The Legal Cheek View
BPP University Law School is one of the largest legal education players in the UK, serving around 15,000 students across a range of locations around the country, as well as online. BPP has very good links with City law firms. If you’re hoping to go down the solicitor route in the commercial and corporate sphere it’s worth considering that numerous leading law firms exclusively send their trainee solicitors to study at BPP – including a group of top City players known as the ‘Consortium’ (but more on this later).
In the capital, tucked behind the cultural quarters of the South Bank, BPP’s Waterloo campus is one of the biggest law conversion course providers in the UK. Insiders are positive about their fellow students, feeling a real sense of support and camaraderie as they go through this demanding course, although some find the administrative side of things to not be up to standard. Others say this campus is due a refurb, with grumbles about the library being old and run-down, and toilets being rather grimy. A pool table and a giant game of Connect Four are small perks to take your mind off the looming exams in your lunch break, with comfortable sofas and tables also available if you just need to kick back instead.
In the same neighbourhood as the Royal Courts of Justice, the Law Society and a number of top City firms and chambers, BPP’s London Holborn campus is nestled at the epicentre of legal life in London. A glass-fronted building just around the corner from Holborn station, this campus, offering the SQE and LPC, is more modern than its Waterloo counterpart, with a good library and study spaces. A recent graduate tells us that classes on both the PGDL, SQE and LPC are very collaborative, with less than 20 in each and seminar-style teaching allowing students to build good rapport with each other and their tutors. The quality of teaching is generally really good, albeit with some exceptions, as is the case with any course. Students can also benefit from the central location of BPP’s London campuses, with a relaxing drink at a nearby pub with course mates on the cards.
While the costs of studying in London can be a downside, students can choose from one of BPP’s five other locations in Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Manchester and Leeds, or online, where prices are cheaper, and can opt for either full-time or part-time study.
For budding lawyers looking for the cultural perks of London but with a more “relaxed feel”, the Bristol campus is the place to be. While Bristol is well-known for its live music, Georgian architecture and the Clifton suspension bridge that hangs above the river Avon, it also offers a lively social scene. Bars and restaurants line the harbour side, while Motion — a warehouse nightclub with a 6am curfew — is said to be the destination for a big night out. BPP’s Bristol campus is located in the heart of legal Bristol, just off Queen Square. The Bristol Bar Society, where you can find out which chambers offer mini-pupillages, is just down the road, as are law firms such as Osborne Clarke, Simmons & Simmons and RPC. The class sizes “tend to be small” so students receive “a lot of individual attention” and can get to know their peers and tutors fairly well.
Offering something slightly different, studying the PGDL or SQE/LPC at BPP’s Cambridge campus might appeal to those who have always romanticised about cycling to law school down cobbled streets alongside quaint bakeries and picturesque buildings. Surrounded by a range of shops, restaurants and cafes, coffee breaks and light retail therapy are in close reach to fight off exam blues. The quality of teaching ranges from “generally good” to “all excellent”, according to BPP’s Cambridge students. The Cambridge campus has a “friendly and welcoming atmosphere” with “helpful staff”. There’s also a student common room with “plenty of comfy sofas to relax and have a chat” with “free tea or coffee”, which is a rare perk. And “of course there is the punting, which we did for the afternoon to celebrate the end of our exams in June”.
Meanwhile, the Birmingham campus is located in the thick of student life, and among a heavy concentration of law firms — DLA Piper, Eversheds Sutherland and Pinsent Masons all have offices nearby. In terms of teaching, students highlight the small class sizes as a positive, although others note that this can sometimes mean there is insufficient interest to run certain electives. Overall, however, tutors are described as “knowledgeable and engaging”, being able to draw from their time in practice, particularly in the Bar Training Course, where they are typically drawn from the local bar, which is strong in the West Midlands and includes top sets such as No5 and St Philips Chambers.
