School Of Law.

The Sheffield in Legal Practice Shape your future. Welcome

The is one of only two Russell Group Universities to offer a Legal Practice Course (LPC). At Sheffield we offer an emphasis on practice and commercial awareness, embedding these within different teaching and learning methods. All our LPC tutors are qualified : enabling us to ensure that the files you work on and materials used reflect current practice.

Our well regarded and established course sits within our research-led School of Law and our students benefit from the facilities and resources offered by the University voted number one for student experience Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2014-2015.

With 1:1 support on careers and employability offered for up to three years after completion of the course we support your ambition of becoming a valued member of the legal profession.

Join us on the LPC at Sheffield and shape your future

CLARE FIRTH DIRECTOR, LPC The Sheffield LPC Our Diploma in Legal Practice will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to practice law in today’s legal profession. Why Sheffield is the first choice for your LPC study

• Our LPC is a quality course which is both respected by the profession and recommended by notable leading national firms. • We offer a range of options and electives which allows you to tailor Our sponsors the course to your interests. • Average class size is 15 ensuring support and guidance as you need it We are delighted to work closely • Teaching staff are all qualified solicitors who are instrumental in the with major international law firms design and delivery of materials. on a number of sponsorship • A high proportion of our students secure training contracts and initiatives. These include provision careers in the legal sector. of funds and facilities for the • We are the only Russell Group University in England to offer the School such as our Slaughter LPC giving you a first-class with all the benefits of a and May Moot Court, student university environment. mentoring schemes, sponsorship of courses or modules and cash Previously studied with us? You can enjoy a 10% fee discount when prizes and scholarships for taking the LPC. individual student excellence.

• Our student community • Allen & Overy • DLA Piper As a Sheffield LPC student, you are part of our student community. • Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer A dedicated postgraduate support team offers practical support and • Freehills information throughout your studies. • • Nabarro You’ll meet staff and students at the welcome reception and then • enjoy a programme of social events throughout the year until the final Summer Ball. Not only does this give you the chance to meet new people but also supports development of your professional network to launch your future career. Careers and your employability

Working with members of the public and local charities in our FreeLaw voluntary law clinic. You could gain valuable work experience in a professional environment, honing your legal skills and working under the supervision and guidance of practicing solicitors.

Advice from a dedicated law careers service allows you to “Not only does Sheffield have a good produce your CV in a professional way and to gain access to reputation for getting students through careers and employment information, as well as advice on the LPC, they also have an excellent applications and interviews. Our law careers reputation for careers advice and adviser is based within the School of Law and is a member of the helping students acquire a training LPC teaching team and a practising . contract, and that’s the main reason I actually why I chose to do it at Sheffield” We also run employability and skills sessions throughout the academic year to help you stand out in the competitive job Adam Tankard, LPC student market by improving your commercial awareness. These are workshops and seminars led by members of local, regional, national or international law firms, or ’ chambers, who will meet you and teach you how to engage in professional networking, how to choose a law career to suit your strengths, how to develop a career in . Other recent topics have included how to excel in telephone and face-to-face interviews and what changes and developments are taking place within the legal profession. A specialist teaching team

All the teaching staff on the Legal Practice Course at Sheffield have significant experience of private practice.

Over a third of the teaching team practised at partnership level and the team’s collective experience of practice from national commercial firms to high street practices to local authority work will inform your learning with some continuing to practice. With an average class size of 15 you can be assured of the best possible academic support from tutors who will work with you as an individual to meet your needs.

Teaching and Learning

The LPC at Sheffield is very much a hands-on course, using cases studies and files based on those used in practice. We ask you to research and acquire knowl- edge, put that into context, identify issues and place the client at the centre of the problem.

The emphasis on the LPC at Sheffield is on learning by doing. Most of the time spent in teaching sessions will require you to put your legal skills and knowledge into practice in a series of practical tasks and activities. Teaching on the LPC is in workshop sessions of up to 18 students. Typically, you will work in small groups to undertake such tasks as brain-storming, team-work- ing, problem-solving, role-playing and presenting. We believe this ensures you achieve the requisite knowledge and understanding to be able to do the job of a day one trainee.

You will be assessed through examinations, written reports and practical assessments including role-play scenarios to assess your interviewing skills. Shape your future “The practical approach adopted on “We’re proud to work with the the LPC has ensured I made a smooth University of Sheffield for the quality transition into my training contract. of their LPC course and the graduates The lecturers promote an open door it produces. We’re always pleased to policy and help is always on hand welcome LPC graduates to Nabarro if you need it – I think this is what and are delighted when they choose differentiates Sheffield University to build their career with us” from other law schools” Martin McKervey, Partner, Chelsie Thompson, LPC Graduate Nabarro LLP 2014 and now , Nabarro LLP.

Course structure.

