Latest news: Unique LPC launched

Global law firm Reed Smith and BPP Law School have launched a new version of the Legal Practice Course (LPC) that fully integrates legal and business learning throughout the year and leads to a unique Masters qualification, the MA LPC with Business. 04/04/2012

The bespoke programme, to be piloted from September 2012, is the first of its kind, in that it allows graduates to study commercial and legal aspects in parallel, and not separately, so that they complete the course before entering their training contract with Reed Smith.  

In addition to the LPC curriculum, a range of business modules will be built into the programme, which includes business and sector analysis, the financial markets, strategy, governance, regulation and risk. Students will also conduct a business consultancy project based on a real-life scenario, thus gaining an in-depth understanding of the firm’s clients and their business sectors prior to joining.

‘This innovative new course means that, for the first time in the legal sector, future trainees will complete all the LPC topics with the full business context alongside them in one year. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for future trainees to learn about our clients’ sectors,’ said Peter Hardy, Reed Smith’s training principal.

Reed Smith and BPP jointly created the programme following the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s move to allow firms more flexibility in how they design courses which include the core LPC learning.

Peter Crisp, dean and chief executive of BPP Law School, commented, ‘We are keen to lead with any innovations in teaching and learning that will help our trainee lawyers, and ultimately benefit our legal and commercial sectors. With the support of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) , the profession and employers, we are able to provide the winning combination of a world-class practical, commercial and up-to-date professional qualification for the lawyers of the future.’