Law Student
Last modified : 24 July 2007
|
Law Student
Last modified : 24 July 2007 |
| So you fancy being a solicitor | You want to be a barrister |
| Some useful Links | Books for Law Students |
| LAW in a BOX - interactive legal study courses | |
| Email us | |
Our
very clever friends at Semple Piggott Rochez and
Consilio,
initially produced a series of innovative CD-ROMS for the
principal LLB, CPE and LPC subjects - areas covered
included Contract,
Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, English Legal System, Land Law, Tort, Equity
& Trusts, and Evidence. They called it LAWinaBOX. LAWinaBOX
is now provided online.
To give instant access and ensure that you always have the latest notes,
recordings, articles, law reports and Q&As and access to our discussion board -
all LAWinaBOX Cds are now online.
The online subject files will contain a zipped file of the entire Subject File
so you will be able to download the zipped file and burn your own CD or place
the file on your desktop.
So what do you get when you buy LAWinaBOX?
There are 21 Subject Files and 7 Q&A packs. The online subject files include
course notes, recorded lectures, case notes (core subjects only) and access to a
dedicated discussion board and chatroom. Each subject file will be updated with
law reports, articles written by their team and legal news as these arise during
the year. You will also be able to download the entire file and create your own
CD and place the Subject File on your desktop if you wish to.
LAWinaBOX is the most sophisticated resource available for law students
studying English Law - at a very affordable price of £19.95 per year for each
subject file.
For more info check out www.lawinabox.net
So
you fancy being a solicitor
(provided courtesy of Consilio - www.spr-consilio.com)
If you intend to qualify as a solicitor, your training will be split into two
parts:
1) The academic stage where you’ll study for either a law degree or a non-law degree plus the Common Professional Examination (CPE)/Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PgDL).
2) The vocational stage where you’ll undertake the Legal Practice Course (LPC), the Training Contract and the Professional Skills Course.
A levels (or
equivalents)
If you are applying for a law degree, you will find that
most combination of A level (or equivalents) subjects are acceptable, but a
mixture of arts and sciences is thought to be a good combination.
You should note that there is no specific advantage in studying A level law if you’re
applying for a law degree (apart from finding out whether you will be able to
stick the subject for the next 3 years!). But you will need good A level (or equivalent) grades
(mostly As and Bs) in at least three subjects to be accepted by an ‘old’
university or a big City firm for a training contract.
You can, of course, train to be a solicitor as a graduate of any degree subject,
but it is still important to get as good A level grades as possible.
The law degree
Law degrees come in many forms but it’s most important
you select and check that you study for a ‘qualifying law degree’ - that is
one the Law Society recognises, as offering the core subjects you must study.
Contact the Law Society for a full list of qualifying law degrees.
You should aim for a minimum 2:1 degree, as you’ll find it very difficult to
get a training contract with a lower class.
The non-law degree
You can go on to qualify as a solicitor with a degree in
any subject, but it will still be very important that you get a good class of
degree, in other words a minimum of a 2:1.
As a non-law graduate you’ll need to study for the CPE or the PgDL. Either of
these courses will take you one year full-time or two years part-time to
complete.
The CPE/PgDL
Both the CPE and PgDL courses are highly intensive and you
can study for them at a number of universities.
You’ll be required to study and pass the Seven Foundations of Legal Knowledge.
These are Criminal Law, Equity and Trusts, Law of The European Union,
Obligations (Contract), Obligations (Tort), Property Law, and Public Law
(Constitutional and Administrative Law and Human Rights). These Foundation
subjects have vastly differing titles at different institutions, but the content
will be broadly the same.
The LPC
If you wish to qualify as a solicitor, whether you have
completed a law or a non-law degree, you will have to sit the LPC, which is the
professional stage of training. The Law Society validates approximately 30
institutions to run this course.
On every LPC you’ll study:
The Training Contract
You won’t be fully qualified as a solicitor until you’ve completed a
training contract. This is normally a two-year period, spent working in a firm
of solicitors.
