further by establishing their own diversity policies to ensure they provide a welcoming and supportive environment for people whatever their gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age, socioeconomic background and so on. That said, different firms and chambers do have different personalities and it’s important to find one that suits you - a
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