LLM Master of Laws Professional Legal Practice

Northumbria University

LLM Master of Laws Professional Legal Practic

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

This course has been designed to build and develop your legal knowledge. It will prepare you for the 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. The 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 and go on to sit the second stage of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE2) after work experience and/or further study. We will be running a SQE 2 course from September 2023 to prepare you for the second assessment.

The programme will provide knowledge of how the law is applied in practice. 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.

There will also be the opportunity to work with legal advice agencies. This will allow you to experience working on real legal cases and work with professionals to tackle legal issues.

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.