Legal Practice Course (LPC)

The Legal Practice Course was the standard solicitor qualifying course for over 25 years before the Solicitors Regulation Authority replaced it with the SQE in September 2021. The LPC is now closing. The final intake at most universities will start in September 2026 (part-time online only at many providers), and the route closes fully on 31 December 2032 for qualification purposes. This page is a reference guide for anyone in the transitional arrangements who is still eligible to use this route.

Closing Route

The LPC is being phased out. Last intake for most providers is September 2026 (part-time online only). All LPC qualification must be completed by 31 December 2032 to count toward solicitor admission.

Who's Eligible

Only candidates in the SRA's transitional arrangements: those who completed, started or paid a non-refundable deposit for a qualifying law degree, GDL or LPC by 31 December 2021. New starters cannot use the LPC route.

Course Structure

A vocational course covering core practice subjects: business law, dispute resolution, property law, plus electives in chosen specialisms and a professional conduct paper.

Duration

One year full-time or two years part-time. Some providers offer a flexible online format that can be completed over 12 to 24 months depending on study intensity.

Cost

Tuition fees range from around £12,700 at regional providers to £20,950 at top London providers. Postgraduate loan funding is available for eligible UK students.

Training Contract

The LPC must be followed by a two-year training contract at a single law firm. The trainee solicitor rotates through four six-month seats and qualifies on completion.

What the LPC Covers

The LPC was designed as a vocational bridge between an academic law degree and the practical role of a trainee solicitor. It mixes core compulsory subjects with electives in specialist practice areas, plus a professional conduct and ethics paper that runs across the whole course.

The standard syllabus includes:

  • Business law and practice: company formation, partnerships, commercial agreements
  • Property law and practice: residential and commercial conveyancing fundamentals
  • Dispute resolution: civil and criminal litigation, advocacy, ADR
  • Wills, probate and the administration of estates
  • Two or three elective practice-area modules of your choice
  • Professional conduct, regulation, ethics and accounts

Who Should Still Take the LPC

The LPC is now only practical for a narrow group of candidates: those in the SRA’s transitional arrangements who already have a training contract lined up, or who have a strong reason to use the LPC pathway. Anyone starting their solicitor journey from scratch should take the SQE instead.

You’ll be considering the LPC if you fit one of these:

  • You started a qualifying law degree (QLD), GDL or MA Law before 1 September 2021
  • You already have a training contract that requires the LPC route
  • Your firm or sponsor specifically prefers the LPC syllabus over the SQE
  • You took a deposit on an LPC place before 31 December 2021
  • You qualified abroad and your overseas conversion is structured around the LPC syllabus

Pros and Cons of the LPC Route

The LPC has historic advantages: a structured classroom format, a ready-made cohort, and a guaranteed job through the training contract model. The disadvantages are increasingly serious: the route is closing, fees are high, and post-2026 your provider options will narrow significantly.

An honest read of the situation:

  • Pro: structured classroom or live-online learning with strong cohort and tutor support
  • Pro: training contract gives you a guaranteed two-year salaried role
  • Pro: postgraduate loan funding is available for eligible UK students
  • Pro: well-understood by all law firms with no transition risk if you finish in time
  • Con: route closes for new starts at most providers in September 2026
  • Con: tuition fees are higher than SQE preparation, even at regional providers
  • Con: the SRA accounts and skills assessment is being replaced by SQE2 over time
  • Con: you must finish and apply for admission by 31 December 2032 or lose eligibility

How the Process Works

If you’re eligible for the LPC route and intend to use it, the process is straightforward. You apply to a provider through the Central Applications Board, complete the LPC, then take a two-year training contract. At the end you apply to the SRA for admission as a solicitor. All of this must be completed before 31 December 2032.

The full sequence:

  • Confirm transitional eligibility with the SRA's online checker
  • Apply to LPC providers through LawCAB or directly with the provider
  • Confirm your funding: postgraduate loan, employer sponsorship, or self-funded
  • Complete the LPC (one year full-time or two years part-time)
  • Apply for and start a two-year training contract at a law firm
  • Rotate through four six-month seats with regular appraisals
  • Apply to the SRA for admission to the Roll of Solicitors at the end of the contract
  • Receive your practising certificate and begin work as a qualified solicitor

Compare to the SQE Route

If you’re still deciding between the LPC and SQE (and you have the transitional eligibility to choose), the comparison page below sets out the differences in cost, structure and long-term value.

Compare SQE vs LPC