Program Overview

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LLM Legal Practice (SQE Pathway)

Why choose LLM Legal Practice (SQE Pathway) at Middlesex?

Combining global academic practice and online learning, our expert teaching staff will help you qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales and gain academic and legal practice research skills. This unique course will provide you with an international perspective on the field of law.

The course is best suited to you if you are one of the following:

• A recent UK LLB graduate
• A Law graduate from a different jurisdiction
• A current paralegal or working another role in the legal industry
• An internationally qualified lawyer looking to qualify as a solicitor of England and Wales

The LLM Legal Practice (SQE Pathway) offers you the opportunity to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales, enabling you to prepare for the mandatory Solicitors’ Qualifying Examinations (SQE).

You'll have the chance to address complex issues systematically and creatively, showing originality in tackling and solving legal problems through the use of complex multiple-choice question self-assessments throughout the course.

This course is delivered in collaboration with The College of Legal Practice, a fully accredited higher education provider, and wholly-owned UK subsidiary of The College of Law in Australia.

What you will gain

Some of the many benefits of joining us on this course include the opportunity to:

• Qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales
• Earn a master’s qualification and study for the SQE simultaneously
• Gain a unique perspective on legal practice from a world-leading law faculty
• Boost your legal research skills, so that you'll be ready for the workplace

3 great reasons to pick this course

• We are international
• Top 10 UK University for employability (UniCompare Rankings 2025)
• Top 6 UK university in Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024

About your course

About your course

The LLM Legal Practice (SQE Pathway) will ensure that you are equipped with outstanding knowledge and skills—in line with a postgraduate degree in law, as well as what is required in legal practice.

One of the main objectives of this course is to prepare you for the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations in order to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales. To do this, we've partnered with The College of Legal Practice, who have expertise in guiding you through the specific modules preparing you for this examination.

You'll study a blend of compulsory academic modules covering essential legal expertise and skills, such as dispute resolution, business, property and criminal law, and wills and administration of estates.

You'll also study modules that will boost your legal research skills in preparation for the SQE, as well as modules focused on applying your academic knowledge to a professional legal environment.

Modules

Here is a brief overview of what you will study each year

• Solicitors Legal Knowledge (40 credits)
  • This module aims to develop your competency in the skills required for the second Solicitors Qualification Examination (SQE2).
  • The module focuses specifically on the skills of advocacy, interviewing, attendance note taking, case and matter analysis, drafting, research and writing, in the specific areas of criminal litigation, dispute resolution, property practice, wills and intestacy, probate administration and practice, business law and practice.
• Solicitors Legal Skills (40 credits)
  • This module equips you with the essential research skills necessary to complete modules successfully, including the technical and conventional systems governing academic writing and the principles and practice followed in legal reasoning.
• Legal Practice Research Project (60 credits)
  • This module aims to develop your Functioning Legal Knowledge in the context of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1).
  • The module specifically aims to develop your competency in the law and rules of ethics across the areas of Business Law & Practice, Dispute Resolution (with contract and tort), Public & EU Law, Legal Services & Legal Systems, Property Practice (with land law), Criminal Law & Practice, and Wills and Administration of Estates (with trusts and solicitors accounts).
• Legal Research Skills (20 Credits)
  • This module aims to develop your Functioning Legal Knowledge in the context of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1).
  • The module specifically aims to develop your competency in the law and rules of ethics across the areas of Business Law & Practice, Dispute Resolution (with contract and tort), Public & EU Law, Legal Services & Legal Systems, Property Practice (with land law), Criminal Law & Practice, and Wills and Administration of Estates (with trusts and solicitors accounts).

Optional

• International Commercial Litigation and Arbitration (20 credits)
  • Gain the knowledge necessary to deal with contemporary and emerging challenges in the practise and management of transnational commercial disputes with a focus on the increasing use of arbitration for expediency and cost savings by medium and large-scale enterprises operating in multiple jurisdictions.
• Comparative Corporate Governance (20 credits)
  • This module equips you with critical understanding of the major theories concerning the nature of corporations, their role and function in society, the concerns surrounding corporate governance and corporate responsibility, and the laws and practices governing directorial conduct and company operation in selected countries.

Teaching and learning

Teaching

You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience.

How we'll teach you

This course is taught via blended teaching and learning methods, meaning that some of the modules will be delivered on campus. This is to ensure you get the most out of face-to-face learning, access to campus facilities and support to strengthen the sense of belonging and community at the heart of learning.

Other modules are taught online through the College of Legal Practice’s virtual learning platform, Canvas. Canvas is one of the most highly regarded and widely used learning management systems in the world, providing a high-quality, interactive learning experience. Canvas also facilitates frequent personal interaction between you and your supervisors.

