Overview
The LLM Legal Practice is a unique and exciting course that prepares our students for the SQE as well as prepares them as critical and reflective practitioners. Each module is designed to impart legal knowledge, legal skills, professionalism, and readiness for the Solicitors Qualification Examination Parts 1 and 2 (SQE 1 and 2). Each module is designed to fit into a scheme of learning that is underpinned by experiential learning.
LSBU partners with Barbri, the international online legal education experts, in providing students with online-test enhanced learning resources for SQE 1. This unique blending of face-to-face teaching provided by LSBU, and Barbri’s online learning resources equips students through innovative experiential learning and practice readiness.
The legal practice journey of students starts at the heart of LSBU through innovation and working experience at the Legal Advice Clinic. Students are offered four weeks work experience at LSBU’s award-winning, prestigious Legal Advice Clinic. Students employed as legal trainees may use their current work position as an alternative to working in the Clinic.
The structure and design of the course enables students to plan their sitting of the SQE exam with completion of a dissertation which builds and enhances critical faculties and leads to the award of LLM Legal Practice.
Please note: Fees for LLM Legal Practice do not cover the costs and fees of the SQE 1 and 2 exams. To qualify as solicitors, students must pay an additional fee to sit the SQE 1 and 2 and pass these examinations as well as to complete 2-years of qualifying work experience. You can find more information about costs and fees associated with the SQE here.
The course prepares students for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) but does not require approval from the Solicitors Regulation Authority. See here for the SRA’s web information about the SQE.
Why Law at LSBU?
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- Ranked 12th overall in the UK for Teaching Quality in Law (Sunday Times 2022)
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- Expert academics – our teachers are qualified solicitors and barristers, passing on their insights, real-world case expertise and passion for law.
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- Outstanding facilities – with complete online support and access to a personal law e-library worth £6000.
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- The School of Law enjoys strong links with the South London Law Society, and cooperates with them to provide a programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for local practitioners and members of the Society.
| ModeFull-time | Duration1 year | Start dateSeptember | Application code5833 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Location
London South Bank University student union is located at 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA.
If you are visiting our Southwark Campus, you may wish to use our downloadable campus map (PNG File 466 KB). For information on accessibility, see our DisabledGo access guides. See our location page for more details.
Entry Level Requirements
Want to start your course this September? call 0800 923 8888 for entry requirements.
In order to be considered for entry to the course(s) applicants will normally be required to have the following qualifications:
- Honours Degree in any subject (LLB recommended): Class 2:2 minimum, or
- (Post) Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies + CPE
- Exceptionally, other suitable candidates may be accepted on to the course subject to interview + IELTS 6.5 for students whose first language is not English.
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Missing English and Maths qualifications?
If you do not have the required English and Maths qualifications needed to satisfy the entry requirements for this programme, we have courses available at our partner College that you can take to upskill in these areas. Find out more at South Bank College.
United Kingdom
£11500
Tuition fees for home students
International
£16000
Tuition fees for international students
Tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases. Find out more about tuition fees for Undergraduate or Postgraduate courses.
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Full-time
full-time
LLM Legal Practice (FT) - Year 1
UK fee: £11500 International fee: £16000 AOS/LSBU code: 5833 Session code: 1FS00
For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.
See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 391 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).
Course related costs
- The fees for the SQE 1 and 2 external examinations (including any SQE resits) are not included in the course fee.
Additional study with Barbri is not included in the course fee, except that:
- BARBRI will provide students with a free course if they are unsuccessful on their first attempt at the SQE 1 examinations, and
- Students wishing to enrol for the BARBRI SQE2 prep course are entitled to a 10% alumni discount.
Possible fee changes
The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.
The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.
Postgraduate loan (PGL) for Masters study
If you are starting a Masters course, studying either full- or part-time, you may be entitled to apply for a postgraduate study loan. Find out more at our postgraduate fees and funding section.
Scholarships
We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on funding your studies on the scholarships and fee discounts page.
Fee status
Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.
International students
The course is not currently open to international students.
International (non Home) applicants should follow our international how to apply guide.
Home
| Mode Full-time | Duration 1 year | Start date September | Application code 5833 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system. Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.
See our admissions policy (PDF File 1,043 KB) and complaints policy (PDF File 516 KB).
Accommodation
Students should apply for accommodation at London South Bank University (LSBU) as soon as possible, once we have made an offer of a place on one of our academic courses. Read more about applying for accommodation at LSBU.
