Program Overview

LLM Legal Practice (SQE 1 and 2)

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 Part Time

About this course

The Master's degree 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.

Course modules

Core modules

• Foundations of Legal Knowledge 1 SQE 1 (30 credits)
  • This module aims to provide the knowledge, understanding and analysis of legal principles to align with the SRA's Foundations of Legal Knowledge 1.
  • To allow students to study and undertake exercises and practice multiple choice questions which will replicate the external SQE 1 assessments.
• Foundations of Legal Knowledge 2 SQE 1 (30 credits)
  • This module will provide the knowledge, understanding and analysis of legal principles to align with the SRA's Foundations of Legal Knowledge 2.
  • Students will be able to apply practical legal skills to problem questions to replicate working in a solicitors' office to put their foundations of legal knowledge into context.
• Oral Skills SQE 2 (30 credits)
  • Students will be taught how to approach the oral skills of interviewing & advising and advocacy and practice them in the context of: Property Law & Practice; Wills & Administration of Estates; Dispute Resolution and Criminal Litigation.
  • Students will practice the different oral skills in the different areas of law required for SQE 2 assessments.
• Written Legal Skills SQE 2 (30 credits)
  • To provide students with the knowledge and practice in order to demonstrate the written legal skills of case matter & analysis, legal research, writing and drafting as needed by a practising solicitor in the context of Criminal Litigation, Dispute Resolution, Property Law & Practice, Wills & Administration of Estates and Business Law & Practice.

Optional modules

• Clinical Legal Research Project (60 credits)
  • To provide the basis for the elements of professional conduct and clinical legal education and provide a basis for delivering legal services with appropriate supervision and reflecting upon the same.
  • Students will be allocated to a research project either in within the Legal Advice Centre or with a third sector organisation and will spend much of the time under supervision working with clients.
• Dissertation (60 credits)
  • This module is to enable students to design and complete a large independent legal research project.
  • Students will be introduced to researching at Master's level and will learn different legal research methodologies, such as doctrinal, socio-legal and comparative.

Your Learning Experience

• Teaching is delivered primarily through student centred workshops, lectures and extensive learning materials, assessments and diagnostic tools provided by BARBRI.
• The full-time course requires 2 full days 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.

Career paths

• LJMU has an excellent employability record with 94% (HESA 2022) of our postgraduates in work or further study fifteen 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.
• 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.

Tuition fees and funding

• 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.
• 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.

Entry requirements

• An undergraduate degree in law or any undergraduate degree plus the common professional examination/Graduate Diploma in Law (or its equivalent) such as the PGCert Foundations in Law offered at LJMU.
• International students applying to study a full-time taught Masters at LJMU should check if they require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme or ATAS certificate. Contact the International Admissions Team for further information.
• Would require a combined score of 6.5 or above (minimum 6.0 in each component) in IELTS.

How to apply

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