MA Law (Conversion) - Full-time

Our new MA Law (Conversion) will be the new pathway into practice for non-law graduates who want to either progress onto our LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) or the SQE1 Preparation Course to qualify as a solicitor or the Bar Practice Course (BPC) to qualify as a barrister, from October 2021.

This course is subject to approval.

MA Law (Conversion)

The Master of Arts in Law conversion course is a specially designed postgraduate degree for non-law graduates who want to gain a general legal qualification at the Master’s level. As an internationally recognised qualification, a Law Master’s is a great addition to your portfolio. With a strong level of support from the start, this course is a great introduction to law if you hold an undergraduate degree in another discipline. Successful completion of the MA Law (Conversion) qualifies you to progress on to study the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) to become a solicitor or the Bar Practice Course (BPC) to become a barrister.

Master’s qualification

Designed for non-law graduates who want to stand out to employers, study the law at Master’s level and gain an internationally recognised qualification.

Independent Project

Progress on to become a solicitor or barrister in the UK and explore an issue or development in the law of your choice via your own Independent Research Project.

Our Tutors

All our law tutors are qualified lawyers with real-life experience in practice allowing students to learn in a realistic, professional and contemporary context.

Course Details

Designed specifically for non-law graduates who want to gain a legal qualification at Master’s level, our MA Law (Conversion) gives you the opportunity to learn the practical legal skills of analysis and critical evaluation, alongside a range of transferable skills such as research and presentation skills, in a practical and interactive way. To ensure that you have a smooth transition from your previous non-law studies, we’ve designed this course to include a pre-course programme where you will be able to get support in learning about legal methods. This compulsory addition to the course means that you will be ready to get started on your legal studies as soon as the course begins.

Our structured course is delivered by qualified lawyers either face-to-face on campus or online. On completion of the course, you’ll have the opportunity to progress your studies to become a solicitor or barrister in the UK, whilst obtaining a Master’s award, which will be highly attractive to employers in a variety of disciplines. This course is a perfect choice if you wish to keep your career options open.

When you study the MA Law with us you will:

• Be taught by subject matter experts, former and current practitioners and research and teaching focused academics.
• Focus on legal practice, not just theory.
• Benefit from strategic partnerships with firms, regulators and accreditation bodies.
• Improve your employability by gaining important transferable skills and mapping your career with our careers team.

We also work with over 90 of the top 100 law firms.

If you choose to progress onto study one of our SQE courses or BPC, you will also benefit from our excellent employment and pupillage rates:

• 94% of postgraduate students in employment were in Highly Skilled Occupations 15 months after graduating (2018/19 Graduate Outcomes data). Contains HESA Data © HESA 2021).
• 52% of our full-time UK/EEA 2018-19 BPC students graduating in 2019 have successfully secured or completed pupillage (based on student data collated in summer 2021).

Course Structure

Pre-course study programme

Before you start your MA Law (Conversion) you will need to complete our online pre-course study programme on legal methods, designed specifically to prepare you for this course, so you're up to speed when you arrive.

Foundation modules

There are seven key areas that you’ll study over the course:

• Public Law
• European Union Law
• Criminal Law
• Tort
• Contract Law
• Land Law
• Equity and Trusts Law

Independent Research Project Module

Study the principles of legal research, critical evaluation and academic writing before undertaking your own independent research project.

Course Information

Assessment

Assessed through a Multiple Choice Question open book exam, closed-book exams and an Independent Research Project.

Structure

Each of our MA Law (Conversion) study options has its own structure, with different assessments to suit.

Course Requirements

UK Entry Requirements

• Students are required to possess a 2:2 or above from an undergraduate degree in any discipline or equivalent qualifications.

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English

• An English Language level equivalent to IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.

How to Apply

• Applications for this course are open.
• If you’d like to study full-time you can apply through the Central Applications Board (CAB).

Duration

• 50 weeks for September intakes
• 53 weeks for January intakes

The SQE Explained

From September 2021, the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) will be phased in to become the new centralised way to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. It will eventually replace the current route to practice – the Legal Practice Course (LPC).

94% Employed

94% of postgraduate students in employment were in Highly Skilled Occupations 15 months after graduating (2017/18 Graduate Outcomes data).

Choice of Courses

With a range of SQE courses, locations and flexible study options, we will prepare you for your career as a solicitor, as well as SQE exam success.

More than SQE

Alongside our careers support, you’ll work in our virtual law firm, with our expert tutors, and develop knowledge and skills beyond the SQE.

Your Route to Becoming a Solicitor

You can continue with the current Legal Practice Course (LPC) route if, before 1 September 2021, you complete, start, accept an offer, or pay a non-refundable deposit for one of the following:

• A Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) / the Common Professional Examination
• Our MA Law
• The Legal Practice Course (LPC)
• A period of recognised training (also known as a training contract)

For a qualifying law degree (QLD) and exempting law degree (ELD), such as our LLB, you must complete, start, accept an offer or pay a non-refundable deposit by 21 September 2021.

In most cases, for the qualifying law degree (QLD), exempting law degree (ELD) and CPE, the relevant course must start at the latest on or before 31 December 2021.

