Understanding Legal Practice PGDip/Professional Legal Practice LLM

Entry requirements

A UK law degree (minimum 2:2), the Graduate Diploma in Law (or equivalent law conversion course) or a PGCert Principles of Law from Coventry University.

Alternative qualifications or work experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Months of entry

January, May, September

Course content

Our professional legal practice preparation courses are designed for law graduates or those who have completed a Principles of Law PGCert or similar course.

Choose to study the Understanding Legal Principles PGDip or undertake the Professional Legal Practice LLM course, which includes an additional Case Study Project and results in a master’s level qualification on successful completion.

• Prepare to take the professional qualifications required to pursue a career as a solicitor or a Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) lawyer.
• Develop your ability to apply legal knowledge and skills, to both the theory and practice of law using real-world scenarios.
• Understand professional ethics requirements of a legal practitioner based upon the Code of Conduct of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

On completion of the course, you are required to arrange and take the applicable examination with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) if you wish to become a solicitor, or with CILEX if you wish to become a CILEX lawyer and pay the associated fee (see section exemptions for more information).

The course is designed to prepare you to sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) Part 1 and (if you complete Professional Legal Practice LLM) Part 2. This is not embedded in the course. You will have to sit the exam independently and directly with the SRA.

The course is also designed to prepare you to sit the CILEX lawyer professional examinations (CPQ), which is not embedded in the course. You will have to sit the exam independently and directly with CILEX.

Why you should study this course

• Professional development pathways: develop knowledge of the law and professional practice required to sit both the SRA SQE and/or the CILEX lawyer professional programme, leading to a career in the legal profession.
• Practice-based learning: learn through a range of workshops and practice your professional skills, including advocacy, interviewing, negotiation, writing and drafting, in addition to acquiring the required legal knowledge.
• Networking opportunities: access Coventry Law School’s ‘Raising the Bar’ scheme, providing you with the opportunity to network with members of the legal profession.
• Flexible study options: module-based delivery allows you to study around work and other commitments while enhancing your career and progression prospects.
• Teaching excellence: learn from academics and qualified professional practitioners with experience of law and practice relevant to each module.

Please use the official Coventry University website as your main source of information as our courses are subject to change throughout the year.