Leading universities stick with LPC, but Hertfordshire suspends course amidst SQE uncertainty

The University of Hertfordshire has suspended its Legal Practice Course (LPC) in response to the proposed changes to legal education and training currently being considered by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), but other leading universities have said that they intend to stick with the LPC despite ongoing uncertainty.  

The proposal is to introduce a Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) that all solicitors would have to take at the point of qualification – which some believe would mean the end of the LPC. The SQE would be open to all qualifiers, including those who have not gained undergraduate degrees, while the SRA has also said that the SQE could be integrated into university law degrees. However, an eminent law academic has argued that the LPC would probably continue to be offered, especially by top universities, partly due to its popularity among the leading commercial firms.  

Amidst the continuing uncertainty, the University of Hertfordshire has decided to suspend its LPC and rework its law degree syllabus in anticipation of SQE going ahead, telling Lawyer2B: “We don’t feel we can charge £12,000 for a course that might not be valid in 2018.” However, other universities have not followed suit, arguing that the LPC will remain relevant regardless of whether SQE is introduced or not – the Law Society Gazette reports that these include the University of Law, BPP Law School, Nottingham Law School, City Law School, the University of Lancashire and the University of Wesminster.

Andrea Nollent, provost and chief academic officer at the University of Law, said: “We are currently reviewing our programmes to be able to deliver courses for the new SQE, including a more modular or flexible option, for study either on a free-standing basis, or in conjunction with an adapted LPC, driven by students and law firm preference.”