The two years of the
Training Contract
During these two years you’ll usually spend time in four or five of the
firm’s departments. These are called ‘seats’, as you’ll normally sit in
the same office with a partner or senior solicitor, learning the job from them.
There is considerable competition to get a training contract, so it’s very
important that you obtain a good class of degree (minimum 2:1) and have some
relevant legal work experience.
Funding
Training and qualifying, as a solicitor is an expensive
business. Here are a few possible sources of help:
Local Authority Grants –
contact your Local Authority to obtain a booklet giving information on mandatory
and discretionary awards.
Loan Schemes – The High Street Banks
–you may be able to get a loan at a favourable rate for CPE, PgDL and LPC
courses. Contact the following banks for further details: NatWest Bank HSBC Bank
Barclays Bank Royal Bank of Scotland
Career Development Loans – Barclays, the
Clydesdale and the Co-operative banks operate this scheme for those on
vocational courses. Contact the Job Centre or any of the participating bank
branches to pick up an information booklet.
Charities and Grant-Making Trusts –
contact your Local Authority for information about local charities and other
grant-making trusts for which you may be eligible to apply for financial
assistance.
Law Society Bursary Scheme – you may be
eligible to apply for a Law Society bursary for the CPE, the PgDL or the LPC.
Contact the Law Society Legal Education Department for more information.
Sponsorship – you may be able to obtain sponsorship for your CPE/PgDL/LPC from
the firm of solicitors you have secured your training contract with.
College Access Funds - contact the student
support or student services officer where you’re studying for information.
Ethnic Minority Students – students from
an ethnic minority background may be eligible for a scholarship for the LPC.
Contact the Ethnic Minorities Careers Officer at the Law Society for further
details.
Institutions validated to run Legal Practice Courses
The Law Society publishes information on inspection visits to the validated institutions. You should check to see what information is publicly available on these validated institution.
The Law Society website provides a great deal of information on qualifying as a solicitor and on the validated institutions.
Anglia
Polytechnic University
Bournemouth
University (joint venture with Nottingham Trent University)
BPP Law School
Cardiff Law
School
University
of Central England at Birmingham
College of Law –
Chester, Guildford, London and York
De Montfort
University’s LPC at the University of Birmingham
De Montfort University’s LPC
at the University of Bristol
University of
Exeter
University of Glamorgan
Hertfordshire University
Huddersfield
University
Inns of Court School of Law
University
of Central Lancashire
Leeds Metropolitan
University
Liverpool John Moores
University – joint venture with Nottingham Trent University
London Guildhall University
Manchester
Metropolitan University
University
of Northumbria at Newcastle
Nottingham
Trent Law School Ltd
Oxford Institute of Legal
Practice
University
of Sheffield
South Bank
University and North London University
Staffordshire
University
Thames
Valley University
University
of West of England, Bristol
University of Westminster
University of Wolverhampton
You
want to be a barrister
(provided
courtesy of Consilio - www.spr-consilio.com)
As with trying to become a solicitor if you intend to qualify as a barrister,
your training will be split into two parts:
1) The academic stage where you’ll study for either a law degree or a non-law degree plus the Common Professional Examination (CPE)/Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PgDL).
2)
The vocational stage where you’ll
undertake the Bar Vocational Course and complete one year of Pupillage
The
academic stage
A levels (or equivalents)
If you are applying for a law degree, you will find that
most combination of A level (or equivalents) subjects are acceptable, but a
mixture of arts and sciences is thought to be a good combination.
You should note that there is no advantage in studying A level law if you’re
applying for a law degree. But you will need good A level (or equivalent) grades
(mostly As and Bs) in at least three subjects to be accepted by an ‘old’
university or a big City firm for a training contract.
You can, of course, train to be a barrister as a graduate of any degree subject,
but it is still important to get as good A level grades as possible.
