LLM Professional Legal Practice

Entry requirements

Applicants should normally have:

A Qualifying Law Degree awarded at a minimum of a 2:2 honours, or a GDL qualification, both awarded less than 7 years ago. Relevant professional qualifications or suitable experience will also be considered.

Please note that whilst you may not need a law degree to sit the SQE examinations to qualify as a Solicitor, we still require a QLD for entry onto this course. Northumbria do not accept non law degrees/overseas law degrees in lieu of a QLD as they do not cover the foundations of law which we require, as the LLM Professional Legal Practice only delivers 5 modules out of the 13 subject areas that candidates are expected to know in depth for SQE1.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Are you a law graduate, or have you done a GDL or CPE, and want to train for SQE1? This course is designed to help you prepare for your SQE1 assessment; the first step in your journey to qualifying as a solicitor.

Our LLM Professional Legal Practice course aims to develop the academic and legal knowledge required for the SQE1 assessment and professional practice.

This course has been designed to build and develop your legal knowledge. It will give you the best opportunity to prepare for the external assessment methods used in the Solicitors Qualifying Examination. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) introduced the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) in September 2021. The SQE is a two-part national assessment for anyone who wants to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. This course is designed to equip you with the necessary knowledge to sit stage 1 of the SQE assessment (SQE1) through integrated preparation modules. It also lays the foundations to help you achieve your employment goals.

You can also progress to studying our SQE2 short course and go on to sit the second stage of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE2) alongside undertaking work experience.

You can see the SQE Website for more information on the exams, including the costs and fees involved to sit the exam. You will be responsible for booking and arranging the timing and location of your SQE1 assessment.

The programme will provide knowledge of how the law is applied in practice, as well as enabling you to track your progress throughout the programme. In addition to this, it will also provide you with a critical understanding of how to respond professionally to different legal scenarios. You will be expected to think creatively and understand how to interpret and use legal rules to support arguments.

The final dissertation module will allow you to focus your interests through your chosen topic area. You will further develop techniques used in academic research and the professional skills needed for practice. It will improve your ability to undertake effective legal research and further your analytical and reflection skills in practice and policy. You will be encouraged to reflect on your progress and application of legal professional values and ethics throughout the programme.

In addition to achieving a Masters in Law degree, you will also have the opportunity to enhance your profile and experience by gaining an internationally recognised LLM qualification. In an increasingly competitive market, this offers you the means to set yourself apart from other graduates and enhance your future employability.

Dr Victoria Roper, Associate Professor at Northumbria University, answers crucial questions about the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination in the BBC's podcast series; Not All Lawyers Have Law Degrees.

Fees and funding

This LLM is also eligible for the Government’s postgraduate loan, unlike a standalone LPC. Visit our finance pages for more details, and to apply.