University of Sheffield (LPC)
The Legal Cheek View
With a third of the city sitting inside the Peak District, Sheffield has more trees per head than any other city in Europe. Famous for its moorlands, the stunning rural landscapes nearby include rivers, valleys and old forests. So if you’re a wannabe lawyer who also enjoys the outdoors, the LPC at the University of Sheffield could be for you.
The Northern law school gets student praise for its “great staff and teaching”. Our LPC spies tell us that tutors are “really supportive”, as well as “relaxed” and “personable”. The university doesn’t take on many students, so “it’s easy to access one-to-one support” and teachers “all know you individually”. LPCers make the most of the low tutor-student ratio: “I knew I’d get one-to-one help if I needed it. Everybody knows who you are because it’s a small friendly course”.
LPCers say it’s “a real shame” that Sheffield doesn’t enjoy the same reputation in the law school market as some larger law schools. It delivers a high quality LPC, one student says, which “does more than coach you through the exams”. It gives students “a real insight into life as a solicitor”, another reports.
The only real moan is that teaching can feel like “organised chaos at times”. One LPC student says they “just need to be more organised with results and communication with students”. So you may have to do a bit more chasing if you want feedback.
Course materials cover the LPC well. “Every module came with everything you needed”, we’re told. However, not everything goes to plan: It “wasn’t nice finding out that the Private Client Book we were given didn’t cover everything [they] wanted us to know half way through the module”. Hopefully they’ve sorted this out by now.
Despite the lower LPC fees, the study spaces are functional and “great”. LPCers appreciate that there’s a private postgraduate space. They don’t like, however, that they “had to share with GDL students” who tell them “how easy the LPC is”. They might change their mind next year…
For the most part, the careers team does its job: “Over half the people in my class didn’t have training contracts and they spoke highly of the careers service”. Students also say they “get sent a paralegal role once a week”, although that it could be “100 miles away”.
Not everyone gets told what they wanted to hear: “After getting a 2:2 as an undergrad I was advised not to bother applying for TC/Vac schemes. Applied anyway and got further than other students with higher grades”. Kudos! Perhaps a strong record of work experience made up for it.
Pro bono opportunities are reportedly great. An LPC insider tells us you’re “given many options to improve [your] CV”. But note that you might not have too much time to do extra-curricular activities “what with all the LPC work”. Plan your time wisely in order to get the most out of what’s on offer at the law school.
Social life at Sheffield involves the “luck of the draw”. You’ll be “assigned one group for the whole core modules” so it’s a good idea to try get along. One LPCer tells us: “I was lucky and my group was great but I heard stories of other groups not talking and being antisocial”. Don’t forget to say hi!
If you get hungry, “Bart House’s café is the stuff of legends”. Located inside the law school building, Bartolomé Café serves its famous bowl food with a “bowl lot of love”. Going at £3.95, these are very popular at lunchtime and beyond. Hot drinks for £1 are also wallet-friendly.
Key Info
Part-time fees are paid annually over two years.