The law degree
You’ll need to be a graduate if you wish to qualify as a
barrister. A number of barristers hold a law degree (LLB), but this is certainly
not a requirement and it is possible to qualify as a barrister as a graduate of
any subject.
If you choose to take a law degree it is vital you study for a qualifying law
degree. Check with the General Council of the Bar to obtain a list of qualifying
law degrees.
Just as A level grades are important, you’re class of degree is significant in
determining your success in obtaining pupillage. Aim for at least an upper
second-class degree.
The non-law degree
As mentioned above, it’s not essential you hold a law
degree to qualify as a barrister and numerous barristers are graduates of
subjects other than law. However, class of degree is again very important so aim
for at least an upper second.
The CPE/PgDL
Both the CPE and PgDL courses are highly intensive and you
can study for them at a number of universities.
You’ll be required to study and pass the Seven Foundations of Legal Knowledge.
These are Criminal Law, Equity and Trusts, Law of The European Union,
Obligations (Contract), Obligations (Tort), Property Law, and Public Law
(Constitutional and Administrative Law and Human Rights). These Foundation
subjects have vastly differing titles at different institutions, but the content
will be broadly the same.
The Bar Vocational Course (BVC)
If you wish to qualify as a barrister, whether you have
completed a law or a non-law degree, you will have to sit the BVC, which is the
professional stage of training.
Once you’ve finished your law degree, or if you’re a non-law graduate, completed your CPE/PgDL, the next stage to your qualification as a barrister will be to take the BVC.
This course is competitive and lasts one year full-time and you’ll need to apply through CACH (the Centralised Applications and Clearing House). Contact CACH at the General Council of the Bar to get an information pack.
Prior to commencing the BVC you
will need to join one of the four Inns of Court – Lincoln’s Inn, Middle
Temple, Inner Temple or Gray’s Inn.
On the BVC you will be prepared for your final stage to qualifying as a
barrister, which is one year of pupillage. The BVC will teach you the skills of
advocacy, interviewing clients, drafting documents, fact management, legal
research, negotiation and opinion writing.
The General Council of the Bar website Education Page
Pupillage
You won’t be fully qualified as a barrister until you’ve completed pupillage.
You'll find details on the Online
Pupillage Application Scheme (OLPAS) by
clicking on this link.
What is Pupillage ?
The term pupillage is given to the year you’ll spend, which will be a
combination of observing a senior barrister (your ‘pupil’ master) and
appearing in court under your pupil master’s supervision.
The majority of chambers subscribe to the Pupillage Application Clearing House (PACH),
which is operated by the Bar Council to co-ordinate applications for pupillages.
So, when applying for pupillage you will either go through PACH or make a direct
application to those chambers that don’t subscribe to PACH.
Once you’ve completed pupillage, you are completely independent and it will be
up to you to succeed on your own efforts combined with a little luck.
Funding
Training and qualifying, as a solicitor is an expensive
business.
Funding your route to qualification is likely to be a major consideration for most people. The fees alone for the BVC are around £7,000
Here are a few possible sources of help:
Local Authority Grants –
contact your Local Authority to obtain a booklet giving information on mandatory
and discretionary awards.
Loan Schemes – The High Street Banks
–you may be able to get a loan at a favourable rate
Career Development Loans – Barclays, the
Clydesdale and the Co-operative banks operate this scheme for those on
vocational courses. Contact the Job Centre or any of the participating bank
branches to pick up an information booklet.
Charities and Grant-Making Trusts –
contact your Local Authority for information about local charities and other
grant-making trusts for which you may be eligible to apply for financial
assistance.Loans from the individual Inns
Chambers’ pupillage awards – refer to ‘The Chambers Pupillage and Awards Handbook’ for details
Bar
Council Scholarship Trust – further details from the Bar Council
Institutions validated to run Legal Practice
Courses
BPP
Law School
Cardiff Law
School
College of Law –
Chester, Guildford, London and York
Inns of Court School of Law
Manchester
Metropolitan University
University
of Northumbria at Newcastle
Nottingham
Trent Law School Ltd
Oxford Institute of Legal
Practice
AS Law - Mary
Charman, Bobby Vanstone, Liz Sherratt
The book covers the requirements of both AQA and OCR specifications, and is
written by experienced examiners. It is suitable both for students taking AS
level law and also those going on to take the full A level, and also provides a
readable text on the English legal system and the principles of crime and
negligence for anybody needing an introduction to the subject.
