Legal Practice Course (LPC)

If you have not done so already, please 'sign up' to LawCAB. 

Once you have submitted your details in the sign up section (top right of LawCAB homepage) please keep an eye on your inbox for the email verification link.  If it doesn’t arrive, it would be worth checking your promotions folder, or junk/spam folders in case it has got stuck there. (Those with gmail accounts sometimes find that the email goes to their promotions folder.)  Please also make sure that you are using the most up to date version of your internet browser.

After you have clicked on the link to confirm your email address, you will be able to login where you will then be able to view your applicant dashboard from which you can create an online application form, depending on which course type you want to apply for.

Please use the link below for full details of the application process for:

LPC, GDL & SQE courses

CILEX Graduate Qualification (CGQ)

If you have any further questions about the application process, please get in touch with us at applications@lawcabs.ac.uk.

Academic documentation

If you are a current undergraduate in your final year, you must attach a transcript to your form showing the courses you have studied in your first two years and the marks awarded so far.  If you do not have, and cannot obtain, a copy of your current transcript, please attach a screenshot of your marks to date taken from your student portal.  The institutions you apply to will then follow up with you directly on receipt of your application.

If you are a graduate, you must attach a copy of your final transcript and/or degree certificate to your form to your form.

For further information on transcripts, please refer to our FAQ 'What is a transcript?'. 

LPC applicants should note that from 1 September 2021, LPC providers will need to check that applicants fall within the transitional arrangements in relation to the new SQE route to qualification. This is likely to involve checking the detail of the dates on which offers were accepted and courses started. Applicants will therefore be asked to upload to their forms evidence (which should be provided by the universities) that you either:

• completed, started, accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit on a QLD by 21 September 2021 (inclusive) or

• accepted an offer by 31 August 2021 for a place on a GDL/CPE course that started before 31 December 2021.

Personal statement

Most course providers require a personal statement. You can either type this into the form or upload as an attachment to the reason and personal statement section of the form.  Please see our FAQ on What is a personal statement and what should I include in it? for further information on what to include in your personal statement.

Reference

Most course providers require a reference.

If you are a current undergraduate or recent graduate, you are encouraged to nominate a current academic tutor who can comment on your suitability for post-graduate study and a career in law, and also provide an expected final grade for your current studies if possible.

If you cannot nominate an academic tutor, you should nominate a current or recent employer to provide a reference in support of your application. Please see our reference FAQs for further detail.

Passport details

If you are applying from outside of the UK and need a visa, you will need to provide your current passport number and expiry date.

If you received a conditional offer which you accepted by 31 August 2021, but you cannot fulfil the conditions of the offer (e.g. confirming degree or English language test results) until after 31 August, you can still go on to qualify through the LPC route.

By accepting a conditional offer for a place on a course you will be covered by the transitional arrangements, which apply if someone has ‘entered into a contractual agreement or made a non-refundable financial commitment to start’ a course; accepting a conditional offer of a place on a course would mean that you are entering a contractual agreement.

Although you are not required to register with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) before commencing the LPC, if you think you might have a character and suitability issue or are unsure as to whether you might have an issue, you can choose to submit an early disclosure. The fee for an early assessment is £100. There is a useful LPC FAQ available on the SRA's website here, as well as their Student Information Pack.

Please note that it is very important that you contact the SRA at least 6 months in advance of your anticipated LPC start date if you have character and suitability issues.

Read further information about the SRA's Assessment of Character Suitability Rules.

Please use our course finder for further information about the courses available.  You will also find a list of course providers, showing the courses each of them offer, in Where can I study?

 

If you know that you are eligible to qualify through the QLD/GDL+LPC or the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), you will need to determine which route will best serve you, taking into account your current education, employment status, the financial implications and your future employment aspirations. 

First, make sure you fully understand the steps you would need to complete for each route in order to achieve qualification. Visit our LPC and SQE sections for a full outline of the qualification requirements for each.

Outlined below are a few of the factors you might want to consider when deciding which route to take.

GDL/LPC with Training Contract versus SQE with QWE route
If you choose the GDL/LPC route, you will need to complete a 2-year training contract before you can qualify as a solicitor. This is often the biggest stumbling block for aspiring solicitors because there are far fewer training contracts available than the numbers applying for them; many pass the LPC to find they are unable to complete their qualification because they cannot secure a training contract. And, following the launch of the SQE, training opportunities are changing and there are fewer Training Contracts being offered.