Where will I study?

You'll be based at our Hendon campus, north London.

Teaching vs independent study

In a typical year, you’ll spend about 1200 hours on your course.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework and presentations.

Academic support

We have a strong support network online and on campus to help you develop your academic skills. We offer one-to-one and group sessions to develop your learning skills together with academic support from our library, IT teams and learning experts.

Coursework and assessments

The course will be assessed through a combination of exams and coursework, including either a legal practice research project or a work-based learning project.

Each module will have its own formative and summative assessments.

Facilities and support

Facilities

Our Sheppard Library has over 1000 study areas with and 600 computer spaces, with some areas open 24 hours a day

Make the most of our free laptop loans, e-books, printing and photocopying

We have one of London's biggest and best university campuses with everything you need in one place.

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.

Careers

How can the LLM Legal Practice (SQE Pathway) support your career?

The LLM Legal Practice (SQE Pathway) has been specifically developed to support you in employability and career progression. The specific SQE-focused modules are tailored to support you to be ready to undertake the SQE exams, required for anyone to be employed in law firms and work as a solicitor in England and Wales.

Both the knowledge and skills developed through these two modules prepare you for practice and make you more attractive to employers.

This LLM also supports career progression for those already in legal practice, as there is great demand from international law firms for qualified solicitors. The ‘dual’ degree – in terms of SQE preparation and a postgraduate level degree – will make you more employable, considering the established benefits of an LLM degree.

By joining the course, you'll have the opportunity to arrange to sit the external SQE1 exam in January (while the degree is still ongoing), to place yourself in a position of strength to approach law firms to secure qualifying work experience, an additional requirement to the SQE examinations to qualify.

Our postgraduate courses have been recognised for their ability to support your career.

We are a top 10 UK University for employability (UniCompare Rankings 2025), and a top 10 UK university for industry connections and funding in Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2024.

MDXworks

Our employability service, MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognized with the following awards:

• The top 20 UK universities for business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023
• A top 10 university for producing CEOs – Novuana, 2023

The Law Employability advisor is Lisa Rajapaksa.

Global network

Our London location helps us connect with over 1,000 industry partners to develop our students’ future employment prospects.

And we have unique work and study opportunities at our campuses in Dubai and Mauritius.

At Middlesex, you’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. After you graduate, we'll support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.

Work placements

Placements and internships can greatly improve your future job prospects after you graduate. They usually boost your confidence and academic results by giving you the opportunity to practice what have learned in a professional setting.

Our specialist employability service will help you find placement opportunities.

As part of the course, in the summer term, there is an option to gain credits in the Work Integrated Learning module (60 credits) which is available to eligible students only.

Entry requirements

UK entry

For this course, ideally, we are looking for these qualifications:

• The University's standard entry requirements for LLM Legal Practice consist of a 2:2 Law Degree or Graduate Diploma in Law/CPE

If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, we may be able to count this towards your entry requirements. Graduates in related disciplines, with law minors or with relevant professional experience or qualifications may be admitted subject to the course leader's discretion.

International

We welcome students from the UK and all over the world. Join students from over 122 countries and discover why so many international students call our campus home:

• Quality teaching with top facilities plus flexible online learning
• Welcoming north London campus that's only 30 minutes from central London
• Work placements and networking with top London employers

Qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the accepted qualifications on your country's support page. If you are unsure of the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest international office.

English language

You will need to meet our English language requirements. And, don’t worry If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, as we offer a Pre-sessional English course.

Visas

To study with us in the UK, you might need a Student visa. Please check to see if this applies to you.

Fees and funding

Fees

The fees below refer to the 2025/26 academic year unless otherwise stated.

UK students

Full-time students: £15,300

International students

Full-time students: £19,900

Additional costs

We cover your costs for the day-to-day things that you need to do well in your studies.

• Free access to the resources, learning materials and software you need to succeed on your course
• Free laptop loans for up to 24 hours
• Free printing for academic paperwork
• Free online training with LinkedIn Learning

Please note: the course does not cover the cost of the external SQE qualifying exams. The SRA set these fees. Visit the SRA website.

Financial support

We offer lots of support to help you with fees and living costs. Find out more about postgraduate funding. And check out our guide to student life on a budget.

Postgraduate scholarships

You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:

• The Alumni Postgraduate Award – for all UK/EU Middlesex alumni a 20% fee reduction
• The Commonwealth Scholarship – full course fees, airfares and a living allowance
• The Chevening Scholarship – full course fees
• The European Academic Awards – £1000 to £7000 for students showing academic excellence
• Regional or International Merit Award – up to £2,000 towards course fees

For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.

Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.

Help from your employer

Your employer can contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study as part of their staff development programme.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.