LLM Legal Practice

USW is proud to be a Top 50 Law School (Guardian League Tables), and the LLM offers you the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised LLM qualification in addition to your Legal Practice Course (LPC).

The LLM incorporates a programme of study and assessment approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which you must complete if you want to qualify as a solicitor.

You will develop an in-depth understanding of business and property law, litigation and court procedure, and enhance your ability to engage in critical academic study and research by way of a research project, helping you to develop the professional and reflective skills necessary for practice.

The full-time and part-time LLM Legal Practice is eligible for the Government’s postgraduate loan, unlike a standalone LPC. The LLM is also available as a 60-credit top-up course for LPC graduates from any institution in England and Wales to convert your LPC to the LLM Legal Practice.

T&C's Apply - Learn more

2023
2024

Study Mode 2023	Duration	Start Date	Campus	Campus Code
Full-time	1 Year	September	Treforest	A
Part-time	2 Years	September	Treforest	A

Study Mode 2024	Duration	Start Date	Campus	Campus Code
Full-time	1 Year	September	Treforest	A
Part-time	2 Years	September	Treforest	A

Full-time students will typically be expected to attend university two days a week and part-time students one day per week. Note that assessments and the module electives may be held on different days throughout the week.

There will be an additional seven days of teaching dedicated to research methods on a monthly basis throughout the Autumn and Spring terms. You will then be expected to submit a research proposal at Easter following which you will be allocated a supervisor for the Summer term to complete your research project, with submission at the end of August.

Otherwise, the LPC subjects are taught in two stages: Stage One begins in September and finishes in February. Stage Two begins in February and ends in May.

You will undertake a research project based on LPC subjects or a reflection based upon your legal practice experience. We may be able to offer you a placement in our Legal Advice Clinic for the purposes of completing this element of the LLM course.

You will complete core subject and skills modules and three optional electives. On successful completion of the taught stage of the programme, you will submit a legal practice research project or reflective portfolio.

Modules for full-time LLM students

Legal Practice Research Project - 60 credits
Business Law and Practice and Taxation - 20 credits
Property Law and Practice - 20 credits
Litigation and Advocacy - 40 credits
Skills for Legal Practice (incorporating Practical Legal Research, Interviewing and Advising, Writing, Drafting, Wills and Administration of Estates, Professional Conduct and Regulation and Solicitors’ Accounts) - 60 credits
Three elective modules* - 10 credits each

Modules for part-time LLM students

Year One

Business Law and Practice and Taxation - 20 credits
Property Law and Practice - 20 credits
Skills for Legal Practice (incorporating Drafting, Practical Legal Research, Interviewing and Advising and Writing) - 60 credits
Elective modules* (part time students must study a total of three electives over the two years of study) - 10 credits each

Year Two

Legal Practice Research Project - 60 credits
Litigation and Advocacy - 40 credits
Skills for Legal Practice (incorporating Wills and Administration of Estates, Solicitors’ Accounts and Professional Conduct and Regulation) - 60 credits
Elective modules* (part time students must study a total of three electives over the two years of study

* Elective modules typically include Family Law and Practice, Employment Law and Practice, Commercial Property, Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Litigation, Advanced Business and Corporate Law and Practice, Wills and Estate Planning, Advanced Criminal Litigation

Teaching

The taught element of the Legal Practice Research Project requires student to attend for one day per month (6 hours per day, a total of 42 hours) for seven months between September and March. Each day will entail a series of lectures and seminars which will outline the various legal research methodologies available to you for your Legal Practice Research Project, how to develop a research proposal and research project, and will also look to develop your research, critical thinking, referencing and academic writing skills.

Stage One and Two is taught through briefing sessions and practice sessions, completing practical law file exercises and replicating real-life legal scenarios. If you study full-time, you will attend approximately 16 hours of classes each week. LLM part-time students have approximately eight hours of classes delivered on one day per week.

Outside these formal sessions, all LLM students are expected to carry out preparatory work and research for file exercises. In order to maximise the time devoted to practical exercises and provide optimum flexibility for personal study, the majority of lectures and briefing sessions are delivered online using Panopto software.

