LLM Legal Practice (SQE 1 and 2) Part Time

Entry year:
2025/26
Start date:
September
Study mode:
Part-time
Course duration:
24 months
Campus:
Mount Pleasant

Why study this course with LJMU?

  • Focuses on dedicated SQE exam preparation
  • Designed in conjunction with the BARBRI (the largest provider of legal learning)
  • Tests your legal knowledge and skills throughout, practicing multiple choice questions set to replicate the SQE 1 exams.
  • Opportunities to work with real clients and shadow solicitors in LJMU’s Legal Advice Centre
  • Develops your Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) portfolio
  • Practical, skill-based modules to equip you for a successful legal career
  • Independently research your areas of legal interest by way of dissertation
  • Option to study Full Time

About this course

The part time Masters in Legal Practice (SQE 1 and 2) is designed to enhance your academic understanding of the law and to develop your practical legal skills, equipping you to undertake both components of the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE 1 and 2) in order to move towards qualifying as a solicitor.

This is a practice-based programme, building on the functioning legal knowledge required to pass the SQE 1 assessments, enabling you to engage in application and workplace simulation; as well as develop the skills and competence required for ‘day one’ of legal practice.

Our primary goal is to guide your progression toward becoming a solicitor, with a strong focus on SQE exam preparation to ensure a smooth transition into your legal career. We offer comprehensive learning materials, resources, and diagnostic testing to support both SQE1 and SQE2 exams. 

The programme is developed with BARBRI, a trusted legal educator that specialises in innovative technology, having helped more than 1.4 million students and professionals succeed in achieving their legal qualification across the globe. Their approach to preparation for solicitor qualification combines ultimate flexibility and individualised learning through an intelligent online learning platform which schedules the learning content into your own Personal Study Plan (PSP).  

Upon completion, you will have earned a modern LLM, started building your Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) portfolio, and be well-prepared to enter the legal profession in England and Wales.

The Rice-Jones Trust Scholarship

The Rice-Jones Charitable Trust was set by an individual who wanted to benefit postgraduate law students studying in the North West of England. The individual's late husband and father were both lawyers, and this inspired her to help students who show academic promise and a commitment to the legal profession, but who may not necessarily have the financial support to undertake their studies.

The Rice-Jones Charitable Trust is registered at the Charity Commission with registration number 1171890. Click here for full details.

The Rice-Jones Charitable Trust Scholarship is available to applicants who have accepted a place to study on a postgraduate law course, including but not limited to the Graduate Diploma in Law, the Legal Practice Course, the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, the Bar Professional Training Course or the Master’s in law.

The amount offered and purpose for which the Scholarship award is offered is at the absolute discretion of The Rice-Jones Charitable Trust and may vary per individual. A successful applicant may be in receipt of a grant of up to £20,000. 

The deadline for applications is 31 March 2025. Apply using this form, any queries please contact the email address in the form.

Course modules

Discover the building blocks of your programme

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

Optional modules

Your Learning Experience

An insight into teaching on your course

To further personalise your learning, this Masters offers two optional pathways:

  • Option one is a dissertation allowing you to independently research your specialised area of law
  • Option two is the Clinical Legal Research Project, where you will work directly with real clients, under the supervision of experienced solicitors. You will provide practical legal advice, mirroring the work you'll undertake during your two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE).

Teaching is delivered primarily through student centred workshops, lectures and extensive learning materials, assessments and diagnostic tools provided by BARBRI.

The part time course requires 1 full day p/w face to face teaching (seminars and lectures) with an expectation of independent study outside of this time.

Those who opt for the Clinical Legal Research Project module will be expected to commit at least 2 days p/w over 12 weeks in the Legal Advice Centre for the duration of this module.

How learning is monitored on your programme

To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.

The course assessments are designed to both evaluate and enhance your readiness for the SQE, while offering valuable opportunities for constructive feedback. Formative feedback is provided in all modules.

A variety of assessment methods will be deployed throughout the programme, including problem-solving exercises, practice-based projects, case studies, research-based projects, literature reviews, group presentations, group and individual reports, reflective reviews, class tests.

Testing of the legal knowledge and skills is through multiple choice questions (MCQs, replicating the external SQE 1 assessments) as well as written and oral skills being demonstrated and assessed in 'real life' scenarios (replicating the external SQE 2 assessments). In addition to this students will be expected to undertake portfolios of work which will supplement these replica SQE assessments in order to put their knowledge and skills into context.

The Clinical Legal Research Project and the Dissertation are in addition to the SQE prep modules and are assessed by way of a portfolio of client based work or by way of a large piece of writing.

Course tutors

Career paths

Further your career prospects

LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.

The Foundations of Legal Knowledge- SQE 1 and 2 modules closely reflect real-world legal practice. They focus on practical, 'real-life' scenarios that students are likely to encounter in their future legal careers.

Modules are structured to simulate the types of cases and legal challenges faced by solicitors, helping students develop the skills and problem-solving abilities required in practice.

For students choosing the Clinical Legal Research Project, the experience extends even further into practical application. Students will work directly with real clients, under the supervision of experienced solicitors. The legal work completed during this project may count toward the Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) requirement, depending on the nature of the tasks performed and the number of hours logged. This option provides a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience and potentially progress toward solicitor qualification while still in the academic phase of their training.

Tuition fees and funding

Home part-time per year:
£5,785

Fees

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus wifi.

Financial Support

There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages. The University offers a range of financial support for students. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist financial support pages including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.

Additional Costs

In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:

  • Accommodation
  • Travel costs and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
  • Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire

Entry requirements

You will need:

Qualification requirements

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

LAWCABS is the official application route for this programme. Further information on the application process can be found here Your Law Career Starts Here | Central Applications Board .

LAWCABS is the official application route for this programme.

Please visit lawcabs.ac.uk and search for the Liverpool John Moores Legal Practice LLM SQE 1 and 2 Part Time.

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