Reed Smith and BPP announce combined 'LPC with business' MA

International law firm Reed Smith has joined forces with BPP Law School to launch a bespoke MA qualification, to be piloted in September 2012, which integrates the LPC with business learning. The programme was designed following the Solicitors Regulation Authority's (SRA's) move to allow more flexibility in how core LPC content can be taught, and will aim to prepare students with the legal and commercial knowledge necessary for a training contract with Reed Smith.

The Legal Practice Course with Business MA will teach the LPC in parallel with several business modules, with the aim of helping students to develop the commercial awareness that is so important for City lawyers. The commercial modules also include a business consultancy project based on a real-life scenario, which aims to help students develop an early understanding of Reed Smith's clients and their respective sectors.

Peter Hardy, Reed Smith's training principal, said: "This innovative new course means that, for the first time in the legal sector, future trainees will complete all the LPC topics with the full business context alongside them in one year. It's also a fantastic opportunity for future trainees to learn about our clients' sectors. Getting out to clients on the masters' projects, in advance of joining the firm, will also provide them with valuable insight and help them experience their commercial realities first hand. It's this business mindset which our clients, and we as their legal advisers, require."