CoL to launch combined LLM/LPC with international focus

The College of Law (CoL) will provide a programme which combines Legal Practice Course (LPC) and Master of Laws (LLM) qualifications from 2013. The move has been interpreted as part of the CoL's policy to increase the international focus of its courses.

The new LLM/LPC will charge the same fees as a standard LPC and will also take the same length of time (one year) to complete. As reported by RollOnFriday and The Lawyer, students will be able to turn their LPC into an LLM/LPC by undertaking three extra electives and a dissertation. The LLM component includes eight international options, which focus on the legal mechanics of multi-jurisdictional transactions. Those students who choose three international options will graduate with an LLM in International Legal Practice LPC. Those who select any other combination of electives will be awarded an LLM in Legal Practice LPC. All students who choose to add an LLM qualification to their LPC will certainly have to put in many extra hours on top of an already intense workload.

Sarah Hutchinson, the board member for business development at CoL, said: "We are not insisting that all students have an international focus - students continue to have the ability to select their own electives. But a very high proportion of training contracts are in commercial practice, that's a reality. Whether you're working in a regional practice or in the City in a Magic Circle firm, your clients will be multinational. International work is no longer the preserve of the top 10 law firms. It's high time that legal education reflected that trend."