There’s also lots of fun to be had in Manchester. BPP’s campus here is located in the Edwardian, Grade II listed St James’s Building, a few minutes’ walk from the Spinningfields business district. While the Grade II listed building may be stylish it sometimes shows its age. It’s “far too cold”, one recent graduate complains, while the library “sadly felt very reminiscent of my dingy sixth form library”, another hard-to-please student groans. Luckily, the quality of teaching staff is recommended by students, with some tutors being “excellent” and offering very focused prep for the exams. Just minutes away are shops and amenities, where students can stock up on fuel food for their library sessions. Students can also purchase meals and snacks from the campus canteen, or venture out to sample Manchester’s famous cultural offerings and nightlife.
Manchester is home to numerous law firms, including DLA Piper, Pinsent Masons, Eversheds Sutherland, DWF, Shoosmiths, Addleshaw Goddard and Squire Patton Boggs. Known also as a huge commercial centre, Manchester houses 65 of the FTSE 100 companies. So if a corporate legal career is your plan, you’ll be surrounded by all the right places. Chambers also fill the city, among them Exchange, Doughty Street, Nine St John Street, Deans Court and Kings Chambers.
Further north, BPP’s Leeds base is located in Whitehall Quay, with its courses delivered in a modern, glass-fronted study centre. It’s almost as if it was built in the style of its surrounding law firms! Neighbours here include DLA Piper, Pinsent Masons, Addleshaw Goddard, Irwin Mitchell, Eversheds Sutherland and Squire Patton Boggs. Just a stone’s throw away from the train station, city centre and numerous shops and eateries, the campus is very centrally located and offers plenty of options for study break activities. Students can also get involved in the Employment Law Telephone Advice Line (ELTAL), where they will answer initial employment law queries and refer potential clients to a solicitor. This is a “good opportunity to hone legal skills and learn more about new areas of law”, as per one student there.
Overall, BPP has remained a very reliable provider of postgraduate law courses, with a general reputation of offering its students good preparation for entering the world of legal practice. It may be primarily thanks to this strength that the City Consortium — composed of Freshfields, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells, Norton Rose Fulbright, Linklaters and Slaughter and May — chose to make their move to the SQE regime with BPP. The new course even includes a mini training contract experience with future trainees at the Consortium firms doing four seats at a virtual law firm covering the specialisms they are likely to encounter during their TCs! So, whilst the LPC gradually gives way to the SQE, the core qualities of BPP’s offering look set to go from strength to strength.
Courses
Law conversion courses
PGDL
This course was introduced as an alternative to the GDL, for those without law degrees who wish to embark on a career in law. It covers a range of core legal modules such as company law, contract law, criminal law, land law, public law, tort law, trusts law.
- Full-time (8 months): available in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, London Waterloo, Manchester, online
- Part-time (20 months): available in London Waterloo, online
- Cost: £15,200 London Waterloo, £12,100 outside London or online
SQE courses
SQE1 Preparation
This course is designed for students with an existing undergraduate law degree or law conversion course. It focuses on building the Functional Legal Knowledge (FLK) needed to pass SQE1, which includes contract, tort, criminal law, land law, trusts, as well as new concepts such as business law and practice, dispute resolution, criminal law and practice, property law and practice, and wills and the administration of estates. You can also take BPP’s SQE1 Preparation (Self-study) course which can be used to prepare for the SQE1 completely online and at your own pace.
- Full-time (4 months): available in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, London Holborn, Manchester, or online
- Part-time (9 months): available online
- Cost: £6,900 London Holborn, £5,800 outside London and online
SQE2 Preparation
This course is for those who have passed SQE1 and wish to proceed to SQE2. Unlike SQE1 Preparation, this course is only available online.
- Flexible structure: includes a period of independent study followed by an intensive 8-10 day coaching course
- Cost: £4,600
LLM SQE1&2
This course provides you with all the knowledge needed to pass SQE1 and SQE2. It includes SQE1 Preparation, SQE2 Training, as well as Essentials for Practice, a module which helps you to develop additional legal knowledge beyond the core SQE curriculum.
