LL.M in Professional Legal Practice - Frequently asked questions
Why choose our LL.M programmes?
Study options
Course content and assessment
Study patterns
Entry requirements
Course fees
How to book
International students and lawyers
Why choose our LL.M programmes?
What is an LL.M?
An LL.M is a Master's level law degree. As you would expect it is a highly-regarded and prized qualification that demonstrates your in-depth knowledge and mastering of the law. It is a visible way to enhance your legal CV and your career prospects – both within your national jurisdiction and internationally.
What are the key benefits of our LL.M programmes?
Our LL.M programmes are practice-led hence their titles. They offer flexible, yet focused programmes to graduates and qualified UK-based and overseas lawyers. Here are just some of the key benefits:
- They are flexible as to your attendance and your pace of progression.
- They can be tailored to your career path and/or practice area due to the wide number of study modules available
- Your study will be practice-led ie based on transactions and cases modelled on those undertaken by lawyers in practice
- Your assignment can be in a field of your choice, building specialist legal knowledge to enhance both you and your firm’s expertise
- All of our tutors are qualified lawyers with real practice experience
- Internationally-recognised qualification
Why an LL.M in ‘Legal Practice’? Why not just an LL.M in law?
The College of Law’s expertise is in developing lawyers in the professional and practical aspects of legal practice. We’ve been doing it for years and frankly we believe such professional skills are absolutely essential in today’s competitive world.
In 2006, when we became the first independent UK institution to be granted our own degree awarding powers, we knew there was a gap in the market for us to apply this professional legal expertise at Master's Level. Hence our LL.M programmes.
How will our LL.M programmes be regarded both professionally and academically?
The College of Law is exceptionally highly regarded in all areas of the English legal sector. We work closely with practically all of the leading global law firms and barristers chambers on their training needs. For example, we work exclusively at LPC level with three of the Magic Circle law firms – Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and Linklaters. So you can be assured that our LL.M will be highly respected across the profession.
Our academic standards are impeccable too. We wouldn’t have been given the powers to award our own Master's level degrees unless we had proved our academic rigour and abilities to the Privy Council.
Can you send me a printed brochure?
We do not currently have a printed brochure for our LL.M programmes. All the information you need should be contained in these web pages. If your question isn’t answered here, please feel free to contact us directly.
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Study options
How are our LL.M programmes structured?
To qualify for a Master's level award, you need to earn 180 credits at Master's level. This is achieved by studying six modules (each worth 20 credits) and completing an assignment (worth 60 credits):
Do College of Law LPC and BVC graduates qualify for credits towards our LL.M programmes?
All College of Law LPC and BVC graduates will be granted 60 Master's level credits towards our LL.M in Professional Legal Practice. This recognises their prior study on these courses and means they only need to complete a further three modules and the assignment to achieve the full LL.M (see diagrams below). If College LPC students select (or their employer requires them to select) more than three LPC electives, which they successfully pass, they could earn additional Master’s level credits during their LPC studies.
Please note that these credits do not apply to our LL.M in International Legal Practice.
Route for College of Law LPC graduates:
Route for College of Law BVC graduates:
Can I study the LL.M at the same time as my LPC or BVC?
It is possible to combine studying the College LPC/BVC and LL.M at the same time, but students are advised to take on no more than one LL.M module in addition to their main LPC/BVC studies. Please be aware that these are both demanding courses of study and will require a high level of personal commitment.
If I completed my LPC/BVC with another law school can I get credits towards the College’s LL.M programmes?
No. We currently only grant Master’s level prior credits to College of Law LPC and BVC graduates. If you graduated from another law school, you will need to complete the full LL.M programme of six modules and the assignment.
How long will I have to complete my full LL.M?
You will have up to five years to complete your full LL.M, starting from the date on which you commence your first LL.M module. Please note that prior credit towards the LL.M in Professional Legal Practice does not count within your time limit.
Is there a time limit for completing individual LL.M modules?
You will be expected to complete supervised online LL.M modules within six months of the module start date. Blended learning modules will be studied between March and June each year.
What happens if I am unable to complete a module within the set time period?
If you experience difficulties part-way through a module, or have a change of circumstances, you can discuss deferral options with your supervisor who will be able to advise you of the best way forward.
Where and when can I study?