CLICK
FOR INFO
Business Law - Dennis Keenan and
Sarah Riches
First year undergraduate students of business studies, business law, management
or accounting taking a business law module (often compulsory). HNC/D students of
business studies taking a Year 2 module in business law. In FE, BTEC National
Diploma and Advanced GNVQ students. Probably the market-leading text for service
courses on introductory business law. It provides a clear, jargon-free and easy
to understand text for students new to law.
CLICK FOR INFO
Blackstone's Law "Questions and Answers" series gives students the opportunity to practise their exam techniques and evaluate and assess their progress. Written by experienced lecturers, the series covers all the topics found on law degree courses, CPE courses, and other undergraduate courses where law is an essential element. Each title is divided into chapters covering each major topic and contains up to 50 questions and answers.
Q&A Contract Law 2003-2004 - Ian Brown
& Adrian Chandler
This new edition of Blackstone's Q&A on Contract Law has been fully
revised to offer comprehensive and up to date coverage of all the essential
aspects of the law. The ideal revision aid, it is divided into chapters covering
each major topic, and contains around fifty questions and answers designed to
test even the best prepared student.
CLICK
FOR INFO
Q&A Criminal Law 2003-2004 - Geoff Douglas
Each chapter contains an introduction focusing on important legal aspects and
points of interest. After each question there is a commentary which highlights
the essential elements of each question and indicates what the examiners are
looking for. This new edition also contains bullet pointed answer plans, further
reading at the end of every chapter, and diagrams illuminating key points to
provide students with instant confidence.
CLICK
FOR INFO
Q&A Family Law 2003-2004 - Chris Barton &
Mary Hibbs
This book shows how to tackle successfully the sort of problems and essay
questions frequently found in examination papers. The authors suggest how
answers should be structured, providing advice on what to include, and on what
to leave out. No matter how good your research and study skills, the ultimate
test for the law student is the exam.
CLICK
FOR INFO
www.spr-consilio.com - Consilio is a genuine online (in the true sense of the word) magazine for students, academics and lawyers and is part of the hugely successful and innovative Semple Piggott Rochez empire, who run the UK's first LLB and LLM courses online. It has written, sound and video articles and info, plus online books, course materials and case reports. It just has to be the top resource for any law student.
www.lawteacher.co.uk - free online notes for A Level and ILEX students on Civil Litigation, Contract Law, Criminal Law, English Legal System and Tort
www.lawmonkeys.com - an online discussion forum for lawyers about, well anything really, including salaries, firms, colleges, degrees etc etc etc
www.law.cam.ac.uk/jurist/LAWSCHL.htm - List and links to lawschools in the UK courtesy of the University of Cambridge
www.ilexjournal.com - Th eiNstitute of Legal Executive's Journal
www.lawgazette.co.uk - The Law Society's Gazette magazine (without the polythene cover)
If you are a law student or prospective law student we'd like to hear from you? We are currently working on putting together this new area on the site for you BUT we want your input, so that we get it vaguely right from the beginning. This is your site what would you like to see here? Give us your ideas and thoughts. Email us mail@lawontheweb.co.uk
Here's what we are currently working on : -
who needs a law degree
the good and bad universities for law
getting a pupillage
getting a training contract
links to other useful legal sites
links to completely useless but fun sites (where you can while away a few hours when you should be working!)
law books - just in case you decide to read them
what can I expect to earn?
We'd like to hear from you now. If you'd like to be a regular contributor or have something to say about your course or your college then fire away - mail@lawontheweb.co.uk
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