- Full-time (12 months): available in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, London Holborn, Manchester, or online
- Part-time (24 months): available online
- Cost: £16,700 London Holborn, £14,200 outside London and online
SQE1&2 Diploma
This course prepares you for both SQE exams.
- Full-time (8 months): available in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, London Holborn, Manchester, or online
- Part-time (16 months): available online
- Cost: £13,900 London Holborn, £11,800 outside London and online
Bar courses
BPP offers a range of Barrister Training Courses (BTCs):
- Barrister Training Course
- Barrister Training Course (Master’s)
- Barrister Training Course with Professional Legal Studies
- Barrister Training Course with Professional Legal Studies (Master’s)
Each one provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to qualify as a barrister and commence pupillage. These courses are assessed using a variety of methods, including Bar Standards Board (BSB) centralised assessments, coursework, and exams. They are also available at a variety of locations (see our locations tab for further information).
Barrister Training Course
- Full-time (9 months): available in Birmingham, Leeds, London Holborn, Manchester
- Part-time (24 months): available in London Holborn
- Cost: £17,700 (domestic) £19,000 (international) – London Holborn, £16,400 (domestic) £17,700 (international) – outside London
LLM Barrister Training Course (Master’s)
- Full-time (12 months): available in Birmingham, Leeds, London Holborn, Manchester
- Part-time (27 months): available in London Holborn
- Cost: £19,100 (domestic) £20,200 (international) – London Holborn, £17,300 (domestic) 18,400 (international) outside London
Barrister Training Course with Professional Legal Studies
- Full-time (12 months): available in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London Holborn, Manchester
- Cost: £17,400 (domestic) £20,200 (international) – London Holborn, £16,100 (domestic) £19,100 (international – outside London
Barrister Training Course with Professional Legal Studies (Masters)
- Full-time (12 months): available in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London Holborn, Manchester
- Cost: £18,700 (domestic) £21,600 (international) – London, £17,000 (domestic) £19,700 (international) – outside London
Locations
BPP University Law School currently has campuses at the following locations:
- Birmingham – all courses
- Bristol – all courses except for the Barrister Training Course (& Master’s)
- Cambridge – all courses except for the Barrister Training Courses
- Leeds – all courses
- London Holborn – all courses except for law conversion courses
- London Waterloo – only law conversion courses
- Manchester – all courses
- Online – all courses
Scholarships
Career Commitment Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to the most promising legal professionals.
Value: £2,000
Deadline: 11 August 2023
Dean of BPP Law School Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to high achieving students who can demonstrate an outstanding standard of academic achievement and commitment to their legal career
Value: full fee
Deadline: closed for September 2023 courses
Future Leader Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to those showcasing outstanding leadership skills or innovation ability, with the drive and ambition to become a future leader within the legal profession.
Value: full fee
Deadline: closed for September 2023 courses
Chancellor’s Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to those demonstrating a unique or inspiring legal career journey – overcoming obstacles or providing outstanding contribution to charitable causes.
Value: full fee
Deadline: closed for September 2023 courses
Macfarlanes BPP Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to one student from a lower socio-economic background who is interested in pursuing a career in law.
Value: full fee
Deadline: closed for September 2023 courses
BTC Advocacy Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to BTC applicants who demonstrate outstanding potential in the core skill of advocacy.
Value: £2,000
Deadline: 11 August 2023
BTC Excellence Scholarships
This scholarship is awarded to all BTC students with a first-class undergraduate degree.
Value: £1,000
Deadline: N/A
AS Foundation Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to prospective solicitors from low-income backgrounds.
Value: £5,000
Deadline: N/A
Diversity Access Scheme
This scholarship is awarded to around 10 students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Value: up to full fee
Deadline: closed for September 2023 courses
International Postgraduate Bursary
This scholarship is awarded to international students with a first-class honours degree.
Value: £1,000
Deadline: N/A
Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship and Pro Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to BPP undergraduates with an outstanding ambassadorial approach during their time at BPP.
Value: full fee
Deadline: closed for September 2023 courses