The full-time LPC is taught in two stages and lasts one year if you take Stages 1 and 2 together. The course starts at the beginning of September until June including assessments. You can expect to have approximately nine hours per week of formal contact hours in workshops. We also expect you to spend time on independent study preparing for workshops and assessments throughout the year. Stage 1 Stage 2

Stage 1 consists of the core practice areas of: This consists of three elective subjects from a choice of • Business Law and Practice ten. The electives have been designed to introduce you • Property Law and Practice to the needs of specialist practice. There is a wide range • Litigation and Advocacy of electives so you can enter the size and type of practice you want. Within the core practice areas you can choose options to tailor your LPC to meet the requirements of the size and The electives are grouped under four broad headings: type of practice you want. In addition to the core practice • Advisory areas, you will also cover: • Individuals & their problems • Practical legal research • Advocacy • Interviewing and advising • Commercial • Writing • Drafting Full details of the full-time and part-time pathway • Advocacy structures and elective modules are on our website at • Solicitors’ Accounts www.sheffield.ac.uk/law • Professional Conduct and Regulation • Wills and the Administration of Estates Flexible study options

We offer flexible study options for LPC students and you can choose from either full-time or part-time study. You can also choose to take either Stage 1 or 2. Our electives are also offered on a standalone basis for those wishing to learn a new area of practice, or to update their knowledge. Full-Time Pathway

The full-time LPC is taught in two stages and lasts one year if you take Stages 1 and 2 together. The course starts at the beginning of September and runs until June including assessments. You can expect to have on average ten hours per week of formal contact time in workshops. We also expect you to spend time on independent study preparing for workshops and assessments.

Part-Time Pathway “I went to Sheffield University for my undergraduate studies so knew the level If you decided to take the course part-time you will study for both stages 1 and 2 of support the university already gave but over the two years. You will be required to come in for approximately six hours of whilst on the LPC the support was even teaching time each week, which allows you the rest of the week to gain valuable work more helpful as the course numbers are experience to enhance your CV and employability. The part-time course also runs relatively small and the staff can give much from early September to June. more detailed and individual support. Everyone was very approachable and you never felt you couldn’t ask for help or MA in Legal Practice advice. Now as a trainee I rely heavily on the training given on the LPC and feel the Successful graduates will be offered the chance to upgrade the LPC to a MA in Legal course is well tailored to preparing you for Practice. This leads to a Masters degree qualification and allows you to develop an working life as a solicitor”. excellent understanding in an area of law and practice, whilst also providing you with the qualification to progress to qualification as a solicitor. Anne Burridge, LPC Graduate 2014

Edinburgh The University of Sheffield

You’re not just a member of our School community, you’ll become a member of our University student community in Sheffield. You can enjoy 24/7 library services, WiFi across campus, practical help and careers advice, and an excellent range of clubs and societies to join as well as opportunities to engage with the local community through volunteering projects and student representation. With outstanding facilities to support your studies and a great place to call home, Sheffield is a university like no other. Sign up for one of our Open Days at www.sheffield.ac.uk/law to visit us and find out why. SHEFFIELD Living in Sheffield

Choose the University of Sheffield and you’re not just choosing one of Britain’s finest universities. You’re choosing a place to live that’s the best in Britain for student life. Whatever you’re into, from outdoor activities to arts and culture, Sheffield does it brilliantly. A few of the benefits include: • Cost of living is 90% of the national average • England’s safest major city Location • Award-winning student accommodation (Number 1: Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey, 2014) Sheffield is in the heart of the UK • More than a third of the city is in the Peak District National Park, an area of and is well-connected by road, outstanding national beauty rail and air. You can reach London in just over two hours. Admissions procedures.

There are different application procedures for the full-time and part-time pathways.

To apply you will need: “The fact that it’s part of the • a second class honours degree; or university is a real advantage, • a good non-, together with CPE/Postgraduate Diploma in Law; or it means you have access to • to be a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. all the university facilities and not just the ones provided for We offer places based on applicants’ merit and satisfactory references. We may wish the LPC.” to interview you before offering you a place. We do guarantee offers of places to some students from some Universities. You need to enquire with your careers officer or Sarah Hendley, LPC student tutor to find out if such a guarantee is given and the terms of that guarantee. Full-Time Pathway

You should apply for Stages 1 and 2 of the full time LPC or Stage 1 only through the Legal Practice Course Central Applications Board. Details of how to apply are on the Central Applications Board website at www.lawcabs.ac.uk. We prefer you to put us as your first choice in your list of LPC providers. Part-Time Pathway

We have a separate application procedure for this option and can provide information and guidance to support you throughout the process. Further guidance on how to apply is on the School’s website at www.sheffield.ac.uk/law/ Individual Elective Subjects

Further guidance on how to apply is on the School’s website at www.sheffield.ac.uk/law. If you would like guidance on your particular situation please email [email protected] School of Law The University of Sheffield Bartolome House Winter Street Sheffield, S3 7ND Tel: +44 (0)114 222 6752 Email: [email protected] @lawsheffield Web: www.sheffield.ac.uk/law /sheffieldlawschool