Studying for the LPC full time in London

I wanted to complete my law training in London. I chose the course at BPP Law School partly because a friend recommended it but also because it had great contacts in the City, which I thought would help me find a training contract.

Preparing for practice as a trainee solicitor

The course consisted of large-group lectures with the whole class and small-group sessions of about 18 students where I was able to get to grips with the concepts in more detail. The lectures were important but the bulk of my learning took place in the small group sessions – they were mainly based on exercises taken from the type of work I had anticipated doing as a trainee in practice, so it was great to be able to learn the material while applying it to a practical situation. There is definitely a large amount of work to complete for the LPC but I was still able to work part time for a charity while studying. I had taken out a professional studies loan to cover the cost of my
conversion and LPC courses, but once I found my training contract my employer paid the LPC fees and gave me a stipend that I used to pay off some of my loan.

My advice to LPC students

My advice to other LPC students is to make sure that you prepare fully for the small-group sessions and put as much effort into the core subjects (such as legal writing, drafting and research) as possible. These are the skills that will allow you to hit the ground running when you start work and make a really good impression on your employer. I’m now working for the GLS and am currently on secondment at the Crown Prosecution Service learning how to prosecute cases.

Marc graduated from Dartmouth College in the USA with a degree in East Asian studies. He took a conversion course at BPP LAW SCHOOL five years later, then completed his LPC there in 2005. Marc is now working for the Government Legal Service (GLS).