Law Research

The Law Research Group at the University of South Wales comprises staff with a wide range of academic and practice experience. Their research interests span diverse subject areas, including: constitutional law; criminal law; employment law; equality law; family law; intellectual property law; international human rights; legal education and media law. These interests are showcased in our monthly blog.

Assessment

For the Legal Practice Research Project, you are expected to produce a research proposal and a dissertation or reflective portfolio.

For Stage One and Stage Two, you will be assessed by written examinations and practical skills assessments, which will include recorded role play in our moot courtroom and client interviewing room.

Accreditations

The LPC elements of the LLM Legal Practice programme of study and assessment has been approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)

Facilities

Your learning will be supported by state-of-the-art study facilities, including a courtroom fully equipped with the latest digital video facilities, a legal practice library, and dedicated teaching and practise rooms. All activities are based on authentic scenarios, and research and preparation is assisted by the facilities in our modern technology suites.

There will also be opportunities for you to put your knowledge into practice through our Legal Advice Clinic by providing advice, delivering client care and engaging with legal professionals.

Featured Lecturer:
Dr Rob Wilks

A qualified solicitor, Dr Rob Wilks specialises in equality law, employment law and discrimination law. His research interests include sign language recognition and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. His PhD explored Making equality law work for Deaf people.

Rob is a Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) user and teaches undergraduate and postgraduate law at USW through the medium of BSL. He is also responsible for the Deaf Law website which aims to provide accessible information about the law to d/Deaf people.

Dr Wilks has published his research into sign language recognition in Scotland and has contributed a chapter in the Routledge Handbook of Sign Language Translation and Interpreting, which focuses on the framing of Deaf people as disabled and the impact this has on their recognition as a language minority, and conversely on interpreters and translators.

Lecturers

Rob Wilks, solicitor, LLM Legal Practice and LPC course leader
Benjamin Jones, solicitor (non-practising)
Gemma Sweetman, solicitor
Hannah Menard, solicitor, Director of the Legal Advice Clinic
Hayley Brain, solicitor
Holly Evans, solicitor
Kathleen O’Reilly, solicitor (non-practising)
Rachel Lewis, solicitor, Deputy Director of the Legal Advice Clinic
Stefan Simms, solicitor (non-practising)

We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

LLB (Hons) degree usually of class 2:2 or above, or all subjects of the Common Professional Examination, or a combined studies degree including the core law subjects prescribed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Students who have reached the appropriate level of qualification with the Institute of Legal Executives are also eligible for consideration for admission to the course.
All applications for the full-time LPC must be made online via the Central Applications Board at www.lawcabs.ac.uk.
Applications for the part-time LPC Stage 1 and for Stage 2 can be made using our online application form.

The course welcomes international applicants and requires an English level of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component or equivalent.

Please note that whilst this course does not require a DBS Check for entry, some professions will not consider candidates who have certain types of criminal convictions. Therefore, if you have a criminal conviction and you are considering a particular career path we would recommend that you check with the relevant professional body or refer to their recruitment policy to make sure that your conviction will not disadvantage you.

Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course.

August 2023 - July 2024 Fees

Full-time UK: £13700
Full-time International: £15950
Part-time UK: £6850 per 20 credits

August 2024 - July 2025 Fees

Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: TBC
Part-time UK: TBC

Student Perks

At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.

Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.

Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.

Additional Costs

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.

Funding

Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs

Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.

USW Postgraduate 20% Alumni Discount 2023/24

The University of South Wales is offering a 20% reduction in tuition fees for all University of South Wales* graduates starting a taught/online*** MA,MSc, LLM,MBA or DBA course from September 2023 (this includes students starting a course in January/February 2024). T's and Cs apply. Click here for more details and eligibility criteria: USW Postgraduate Alumni Discount 2023/24

All applications for the full-time LPC must be made online via the Central Applications Board at www.lawcabs.ac.uk.

Applications for the part-time LPC Stage 1 and for Stage 2 can be made using our online application form.

The LLM Legal Practice, and in particular, the LPC element of this course, is a requirement for qualification as a solicitor and develops the skills you will need on entering the profession.

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