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Which solicitors’ firms pay your LPC and GDL course fees?

The vocational training to qualify as a solicitor is expensive, so it's worth knowing what financial support is available from law firms and elsewhere.

The promise of a generous salary is a tempting reason to become a solicitor but the flipside is that qualifying is an expensive business. Non-law graduates need to cover conversion course (usually known as the CPE or GDL) fees, which range from £3,320 to £8,950 full time, and all graduates who want to become a trainee solicitor need to fund the legal practice course or LPC, which costs from £7,300 to £12,900 full time, depending on course provider and location. It’s wise to start thinking about how you’re going to finance this while still at on your undergraduate degree.

Financial support from commercial law firms

Of the leading law firms advertised in TARGETjobs Law and in TARGETjobs employer insights, 45 sponsor their trainees and most also offer a maintenance grant to cover living costs while on your CPE, GDL or LPC. Having this support in place can really take the pressure off and leave you free to concentrate on the work at hand.

LPC and GDL sponsorship from City law firms

LPC and GDL sponsorship from magic circle law firms

LPC and GDL sponsorship from US law firms with London offices

LPC and GDL sponsorship from regional or national law firms

Support for training to become a solicitor

Many large and medium-sized commercial firms provide financial support for the LPC and the GDL but to be eligible for this you’ll have to have a training contract lined up with them and possibly attend the institution of their choice for the LPC. Bristol University law graduate, Louise Caley, was supported financially through her LPC at University of Sheffield by law firm McGrigors: ‘At the end of the second year of my law degree I completed some work experience with my current firm and was offered a job. The firm also sponsored me to complete the LPC, which took a lot of the pressure off, allowing me to concentrate on the course rather than having to spend time searching for training contracts.’

US law firms with London offices tend to offer the highest maintenance grants (£7,000 or more) alongside their highest training contract starting salaries. Keep this in perspective: better to choose the law firm that offers the type of law you want to practise, the culture that suits your character and the location that’s best for you than be swayed too much by the size of the maintenance grant.

Financing your legal training to be a high street solicitor

Not every student will secure a training contract with a City, international, US or large regional firm – or want to. Sound financial planning is especially important for those joining smaller firms that cannot afford to pay fees. Most students in this position tend to rely on scholarships/bursaries, loans, parental support or part-time work in order to support their studies. It’s important to know how you’re going to pay for the course before accepting a place. Some smaller firms offer interest-free loans but it really does vary from practice to practice. Another alternative is that some institutions offer a two-year part-time option for both the LPC and the GDL, allowing you to keep earning while you study.

Loans and bursary schemes for training as a solicitor

If you don’t have large sums of money at your disposal, then there are other means of financing your studies. Regrettably, local authority grants are few and far between these days but do contact your local authority just in case.

  • Law Society bursary scheme This is an umbrella scheme that pulls together a variety of funds. It’s massively oversubscribed but is still worth investigating. Applications are invited annually for a share of the fund.
  • Hardship funds When applying for the conversion course and LPC ask about any available hardship funds or bursaries at your chosen institution.
  • Professional and career development loans Career development loans have been replaced by professional and career development loans, available through an arrangement between the Young Person's Learning Agency and participating high street banks (Barclays and the Co-operative Banks). LPC or postgraduate students can borrow between £300 and £10,000 and do not have to start repaying the loan until they have finished their courses. Interest on repayments tends to be lower than normal loans. Call 0800 585 505 for details. Be aware that these are not available for conversion course students. The Law Loan from Investec Bank is available to full-time students at BPP Law School; The College of Law are looking to set up a similar scheme.
  • Bank loans Banks recognise that as a successful lawyer your earning potential is high, so many are prepared to lend you money during the early, low-income years. Choosing which bank to borrow from is important so do as much research as you can to ensure low interest rates, flexibility with repayments and a personalised, stress-free service. Branches in the City often have a dedicated manager for law students.
  • The Junior Lawyers' Division (JLD) The JLD can provide advice via their helpline to students concerned about debt. The helpline is accessible on 08000 856 131. It is a confidential service manned by volunteer trainee solicitors.
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