LLM in Legal Practice

Master of Laws (LLM) in Legal Practice (LPC / BVC Conversion to LLM)

Full-Time and Part-Time Students

Introduction

The School of Law offers a post-graduate programme, a full-time (10 months) or part-time (16 months) course, part-taught, part-research-based, leading to a Masters Degree in Legal Practice.

The programme has the approval of the Law Society and Bar Council as an appropriate programme of study for the purposes of Continuing Professional Development for practising solicitors and barristers. The programme is therefore CPD accredited and the 16 hours of tuition participants receive satisfy the hourly CPD requirements for one year.

FAQs

What is the LLM in Legal Practice?

What is studied on the course?

When does the course begin?

How is it taught?

What is the library provision?

What are the entry requirements and how do I apply?

What is the LLM in Legal Practice?

The LLM in LP allows participants to convert their LPC / BPTC (Diploma in Legal Practice / Diploma in Legal Practice at the Bar) to an LLM.

The LLM in LP is also a stand-alone qualification for those wishing to enhance their career prospects through the acquisition by participants of vocationally relevant knowledge and skills thereby leading to a greater expertise in their chosen areas of expertise.

If an applicant for a place on the course does not possess either of these qualifications, it may still be possible to accredit their recent professional practice as being equivalent to an LPC / BPTC Diploma (Please speak to the Programme Leader for further details).

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What is studied on the course?

Full-time students:

September – October

Students will take a Research Methodology and Dissertation Module comprising four compulsory legal research and methodology seminars and workshops, leading to the formulation of individual dissertation proposals - 15 credits

January – End of June

Students will embark on and complete their chosen dissertation (20,000 words) assisted by monthly workshops and/or one-on-one supervision from their chosen supervisor - 60 credits

Part-Time Students:

September – October

Students will take a Research Methodology and Dissertation Module comprising compulsory legal research and methodology seminars and workshops, leading to the formulation of individual dissertation proposals in the same manner as full-time students - 15 credits

January – End of December (Year Two)

Students will embark on and complete their chosen dissertation assisted by monthly workshops and/or one-on-one supervision from their chosen supervisor. The dissertation will be some 20,000 words in length and presented in bound-form - 60 credits

Dissertations are expected to form either an original investigation into a chosen area of legal practice or an ordered and critical exposition of existing knowledge. Full Support and Guidance will be provided throughout the student’s work on his / her dissertation.

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When Does the Course Begin?

The Research Methodology and Dissertation Module will begin in September and will run for 4 separate whole afternoon sessions until the middle of October The student will then submit his/her dissertation proposal for acceptance by the teaching team. The dissertation process will begin in the following January.

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How are the Modules Taught?

The Legal Research & Writing Skills Module is taught through the advanced provision of reading materials, the study of those materials, research by the student and his / her participation in and contribution to seminar-based or workshop sessions, under the guidance of an experienced tutor.

The Dissertation module is conducted through one-on-one supervisor-supervisee meetings alongside the support of bespoke study skills workshops.

It is a relaxed and informal style of learning and teaching, particularly suited to master-level study, with participants learning from each other through discussion and exposition.

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What is the Library Provision?

You will have access to an up-to-date modern Learning Resource Centre just five minutes walk away. Opened in 1994, the Aldham Robarts LRC is one of the leading library facilities in the UK. It provides excellent and comfortable study accommodation, photocopies, audio and video booths, information, computing and multi-media facilities. Further details of opening hours will be supplied on request. More details on the library can be found by clicking here.

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What are the entry requirements and how do I apply?

The entry requirements are either:

(i) a Diploma in Legal Practice from a recognised LPC provider, or

(ii) a Diploma in Legal Practice at the Bar from a recognised BPTC provider.

If a student possesses either of these qualifications he or she will be credited with 105 Master's level credits towards the completion of the LLM in LP. These requirements may be waived where it can be shown that the applicant has previous work experience which has made the applicant suitable for this Masters programme.

The further 75 credits required to complete the programme will be gained from the legal research methodology module which culminates in the dissertation proposal (15 credits) and the dissertation itself (60 credits).

Fees

For 2010/11, the fees for the LLM in Legal Practice are £1920.

 

Apply

To apply, please complete the postgraduate application form at the following link:

http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/pgapplication/

If you have any questions on the application process, please contact Carmel Flanagan, Law Admissions Officer, at:

C.Flanagan@ljmu.ac.uk or 0151 231 5182.

For further details on the course content, please contact the Programme Leader, James Cullen, at:

J.Cullen1@ljmu.ac.uk or on 0151 231 3931.

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