If you do decide to go down the LPC route, you could potentially complete qualifying work experience instead of a training contract, however, you would also need to pass the SQE2 assessment, which will mean additional costs on top of your LPC fees.  If you don't have a training contract and think you might need to complete qualifying work experience instead, you may find it more cost effective to qualify through the SQE.

Flexibility
The GDL/LPC route is ‘tried and tested’ and familiar to employers across the legal market in the UK, and in other jurisdictions, however, the flexibility of the SQE means that not only are you able to choose how you prepare for the SQE assessments, but also how you achieve your qualifying work experience (QWE); under the SQE you are not restricted to needing to complete a fixed two year Training Contract.  Rather, you could gain your 2 years of QWE in up to four different work placements, which could include, for example, time spent working at a law clinic and/or working in law firms. You could do this before, during or after your assessments and so you might find that any experience you already have could count towards your qualifying working experience.

Further information about the SQE can be found on the SRA's dedicated SQE website.

I have a qualifying law degree
If you have a QLD you can still apply for the LPC, which is a year-long course (if taken full-time), and would then need to be followed by a period of recognised training (training contract) (2 years) before you qualify as a solicitor. The cost of the LPC varies depending on where you do it. If you secure a training contract the firm may cover or contribute towards this cost.

Time: 1 year LPC + 2 years training contract = 3 years (4 years if studying part-time)
Cost: up to £16,750 (depending on course provider and location)

Alternatively, you can choose to qualify through the SQE. It is likely you will still need to undertake additional preparation to pass the SQE 1 and SQE 2 assessments but you might find that a short SQE course (or courses), independent study or even relevant work experience is sufficient. Or you can choose a fuller, post-graduate course such as an MA or LLM which incorporates SQE preparation. Bear in mind that any courses you do will not include the cost of the assessments themselves and so you will need to factor this in to any budgeting.

Time: 6-24 months depending on the type of course and mode of study you choose + 2 years QWE which can be done before, during or after your assessments.
Cost: £4,790 for the two SQE assessments + course costs (based on 2024/25 assessment fees)

I have a non-qualifying law degree
Under the old route, you have to do the GDL prior to taking the LPC. Please bear in mind that if you do wish to qualify through the LPC, you must have accepted an offer by 31 August 2021 for a place on a GDL course that started by 31 December 2021 and retain evidence of this for your future LPC application.

Time: 2 years plus 2 year training contract = 4 years (6 years if studying part-time)
Cost: up to £30,000 (depending on course providers and location)

When you consider the SQE route, it is worth looking at whether your law degree has covered some of the subjects that come up in the SQE 1 assessment, particularly those traditionally known as the seven foundations of legal knowledge. If so, you might feel that a short SQE preparation course, independent study and/or relevant work experience is sufficient to get you through the assessments and could potentially save you the cost of a full law conversion course and LPC. Alternatively, a longer post-graduate course incorporating SQE preparation could also be an attractive option, still potentially saving you time and money, and giving you that additional academic qualification of an MA or LLM, for example.

Time: 6-24 months depending on the type of course and mode of study you choose + 2 years QWE which can be done before, during or after your assessments.

Cost: £4,790 for the two SQE assessments + course costs (based on 2024/25 assessment fees)

I have a non-law degree
If you have never studied law previously, or you have gained your law degree outside of the UK, a GDL/law conversion course offers a comprehensive foundation in law, with the option of adding a Masters qualification on top, enabling those that pass to go on to complete the LPC. Please bear in mind that if you do wish to qualify through the LPC, you must have accepted an offer by 31 August 2021 for a place on a GDL course that started by 31 December 2021 and retain evidence of this for your future LPC application.

Time: 2 years plus 2 year training contract = 4 years (6 years if studying part-time)
Cost: up to £30,000 (depending on course providers and location)

If you opt for the SQE route, you could consider a postgraduate course, such as an PgDL, MA or LLM incorporating SQE preparation, which would fulfil the same ‘law conversion’ role as the GDL. You could also choose a shorter SQE preparation course, but if you have no previous experience in the law either through your studies or through work, you might feel you want a longer course with a post-graduate law qualification to add to your CV.

Time: 6-24 months depending on the type of course you choose + 2 years QWE which can be done before, during or after your assessments.

Cost: £4,790 for the two SQE assessments + course costs (based on 2024/25 assessment fees)

How long are the courses?
While the GDL and LPC are year-long courses (or 2 years each if taken on a part-time basis), the length of the SQE courses depends on the type of course you choose to do. So, if you have already completed a law degree and/or have experience working in a legal environment, a short SQE preparation course may be all you want to do.