If you have already started a qualifying law degree, Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or training contract there are transition arrangements in place until 31 December 2032 to qualify as a solicitor under the current routes, as long as courses still remain available.

Alternatively, we’ve developed a range of new courses that will prepare you for a career as a solicitor, as well as SQE success.

Frequently Asked Questions

We understand you may be uncertain about how the SQE could affect you. Don’t worry, we’re here to ensure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision about your future.

What is the SQE?

The SQE will be the centralised assessment for anyone who wants to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. It will be part of a new, four-stage route to becoming a solicitor:

• A degree (or equivalent) in any subject
• Pass SQE1 and SQE2 assessments
• A minimum of two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)
• Show you are of satisfactory character and suitability

What does the SQE involve?

The SQE has been divided into two parts – SQE1 and SQE2.

In SQE1 you will be tested on ‘functioning legal knowledge’ which tests your application of law based on realistic client-based scenarios in multiple-choice questions. The assessments will cover subjects you will have studied on a law degree or a conversion course, as well as the vocational practice areas in stage 1 of the LPC. There will be two lengthy multiple-choice papers of 180 questions each, covering all aspects of the SQE1 syllabus. You must pass SQE1 before being eligible to sit the SQE2 assessments.

In SQE2 you will be tested on the practical legal skills required for practice, including:

• Interviewing (with written attendance note/legal analysis)
• Advocacy
• Legal research
• Legal drafting
• Legal writing
• Case and matter analysis

What is the Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)?

Under the new route, you will need to complete a minimum of two years’ Qualifying Work Experience before you can qualify as a solicitor.

Qualifying Work Experience is similar to a training contract and can be completed at any point during the qualification process (although it is anticipated that most students will complete this after SQE1).

Qualifying Work Experience may be completed with up to four different legal employers. The type of work which qualifies as Qualifying Work Experience includes placements while studying for your degree, time spent as a paralegal or working in a law clinic, as well as working for a two year period with a single law firm.

All Qualifying Work Experience is signed off by the legal employer, who must be a solicitor, and is usually also the compliance officer.

If you have already completed part of the required Qualifying Work Experience, such as through a Pro Bono placement, it will be up to individual law firms to decide how they accept your previous work experience. On obtaining Qualifying Work Experience at a law firm, you might be required to complete the entire two year period of Qualifying Work Experience with them, if that is what they require for practice at that firm.

Will I have to complete a training contract?

No, if you do the SQE, you will not be required to complete a training contract. In order to qualify with the SQE route, you will need to complete two years of Qualifying Work Experience instead.

How much will the SQE assessments cost?

In addition to tuition fees, students will pay exam fees directly to the SRA. The total cost for taking both SQE assessments will be £3,980.

• SQE1: £1,558 for the two examinations, consisting of 180 questions each, testing functioning legal knowledge.
• SQE2: £2,422 for the written and oral tasks, testing both practical legal knowledge and skills, including advocacy, client interviewing (with written attendance note/legal analysis), legal research, legal writing, legal drafting, and case and matter analysis.

The SRA has not confirmed a cost to re-sit the SQE. It is likely that the re-sit will cost the same as a first attempt.

If I start a course can I switch to the SQE later?

Yes. If you have chosen to study the LPC during the transitional period, you will be able to sit the SQE exams in the future if you wish. Although this is unlikely to be necessary if you pass the LPC as you can continue to qualify under the current route.

If you have chosen to study the GDL or MA Law, you will be able to select either route on completion of your programme.

Do I have to do the SQE?

If you’re already studying or training you can continue to qualify through the existing routes. For example:

I’ve started a qualifying law degree.

• Current route: if you’re currently studying for an LLB or other qualifying law degree, or you plan to start in September 2021, you’ll be able to continue on to the LPC, whether or not you have a training contract. Our LPC will run until at least 2026.
• SQE route: you could do the new LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2), which starts in August 2021, or you could do our new SQE preparation courses.

I’m doing a non-law degree and I’ll graduate in Summer 2021.

• Current route: if you’re planning to start a GDL or MA Law conversion course in September 2021, you can continue to the LPC, which will run until at least 2026.
• SQE route: you also have the choice of our new PGDL or MA Law (SQE1) conversion courses. Both will give you access to the new LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2). Or you could do our new SQE preparation courses.

I’m doing a non-law degree and I’ll graduate in Summer 2022 or later.

• You’ll qualify on the SQE route. We recommend that you apply for one of our new law conversion courses – PGDL or MA Law (SQE1) or MA Law (Conversion) – and then the new LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2). Or you could do our new SQE preparation courses.

Webinar: SQE or LPC

In this webinar, you’ll find out about the different routes available to qualify as a solicitor and how to decide which route is best for you and your career.

This is the transcript of the webinar that was recorded in October 2020.

Our SQE Courses

Whether you’re a law or non-law graduate, want to study full-time, part-time, on-campus or online, we have the right course for you. We offer a wide range of SQE courses from Master’s with SQE1 and SQE2 included, to short revision courses to help you get ready for your SQE exams.

Our SQE Support

We’re committed to your legal career, as well as SQE success. From our award-winning Employability and Careers Service, to help to fund your studies, we’ll support you every step of the way.