Supervised online modules
Four supervised online modules are available for a July 2008 start, with further supervised online modules becoming available as outlined in the above tables. These modules can be studied without any face-to-face tuition or need to attend one of the College’s UK centres. Once the study materials become available you can start your study whenever and wherever it suits you. The final unit of each supervised online module will form the assessment for that module. This will take the form of a 3,000-5,000 word assessment.
Blended learning modules
Blended learning modules are only available to those studying for the LL.M in Professional Legal Practice. They can be studied in one of the College’s UK centres in either Birmingham, Chester, Guildford, London or York. You could, if you wish, choose to study different LL.M modules in different centres. The availability of LL.M modules in specific locations is subject to demand. If we are unable to provide the module you want to study in the centre of your choice we will endeavour to offer you alternatives – either a different module or a different centre.
Blended learning modules currently run from March to June each year, with a choice of weekday, weekday evening or weekend study. It is our intention to provide more than one start date in the future, subject to demand.
How and what will I study?
Supervised online modules
Supervised online modules provide students with the opportunity to combine online study with one-to-one online supervision from a College tutor. They have an international focus and will be delivered in conjunction with the IBA.
The College of Law is already a pioneer in interactive multi-media learning methods and online test and feedback techniques. With increased use of online technology, our aim is to give supervised online students full access to the expertise of our tutors. You will also be given full access - if you want it - to any of the facilities at our UK centres. This includes our library and IT resources.
Blended learning modules
Blended learning modules are only available to those studying for the LL.M in Professional Legal Practice. They are formed of a mixture of face-to-face tuition and online and independent study. Typically a blended learning module will consist of student workshops facilitated by a tutor, self study with our ground-breaking online i-Tutorials (interactive tutorials) supplemented by regular online test and feedback exercises, reading, independent learning and online group assignments. Each blended learning module will be assessed by an unseen 2.5 hour examination at the College centre where you received your face-to-face tuition.
If I’m studying a supervised online module, will I be able to access materials at the library of my nearest College centre?
Yes. As a student of The College of Law you are welcome to use the library resources at any of our study centres – Birmingham, Chester, Guildford, London Bloomsbury, London Moorgate and York.
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Course content and assessment
What study modules are available?
Depending on which modules you choose, your method of study will either be 'supervised online' (a combination of online study with one-to-one online supervision from a College tutor) or 'blended learning' (a mixture of online study and face-to-face tuition at one of the College's UK centres). The next available start date for supervised online modules is July 2008 (unless otherwise stated). The next available start date for blended learning modules is March 2009.
See the full list of modules available
All blended learning modules will also be available as supervised online modules within three years.
Please note that College of Law LPC graduates are advised to select different topics to those studied for their LPC electives.
What is the assignment?
You choose a subject for your assignment in agreement with your supervising tutor. Your assignment must be 15,000 words in length and you will receive supervision from your tutor. As the choice of subject for your assignment is yours, you could, for example, choose an active legal matter or case being handled by your firm or set of chambers and thus really add value to the vocational nature of your LL.M. Equally you could choose a subject outside of your current area of expertise – perhaps in an area of practice in which you have aspirations. This must be approved by your tutor.
Can I combine modules from the LL.M in International Legal Practice with modules from the LL.M in Professional Legal Practice?
Yes. It is possible to study a mix of supervised online modules from the LL.M in International Legal Practice and blended learning modules from the LL.M in Professional Legal Practice (which include face-to-face tuition at UK centres). However, to qualify for the LL.M in International Legal Practice, all of your modules must be chosen from the above list of approved supervised online modules. Students who study a mix of supervised online and blended learning modules will be awarded the LL.M in Professional Legal Practice.
Will my final Master’s degree classification reflect the specialist nature of my chosen modules and assignment?
If you study our LL.M in Professional Legal Practice and choose modules in similar areas of practice plus an assignment in the same field, we will be able to make specialist awards. For example, if you choose to specialise in international commercial law, your Master’s degree will be classified ‘LL.M in Professional Legal Practice (International Commercial)’. We will be happy to help you choose modules that will contribute to the named specialised degree that you want.
Please note that this does not apply to our LL.M in International Legal Practice.
What is the required pass mark?
You will need to achieve a minimum pass mark of 50% on all study modules and the assignment. If you pass all modules and receive a mark of 70% or more on your assignment, your LL.M will be awarded with ‘Distinction’.
What are the suggested PC specification and recommended browsers for studying our LL.M programmes?
