1. Getting into law Peter Crisp Dean 12 June 2008

2. Agenda About BPP Law School How to become a lawyer Advising students on a career in law Questions

3. About BPP Part of BPP Holdings plc The leading training specialists in Europe Training for a variety of professions: Accountancy Actuaries Financial Services Human Resources Law Marketing Tax

4. About BPP BPP College of Professional Studies BPP Law SchoolBPP HR Training BPP Business School

5. BPP Law School Graduate Diploma in Law with optional conversion to LLB Legal Practice Course with optional conversion to LLM Bar Vocational Course with optional conversion to LLM LLM in International Business Law LLM in Commercial Law Summer School (one week “Taster” law course)

6. About BPP Close links with the legal profession –Exclusive LPC provider to 10 major law firms –Over 400 firms and organisations sponsoring students Four law schools –London (Holborn and Waterloo) –Leeds and Manchester –5,500 students

7. About BPP Flexibility of study –Full-time (4 days per week) –Part-time: two evenings per week –Part-time: one evening per week –Part-time: one half day per week –Part-time: one Saturday per fortnight –Distance learning

8. About BPP Flexibility of study –Lectures available in 3 formats “Live” Podcasts DVD

9. About BPP State of the art facilities and IT –Blackboard (24/7) –Specialist law libraries –“Click” on-line law library (24/7) Essential extras –Specialist Careers Service –Pro bono opportunities

10. Award-winning Pro Bono Centre BPP Legal Advice Clinic Research initiatives Intern placements Human Rights Unit Law Firm Pro Bono Shadowing Project StreetLaw

11. What is the GDL? Provides an understanding of legal principles in seven core modules Enables non-law graduates to progress onto professional courses

12. GDL modules Full-time –Contract Law –Constitutional and Administrative Law –Criminal Law –Equity and Trusts Law –Land Law –Law of the European Union –Law of Tort –Independent Research Essay

13. GDL Extra Modules on optional areas –Evidence and Forensics –International Law –Law in the City Study visits Company Law programme

14. LPC structure Compulsory modules Electives Skills Pervasives

15. LPC compulsory modules Business law and practice Property law and practice Litigation: - Civil - Criminal

16. LPC skills Advocacy Interviewing and advising Legal writing Legal drafting Practical legal research

17. LPC pervasive modules Business accounts Solicitors’ accounts Revenue (tax) European law Professional conduct Financial services Human rights

18. Wide range of LPC electives Advanced commercial litigation Advanced commercial property Media and entertainment law Debt finance Equity finance Private acquisitions Intellectual property and commercial law

19. Wide range of LPC electives Advanced criminal litigation Employment law Family law Immigration law Personal injury and clinical negligence Wills, probate and estates planning

20. BPP’s Legal Practice Course Same programme at all sites and on all modes Our programmes have been created in consultation with leading law firms Elements of business and financial training Highly relevant client portfolios – MBA style Widest choice of electives

21. BVC structure Compulsory modules Options Skills Pervasives

22. Compulsory modules Civil litigation, Evidence and Remedies Criminal litigation, Evidence and Sentencing Opinion writing Drafting Advocacy Conference Skills Negotiation

23. Pervasive areas Legal research Case preparation Human rights Remedies Professional conduct

24. Options International trade Company law Intellectual property Personal injury and clinical negligence

25. Options Employment Family law Advanced criminal litigation Property and chancery Public law

26. BVC at BPP Experienced practitioners Excellent resources – court rooms Groups of 6 for oral skills Only London provider validated by Bar Council unconditionally for 6 years and with increased places Personal touch

27. Award of an LLB (Hons) In September 2007 BPP College became the first private sector company to be granted degree awarding powers.  Students who pass the GDL may also be awarded an LLB (Hons) –complete two additional modules Company Law Intellectual Property Law Legal Analysis & Research

28. Degree awarding powers Legal Practice Course and Bar Vocational Course with optional conversion to an LLM in Professional Legal Practice - complete two 7,500 word practice-based assignment modules LLM in International Business Law LLM in Commercial Law

29. Getting into law

30. Agenda How to qualify as a Solicitor How to qualify as a Barrister What advice should I be giving to students?

31. Qualifying as a Solicitor

32. Qualifying as a Barrister

33. What is a Training Contract? –A two year period spent working in a law firm –Usually blocks of six months in different ‘seats’ –In smaller firms / US firms the training contract might not be so structured –Under the supervision of a qualified Solicitor

34. Where are the opportunities? Majority of work is in private practice –Most training contracts are in: Large commercial firms Medium sized firms –Other options: High street firms Niche firms –Opportunities also exist in industry and in the public sector

35. Outside private practice Crown Prosecution Service Government Legal Service Industry / in-house

36. Training contracts Approximately 5800 training contracts in 2007 Approximately 9900 LPC enrolments 2007-2008 Competition for places is high

37. What is Pupillage? A 12 month period of practical supervision under an experienced Barrister First 6 months is non-practising with pupils shadowing their supervisor Next 6 months is spent in practising either at that Chambers or another set Self-employed

38. Pupillage Approximately 550 pupillages 2005-2006 Approximately 600 pupillages 2004-2005 Approximately 544 tenancies 2004-2005 Approximately 1900 BVC enrolments pa Competition for places is intense

39. The Bar: Where are the opportunities? The Independent Bar (in chambers) –A group of offices of which each barrister is a ‘tenant’ –Most pupillages are available in Chambers The Employed Bar –Companies or firms CPS/GLS

40. Solicitor v Barrister: factors that may influence decision Suitability to personal talents Independence v security of employment Promotion prospects Working style Funding Opportunities for travel Competition for places

41. Recruitment Cycle Larger / commercial firms : –Recruit more than 2 years ahead Smaller / some medium-sized firms: –Recruit one year ahead High street firms / in-house / local councils: –Recruit in year of appointment Chambers: OLPAS system: –2 seasons April and September –Usually 18 months in advance

42. Potential Solicitors – What to do now? Vacation schemes – formal placements Work shadowing – informal short placements Pro Bono work –E.g. Law Centres / Citizens Advice Bureau Commercial or relevant industry experience Training contract applications - for 2 years ahead

43. Potential Barristers – what to do now… Join an Inn of Court and get involved –can get sponsorship for GDL/BVC Work experience: mini-pupillage, marshalling Mooting, debating, other public speaking

44. Conclusion Research both professions thoroughly Get experience as early as possible GDL students are sought after – sell their background and skills when applying Utilise college/university careers service (!) Use BPP Careers Service after acceptance of place at BPP

45. Any questions? ?