Law or non-law?

The following is a general guide to the kind of routes which you as a law graduate may follow whether of a legal or non-legal nature. There are a number of alternative careers which you could follow with a law degree. They are as follows: -

• Paralegal work

• Legal Executive work

• Licensed conveyancing

• The Bar

• Work as a legal clerk or assistant

• Court Reporting

• Accountancy, Tax, Finance, Insurance, Management Consultancy, Civil Service, Journalism, lecturing and Research

If you are a graduate of other disciplines, or someone who is eligible on the basis of work experience and/or other relevant non-graduate qualifications, before you embark on a legal career you will need to undertake the Common Professional Examination course (the CPE).
This a one year course if taken full-time, and a two year course if taken by part-time study. It is offered at Staffordshire University and entails the study of the seven core subjects of legal knowledge which are: Contract; Tort;  Criminal Law; Equity and Trusts; Public Law; EC Law; and Land law. A further 8th Subject, either Employment Law or Social Welfare law (or a subejct chosen by the student and approved) is studied independently.

There are lots of myths about law careers. The main one is that entry to the legal profession - or into law-related careers requiring (or assisted by) a legal qualification - means that you need to spend years studying for a law degree 3 years full-time, or longer by part-time study), then a lot of vocational training.

This is not so. If you are already a graduate (or have other relevant entry qualifications), the Common Professional Examination (CPE) can be taken very quickly. On completion it gives you the same "outcome" for the purposes of completing the preliminary stage of legal training (and entry into the profession) as a LLB Degree - but in a much shorter period of time.

The CPE can also assist the other "routes" into the legal profession, as well as giving an award that recognises the important skills and attributes that employers want to see. These, too, offer exemptions, and "fast-tracks" to law qualifications. The more recent arrivals on the scene are the new generation of para-legal and legal executive qualifications - some of which have been tailored specifically for graduates, and those with the CPE qualification.

The CPE award offers a range of important exemptions from a variety of vocational qualifications, and not just legal professional qualifications. For example, it gives exemptions from legal elements of requirements for membership of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, the Institute of Patent Agents, and other professional bodies, offering career routes which involve the law. From the employer's perspective, non-law graduates who go on to obtain the CPE offer a great deal. As well as the law qualifications it carries (the GDL and LLB (CPE)), the person may have an important specialist expertise gained from the previous degree or experience - for example in disciplines like computing, science, business, and languages.

The awards we give a CPE graduate are also indicators of valuable skills and "competences" valued by employers, whether in Law or non-Law employment. In the current major growth areas of legal practice, including intellectual property law, consumer rights, the environment, employment, and social welfare law, such graduates offer a lot more than just a knowledge of "the law".

For that reason CPE graduates do particularly well in the law jobs market, and in vocations where a law qualification is building on other non-Law qualifications or expertise.

The CPE programme consists of seven "Foundation" subjects of the law. Namely, Contract, Law of Torts, Criminal Law, Land Law, Equity & Trusts, Constitutional and Administrative Law, and EC Law. In addition, a further subject must be taken. At Staffordshire this is either Social Welfare Law and Practice or Employment Law; and students may also select a subject of their own choice which is then approved. At our Worcester College franchise (Worcester Law School) the 8th subject is Employment Law.

The full-time course is short. After an Induction course for a week in September, which includes lectures, library-based and IT work, and court visits, the programme lasts for two semesters until April - after which there is an exam assessment period in April/May. Assessment is by an exam in the seven "Foundation" subjects; two skills-based assignments (3000 words in total); and an assignment for the 8th Subject (5000 words).
 
The part-time course can be taken by part-time day study, or by part-time evening attendance (involving attendance on up to two evenings a week in Semesters 1 and 2). The evening route is popular, as it enables people to pursue work and other commitments during the day. Instead of completing in one year part-timers (on both modes) take four subjects in each year of a two-year programme.

The Awards
On completion, CPE graduates receive
• a Certificate of Completion of the Academic Stage of Legal Training (from the Bar and Law Society)
• the Graduate Diploma in Law (the standard award given by CPE providers)
• the LLB (CPE).

The Staffordshire CPE: Other Features
On completion, students who successfully pass the CPE, and wish to progress to the Solicitors profession, have the benefit of a secured place on the Legal Practice Course at Staffordshire University, and enjoy a preferential LPC fee structure. They can also participate in a "mentoring" programme. This provides a guaranteed placement with a law firm, which can be commenced while still undertaking their CPE studies. Among other things, this can facilitate further work experience placements, and undoubtedly assists “employability” after the programme has ended.

The CPE has a number of other distinctive advantages for non-law graduates and those who have entered the programme on the basis of previous experience or other acceptable non-graduate qualifications. Public and private sector employers favour CPE graduates as people who have a lot to offer as employees - as can be seen from Graduate Careers Service (AGPAS) publications like ‘Your Career…What Next?’ and their information booklet ‘Legal Profession’. The University's careers Service will also be able to advise, and refer you to further sources of information and websites on the subject. Why not come to one of the "open days" for non-law graduates held throughout the year at the Law School, Leek Road, Staffordshire University site!

If you are applying for the CPEfull-time courseyou may contact the CPE Award Manager at the Law School for information (Keith Puttick: k.a.puttick@staffs.ac.uk). An application will will need to be made on-line via the CPE Central Applications Board. Forms and information are available at this site: www.lawcabs.ac.uk

The CPE Central Applications Board address is:

P.O. Box84
Guildford
Surrey
GU3 1YX
Tel: 01483-451080             
www.lawcabs.ac.uk

For the CPEpart-time courseyou should apply directly to the CPE/GDL Award Manager, Law School, Staffordshire University, Leek Road, Stoke on-Trent Staffordshire ST4 2DF or to CPE Admissions, Student Admissions Department, Staffordshire University, Leek Road, Stoke on-Trent Staffordshire ST4 2DF.

Application Form. You can obtain an application form by contacting Student Admissions at the University (tel. 01782-294000).

You can obtain an application form from the Law department and the Careers Office, or alternatively, from the Legal Practice Course Central Applications Board at the following address:

P.O. Box 84
Guildford
Surrey
GU3 1YX
Tel:  01483-301282       
www.lawcabs.ac.uk

The course is available on a part-time/fulltime basis, please click on the Legal Practice Course icon above for fuller, in-depth information on the course here at Staffordshire.
Note that the application form for the LPC requires a choice of three institutions at which you want to study and the particular reasons for your first choice. The form will also ask you how you will be funding your time on the course. Don't forget you will need a reference and once the form is completed, you send it to the Central Applications Board which deals singly with the administration of the applications to the course. The separate institutions are then notified and they deal with their own admissions. See Funding, Sponsorship and Loan schemes.