Alternatively, regardless of whether you have previously studied law, a longer course which enables you to study at postgraduate level, for example incorporating an MA or LLM with preparation for the two SQE assessments included, could provide you with a stronger and more confident footing in the law.

Applying for courses via LawCAB
Find out which providers offer which types of courses in our Where can I study section and see suitable courses using our course finder. Keep an eye on the course eligibility requirements as some of the SQE courses are suitable for those who have done UK qualifying law degrees or GDLs, whereas others are more tailored to those who have not previously studied law or who have obtained law degrees outside of the UK.

Funding your studies
If funding your training is a concern, you may also wish to consider a solicitor apprenticeship where your employer will cover the cost of any courses and assessments whilst paying you a salary, so you can earn while you learn. There are graduate apprenticeships available, as well as ones open to non-graduates.

If you have completed an LPC, you will need to complete Period of Recognised Training and the Professional Skills Course to complete your qualification.  Alternatively, under the Equivalent Means route, you could either:

• Ask the SRA to recognise the combination of qualifying work experience and successfully passing SQE2 as equivalent to the period of recognised training. This means that if you come under the transitional arrangements, you can still start an LPC now, and then make use of the LPC + QWE + SQE2 route. Once you have successfully passed SQE 2 and have your QWE approved, you will be able to apply for admission as a solicitor. Please note you will still need to meet the SRA’s character and suitability requirements.  It is important to make sure that you are definitely covered by the SRA's transitional arrangements. If you are not sure and need more detailed guidance about your particular circumstances, please contact the SRA at EducationAndTrainingQueries@sra.org.uk and they will be able to advise you further.

or

• If you think you can demonstrate that you have the equivalent skills and experience gained through a period of recognised training (PRT), you could apply for a Period of Recognised Training exemption. The SRA’s fee for completing an assessment of the evidence you submit is £600. It is worth referring to the SRA for further information about applying for an exemption from the period of recognised training if you are interested in qualifying through this route.

Further information about the transition route for those with a LPC is described on the SRA website.

If you are eligible and thinking of applying to do the LPC, bear in mind that to complete your qualification through this route, you will need to undertake a two-year Training Contract. As the LPC is gradually being phased out, the number of Training Contracts that are available is also declining and so unless you already have a Training Contract, the SQE might be a better option for you on the basis that it offers more flexibility in the qualifying work experience element. If you decide to embark on an LPC and cannot secure a Training Contract, you do still have the option to take SQE 2 and complete qualifying work experience, but this is likely to be a more expensive route to qualification as you will incur both LPC and then SQE preparation and assessment costs.

The two year period of recognised training which must be completed post-LPC is commonly referred to as a Training Contract. Individuals are given supervised experience in legal practice in order to refine professional skills essential to practicing as a solicitor, including: advocacy, client care, drafting, commercial and financial awareness, and experience in specific areas of practice.

There are two sets of regulations related to periods of recognised training, depending on when trainees started their training, which are covered on the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) website.

A range of websites and resources are available to help you to find firms offering training contracts.

LawCareers.net law careers guide contains information about firms that take trainees, organised by geographical region, in addition to summary guides on those firms.

To apply for positions with certain legal firms, you may find the following links useful:

• Lawcareers.net training contract locator and training contract deadlines
• The Lawyer Portal training contract guide and training contract deadlines
• The government legal services sector
• The Crown Prosecution Service trainee scheme
• specialist legal websites/publications such as The Lawyer, the Law Gazette
• Justice First Fellowships (JFF) offer training contracts in social welfare law with charities, law centres and legal aid firms

Some firms will have summer deadlines, whereas others will recruit throughout the year. Use firms' specific recruitment webpages to check specific deadlines and requirements.

Many firms currently recruit applicants to Training Contract roles up to two years in advance of joining a firm.

If you are eligible and thinking of applying to do the LPC, bear in mind that as the LPC is gradually being phased out, the number of Training Contracts that are available is also declining and so unless you already have a Training Contract, the SQE might be a better option for you on the basis that it offers more flexibility in the qualifying work experience element.

However, if you you decide to embark on an LPC and then cannot secure a Training Contract, the SRA has confirmed you may still qualify as a solicitor by obtaining 2 years' full time or equivalent Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) and passing the SQE 2 assessment. This is likely to be a more expensive route to qualification though, as you will incur both LPC and then SQE preparation and assessment costs.

Visit our Qualifying Work Experience section for more detailed information about QWE and how to find it.