Finance
It's a good idea to think about how you'll pay university tuition and maintenance costs while you're still applying for a place to study. Remember – you don't need to wait for a confirmed place on a course to start applying for student finance. Read how to pay your fees as a postgraduate student.
Prepare to start
We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.
Enrolment
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
Preparatory Reading List
- Steiner, H.J. et al (2008): International human rights in context: law, politics, morals. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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Innovative and experimental learning starts here
- The Legal Advice Clinic
This module involves students working with live clients giving face-to-face advice at LSBU’s in-house Legal Advice Clinic. Under the supervision of university-employed solicitors and specialist lawyers, students interview drop- in clients and provide basic information on any legal topic; give generalist advice in social welfare law matters including housing, family, employment, welfare benefits and debt; signpost and refer to appropriate local advice agencies and legal services. Students will undertake up to 24 sessions in the Legal Advice Clinic advising members of the public. Students can arrange their own alternative placements, so long as they are eligible to count as Qualifying Work Experience as defined by the Solicitors Regulation Authority - Reflective Legal Practice
Reflecting on directed research and their live client and simulated legal practice, students will analyse and evaluate current law reform and access to justice debates. Classes will be student led, including weekly presentations and discussion. Students will choose one current debate to write about as the topic for their final coursework. - Legal Skills Development
Students will be taught key legal professional skills and practice them through engagement with a series of simulated legal cases (Public Law, Contract Law, Tort Law) and their live client work in the Legal Advice Clinic. They will get feedback and support in weekly workshops. They will be assessed in one or two skills in the practice area of Dispute Resolution. - Law and Technology
Students will gain understanding of the impact of technology on access to justice and the delivery of legal services through practical workshops, supplemented by guest speakers from practice. Students will work in groups, using no code/low code tools such as Avvoka, Bryter and Docassemble to design and build a LawTech resource. They will be assessed by group work and a personal self-reflection exercise. - Legal Ethics and Justice
Reflecting on directed research and their live client and simulated legal practice, students will analyse and evaluate legal ethics, Justice and current law reform debates. Classes will be student led, including weekly presentations and discussion. Students will be taught advanced research methods and choose one current debate to write about as the topic for their Dissertation. Their assessment will be a research proposal for the Dissertation. - Advanced Legal Skills: Oral
Students will practice and develop key oral legal professional skills and practice them through engagement with a series of simulated legal cases (Business Law, Land Law, Wills & Trust Law, Criminal Law) and their live client work in the Legal Advice Clinic. They will get feedback and support in weekly workshops. They will be assessed in one or two skills in one or two of the practice areas. - Advanced Legal Skills: Written
Students will practice and develop key written legal professional skills and practice them through engagement with a series of simulated legal cases (Business Law, Land Law, Wills & Trust Law, Criminal Law) and their live client work in the Legal Advice Clinic. They will get feedback and support in weekly workshops. They will be assessed in one or two skills in one or two of the practice areas. - Dissertation
Students will engage in an extended piece of independent critical research based on the their research proposal submitted for Legal Ethics & Justice or a different topic by agreement with their supervisor and the module leader.
Modules are all 100% coursework assessed
Careers
Employability
The unique partnership provided by LSBU and Barbri instils students’ ability, confidence and experience as legal professional practitioners.
Students can qualify as solicitors after passing SQE 1 and 2 and 2-years of qualifying work experience of which a part can be secured while completing this course. Successful completion of the SQE exams and enrolment as a solicitor will help students foray into different career avenues in law-firms, as in-house counsels in private and public sector, work in civil services to name a few. The course will also prepare students to forge a career in legal research by equipping them with relevant legal research skills.
Employability Service
At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:
- An online board where you can see a wide range of placements: part-time, full-time or voluntary. You can also drop in to see our Job Shop advisers, who are always available to help you take the next step in your search.
- Our Careers Gym offering group workshops on CVs, interview techniques and finding work experience, as well as regular presentations from employers across a range of sectors.
Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.
Teaching and Assessment
The teaching team consists of both experienced lecturers and legal practitioners. The course design has been based on extensive engagement with the development and implementation of the SQE. Staff on the course have written SQE prep materials, SQE type questions or have experience of the SQE exam or a similar exam format. The course is supported by extensive online learning resources (Moodle, OUP Law Trove, Barbri SQE 1 Prep).
The course uses innovative legal tech with use of a client management system to aid the delivery of realistic scenarios and case management features.
(www.legalconnection.co).
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