The Legal Cheek View
Breaking onto the scene in 2015, co-founded by husband and wife duo Eve and Dino Dullabh, Law Training Centre (LTC) is a relatively new name in the education field. The provider is perhaps best known for its Chartered Legal Executive and Licensed Conveyancer courses, as well as its work in helping prepare candidates to sit professional qualifications in conveyancing and probate.
LTC has, however, entered the SQE prep course market with an entirely online offering. Students can choose from a range of courses for both SQE1 and SQE2, the provider offering 15-month packages, alongside express courses, and mock paper bundles.
The price of the SQE1 Full Prep course and the SQE2 companion falls at the more affordable end of the market. For those who have already completed an SQE1 course with LTC, there is also an alumni concession available towards their SQE2 course.
As part of the standard SQE packages, students receive unlimited attendance to workshops, both live and recorded, which run twice a month, as well as access to a virtual learning platform where they can get to grips with both foundation legal knowledge and client care skills.
Budding solicitors also have access to a personal academic coach, a personal study plan, pre-recorded video lectures and access to tutors (many of whom are lawyers) covering specific practice areas. LTC also provide solicitor hopefuls with support materials including flashcards, practice questions and revision guides. It has also teamed up with Oxford University Press to give students access to legal textbooks via Law Trove. In addition, students will have access to the Thomson Reuters Practical Law online resource.
Beyond all of this, the full package provides a ‘Passplus Guarantee’ which gives students access to training materials and online support for one additional resit, should they require it, ensuring that you’re not left high and dry if things don’t go to plan the first time around.
One student we spoke to about their experience with LTC highlighted the flexibility that the programmes offer (being carried out entirely remotely, with a 15-month window of access). “Working in a full-time role, the traditional in-person teaching simply wasn’t an option for me and didn’t offer the flexibility and efficiency that I needed”, she recalls. “Not only do I not need to travel anywhere to study, but I can vary my schedule each week to suit my needs, depending on whether I have more or less time.”
But for those worried that this online platform may leave would-be lawyers to their own devices without support, fear not. “LTC offered me phenomenal support throughout my programme,” a former student tells us. “My tutor almost always responded the same day, and the longest I ever had to wait was two days to have my questions answered.” Even when dealing with non-legal queries, such as navigating the online platform, “there is always someone at the end of the phone or by email who is there to talk you through whatever issue you’re having. I have to say that the tech support is truly excellent, and nothing is too much trouble for them.”
The social and pastoral side is also a significant part of building what one student describes as an “incredible experience”. “We’re like one big family” they tell us. “LTC really look after their students, and we have Whatsapp and Facebook groups to support each other, which creates a global network of students.” We even hear that co-founder Eve personally checks in on students and tutors to ensure the LTC ship is running smoothly.
As for the work itself, one student couldn’t be more complementary. “You get a whole lot more than just ‘here’s a book or manual, go away and read it and answer the questions’, you get a clear and in-depth explanation of what you are learning, why you’re learning it, and the common errors that are made.”
Whilst the nature of the online, remote, learning makes initiatives such as law clinics and networking more challenging, we’re told that students do regularly network online over Zoom or Teams.
Those considering, or already set on, studying with LTC should also consider their scholarship and bursary opportunities.