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LLM

Professional Practice (SQE)

We are currently the only SQE preparation course that covers the FLK1 subjects, FLK2 subjects, an introduction to SQE2 and some QWE for both law and non-law graduate students.

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Key Course Details

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £10,800*

  • International students

    £16,900*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £1,200*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

The LLM Professional Practice with a Solicitors Qualification Examination (SQE) pathway offers you the opportunity to prepare for SQE1, obtain an introduction to SQE2 legal skills and acquire some Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). In the process, you will gain an internationally recognised LLM qualification.

Module Overview

You will develop an in-depth understanding of the relevant Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) required for SQE1. You will have the option to be introduced to, learn about and develop your SQE2 legal skills such as client interviewing, legal research, writing, drafting and advocacy skills. USW is offering students the opportunity to obtain QWE of four hours per week over a period of 20 weeks, which equates to 0.10 FTE, in our award-winning Legal Advice Clinic.

You will study a mix of specified and optional modules. The optional modules are subject to change. You can see an example of optional modules provided below.

  • Foundations of Legal Practice 
  • Business Law in Practice and Taxation 
  • Property Law in Practice 
  • Dispute Resolution & Advocacy 
  • Criminal Law in Practice 
  • Legal Practice Research Project 
  • Child Protection and Youth Justice (optional)
  • Employment Law in Practice (optional)
  • Family Law in Practice (optional)
  • Legal Advice Clinic (QWE) (optional)
  • Mergers and Acquisitions in Practice (optional)
  • Private Client in Practice (optional)
  • Professional Practice (SQE2) (optional)

You will study a mix of specified and optional modules. The optional modules are subject to change. You can see an example of optional modules provided below.

  • Foundations of Legal Knowledge 
  • Foundations of Legal Practice 
  • Business Law in Practice 
  • Property Law in Practice 
  • Dispute Resolution & Advocacy 
  • Criminal Law in Practice 
  • Legal Practice Research Project (optional)
  • Child Protection and Youth Justice (optional)
  • Employment Law in Practice (optional)
  • Family Law in Practice (optional)
  • Legal Advice Clinic (QWE) (optional)
  • Mergers and Acquisitions in Practice (optional)
  • Private Client in Practice (optional)
  • Professional Practice (SQE2) (optional)
  • Independent Legal Study (Legal Practice) (optional)

Course Highlights

How you’ll learn

The taught element of the course requires students to attend for two days a week. Teaching utilises a blended learning approach comprising of online lectures and on campus workshops.  During the workshops students will be 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.

Assessment

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

For FLK1 and 2, you will be assessed by way of formative assessments which can include Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) and written examinations and practical skills assessments, which will include recorded role plays in our moot courtroom and client interviewing rooms.  The optional modules are assessed by way of a variety of open and closed book examinations, time-constrained assessments and advocacy assessments.

Following USW tuition students may opt to sit the SQE1 external examination (sittings in July and November each year).  Upon successfully passing the SQE1 external examination, students’ external results can be recorded on USW’s system for the purposes of achieving the prerequisite credits towards the relevant award.

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.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Students must achieve an undergraduate degree of class 2:2 or above and will then be placed into either the law graduate or non-law graduate stream.

  • For the law graduate stream, students must have a LLB (Hons) degree, a Common Professional Examination/Graduate Diploma in Law, or a combined studies degree including the foundation law subjects.  Students who have reached the appropriate level of qualification with the Institute of Legal Executives are also eligible for consideration for admission to the law graduate stream.
  • For the non-law graduate stream, students must achieve an undergraduate degree with a classification of 2:2 or above in any subject.

All applications for the full-time LLM Legal Practice (SQE) must be made online via the Central Applications Board at www.lawcabs.ac.uk.

Applications for the part-time LLM Legal Practice (SQE) can be made using our online application form.

International applications welcomed:

We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.

English language requirements

International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing or equivalent.

Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.

If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.

If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

 

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.

 

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Fee

£10,800

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£16,900

per year*
UK Part-time Fee

£1,200

per 20 credits*

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. 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).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please note that the course fee doesn't include the cost of the SQE exams. You can find out about the cost of the SQE exams on the Solicitors Regulation Authority website.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Busaries Alumni Discount

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.

Upon successful completion of the course, students may wish to sit the external SQE exam. Students will need to book and pay for the external exams directly with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Fees shown are correct as of October 2024.

SQE 1: £1,888

SQE 2: £2,902

 

 

 

University Quality Assurance

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.

Careers and Employability

Possible career paths

The LLM Legal Practice (SQE) will assist you in achieving qualification as a solicitor and develops the skills you will need on entering the profession.

Careers Support

The University’s Career Services offers a range of advice and guidance to students, and references to the services available to all listed at southwales.ac.uk/careers will be added to the course website by default. However, if there are other important course or subject specific initiatives run at local a level, there is an opportunity to add further details here. Whether this includes connecting with professionals, industry experts or mentors, or strategies to enhance their competitiveness and aspirations in the job market, further details will provide prospects with the confidence, encouragement, and motivation to commit to applying.

Life at USW

Halls are a big part of your student experience and there’s accommodation at all three of our locations. If you don’t want to live near the campus, there are great transport links to keep you connected.

A student sat smiling and talking to friends off camera in Treforest Student's Union
Student Life
The University's Ty Crawshays building at Treforest, Pontypridd.
Pontypridd Campus, Treforest
A double room at our Pontypridd accommodation featuring a large window.
Accommodation

How to apply

There is an online application process for this course. Please choose the application form for your preferred start date and mode of study (i.e. full-time or part-time).

International admissions

Please see our international admissions advice for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.