How to:

get a QLD
and pursue a
career in law
Entry into the
legal profession in
England and Wales
This currently involves three stages of
training for both intending solicitors and
barristers: Academic stage; Vocational
training stage; practical training
stage. The University of London LLB is
recognised as the completion of the
academic stage of legal training in
England and Wales, and is therefore a
Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) provided
that certain specific conditions are met:
2 How to get a QLD and pursue a career in law
Your entire course of study must not
exceed six years, including any period
of study for which credit transfer
or recognition of prior learning has
been awarded. The six year period
will commence from the November
preceding the May/June or October in
which you sit your first examination.
You must pass examinations in the
compulsory modules of the QLD
pathway. If you wish to graduate with
an LLB that is a Qualifying Law Degree
you need to make decisions year by
year. The structure below shows what
these decisions are for the Standard and
Graduate Routes.
Standard Entry Route Graduate Entry Route
Qualifying Law Degree Qualifying Law Degree
Level 4 Level 4
Four compulsory modules Three compulsory modules
Contract law Criminal law
Criminal law Contract law
Legal system and method Public law
Public law Level 5
Level 5 Three compulsory modules
Three compulsory modules Equity and Trusts
Equity and Trusts EU law
EU law Tort law
Tort law Level 6
One optional module chosen from: Two compulsory modules
Administrative law Jurisprudence and legal theory
Commercial law Property law
Family law One optional module chosen from:
International protection of human rights Civil and criminal procedure
Level 6 Company law
Two compulsory modules Conflict of laws
Jurisprudence and legal theory Criminology
Property law Dissertation
Two optional modules chosen from: Evidence
Civil and criminal procedure Intellectual property
Company law Introduction to Islamic law
Conflict of laws Labour law
Criminology Public international law
Dissertation
Satisfactory completion of the academic
Evidence
stage of legal training does not guarantee
Intellectual property automatic admission to the vocational
Introduction to Islamic law stage of training. For example, entry
requirements will relate closely to
Labour law your classification and results from
Public international law the academic stage of your studies.

londoninternational.ac.uk/llb 3
Vocational stage of
training for a solicitor:
Under current arrangements, once
you have your degree you will need to
complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC).
The LPC is a postgraduate professional
qualification which focuses on the skills
and knowledge required to practise as a
solicitor. The course can be completed in
one year full time or two years part time.
Practical stage of
training for a solicitor:
Once you have passed the LPC you
will need to complete a two year
period of recognised training and
pass the Professional Skills Course.
Further information about training to be
a solicitor can be found here:
sra.org.uk/students/students.page
Please note that from 2020 the Solicitors
Regulation Authority intends to introduce
a new approach to qualifying as a solicitor
that will involve a centralised examination
called the Solicitors Qualifying
Examination (SQE). However, the SRA has
said that there will be a transition period
of up to ten years for those currently
in the process of qualification. You are
nevertheless advised to keep up to date
with developments by visiting the SRA
website on a regular basis. A set of FAQs
about the SQE can be found here:
sra.org.uk/sra/policy/training-for-
tomorrow/resources/sqe-questions-
answers.page
4 How to get a QLD and pursue a career in law
Vocational stage
for a barrister:
The next step after your degree is
completing the Bar Professional Training
Course (BPTC). The BPTC can be studied
full time in one year or part time over
two years at some providers. In common
with the LPC, the BPTC prepares you for
practice by focusing on core skills and
knowledge areas. It is primarily a practical
course including plenty of advocacy and
roleplaying, as well as exercises in drafting
legal documents and writing opinions.
Before you can begin the BPTC course,
however, you must successfully pass the
Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT). The
BCAT tests students critical thinking
and reasoning, the core skills required
for the BPTC. The aim of the BCAT is to
ensure that those undertaking the BPTC
have the required skills to succeed. In
addition to passing the BCAT you need
to join one of the Inns of Court. There are
four of these professional associations:
The Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn
The Honourable Society of the
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of Grays Inn
Practical stage
for a barrister:
Once you have passed the BPTC you
will need to complete a 12 month period
of pupillage with a set of chambers.
Although you will be a fully qualified
barrister (and called to the Bar) on passing
the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC),
pupillage is essential for all those who
wish to practise. Without completing
this year, you will not be able to secure a
permanent place within a set of chambers.
Further information about training to be a
barrister can be found here:
barstandardsboard.org.uk/qualifying-
as-a-barrister/
Please note that in common with the
Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Bar
Standards Board is also considering new
routes to qualification as a barrister in
addition to the traditional route. You are
advised to keep up to date with the latest
developments by regularly visiting the
Future Bar Training page at:
barstandardsboard.org.uk/qualifying-
as-a-barrister/future-bar-training/
future-ways-to-qualify-as-a-barrister/
londoninternational.ac.uk/llb
Practising Law outside
England & Wales
If you intend to practise law in a
country other than England and Wales
we recommend that you contact
the appropriate legal professional
accreditation body to find out if the
University of London LLB by distance
learning satisfies the entry requirements
for entry into the legal profession. When
you enquire you should give details
regarding the modules you are intending
to study. We recommend that you ask for
confirmation in writing that the University
of London degree will be accepted.
Please be aware that the LLB degree
obtained through the Graduate Entry
Routes is not recognised for entry into the
legal profession in some jurisdictions.
The requirements set down by the
professional body can be subject to
change at any time during your studies.
Therefore it is important that you continue
to check for any updates or changes
to the requirements that affect you.
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