- PC running Windows 2000 or later
- 1100 MHz processor
- Minimum of 256 MB RAM
- Cable/DSL broadband connection to the Internet
- Internet Explorer version 6 and above
Please note that our software is not compatible with Apple Macintosh computers. If you need advice on the suitability of your existing equipment, please e-mail it.helpdesk@lawcol.co.uk
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Study patterns
How many modules should I study at a time?
To ensure you get the most out of your studies we recommend that you study no more than the following number of modules at once:
Supervised online modules
- Four modules (if studying full-time)
- Two modules (if combining study with part-time work)
- One module (if combining study with full-time work)
Blended learning modules
- Three modules (if studying weekday modules)
- Two modules (if studying weekday evening modules)
- One module (if studying weekend modules)
How many hours of study will I be expected to do per week?
A minimum of 10-15 hours of study per week would be expected per module.
See study patterns for our LL.M in Professional Legal Practice
Will studying an LL.M count towards my annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours?
Yes. We are accredited to award 12 CPD hours per year to students studying our LL.M programmes. This is a fixed total for all LL.M students and will be the same whether you study one or more modules. You are responsible for logging these CPD hours yourself, but the College will verify this total if asked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
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Entry requirements
What are the entry requirements for starting the LL.M?
To be eligible for admission to our LL.M programmes you must hold one of either a UK undergraduate degree or international equivalent, or a GDL, LPC or BVC. We recommend that non-law graduates have a grounding in common law.
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Course fees
How much do our LL.M programmes cost?
Our LL.M programmes are structured into three levels to give you maximum flexibility when choosing how to complete the required number of credits. This rewards you with a Post-graduate Certificate after successful completion of three modules (excludes prior-credit College of Law LPC/BVC graduates) and a Post-graduate Diploma after successful completion of six modules, if you do not go on to complete your full LL.M.
You can choose to pay for your full LL.M (six modules plus assignment) or you may wish initially just to sign up for a Post-graduate Certificate or Diploma. Alternatively you can pay for individual LL.M modules.
See course fees for our LL.M in Professional Legal Practice
Please note that you will only be awarded with a Post-graduate Certificate or Post-graduate Diploma if you choose not to go on and complete your full LL.M.
Can I pay in instalments?
No. All course fees must be paid in full and cleared in our bank before we can book you onto any modules. Please also be aware that LL.M fees are non-refundable.
Can I pay for three modules to take advantage of the discount, but choose some of them at a later date?
Yes. It is possible to pay for three modules and specify your second and/or third modules at a later date. In order to do this you should select and pay for a three module option on the booking form, but only specify the module(s) you already know you wish to study. You will need to contact us separately when you have made a decision on the remaining module(s).
If I withdraw from the course will I be entitled to a refund?
No. All of our course fees are non-refundable.
Are all study materials included within the course fees (eg books)?
Yes. All of your study materials are included in the course fees.
If I defer starting my module and the course content changes, will I need to pay for new course materials?
No. If you defer with our approval you will have automatic access to the current version of the course materials and textbook for no extra charge when you re-join the course. Access will be via ELITE, our interactive learning support system. You will not need to be provided with any additional hardcopy materials.
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How to book
When can I start my LL.M?
The next available start date is July 2008 if you choose to study supervised online modules or March 2009 if you choose to study blended learning modules.
How do I book my LL.M modules?
Booking for modules starting from July 2008 is now open. For more information and to download a booking form, please click ‘How to book’ in our left hand navigation.
What are the booking deadlines?
See booking deadlines for our LL.M in Professional Legal Practice
In order to guarantee entry onto your chosen modules, we must receive your fully completed booking form and cleared funds by the relevant booking deadline.
International students and lawyers
If I successfully complete my LL.M will I be able to practise law in the UK?
No. Our LL.M programmes do not entitle you to practise law in the UK. For more information on how to qualify as a lawyer in England and Wales, please visit the following webpages:
International lawyers:
Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT) - enables international lawyers to practise as solicitors in England and Wales
International graduates:
Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) – enables graduates to convert to study the law of England and Wales
Legal Practice Course – vocational training to become a solicitor in England and Wales
Bar Vocational Course – vocational training to become a barrister in England and Wales
Will studying three blended modules at once fulfil my visa requirements for full-time study?
We will provide you with a letter confirming your hours of study which you will need to supply to UK Visas. However we are unable to give advice on visas – for more information please visit www.ukvisas.gov.uk
Are discounts available for international students?
No. Our LL.M fees are the same for all modes of study and for all students.
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