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Master of Laws Solicitors' Practice

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Why choose Herts?

Work-Related Learning: Real-life scenarios inform your teaching and you can gain client-facing qualifying work experience in our award-winning pro-bono Law Clinic.
Teaching Excellence: You will be taught by experts, including practising barristers and solicitors who will train you to work on authentic, client-based scenarios at our Law Court Building, inclusive of a full-scale replica Crown Court room.
Exceptional student learning experience: 85% overall satisfaction score in Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (2022).

To undertake the LLM Solicitors’ Practice you should either have a law degree from an institution recognised by the SRA as a Qualifying Law Degree provider (usually a LLB from a UK university) with a minimum 2:1 classification, or have successfully completed the GDL qualification.

Applications are via lawcabs.ac.uk.

Please contact our Admissions Tutor at lawadmissions@herts.ac.uk to discuss admissions and entry requirements further.


Institution code	H36
School of study	Hertfordshire Law School
Course length	Full Time, 1 Years Part Time, 2 Years
Location	University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

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Employability

Careers

At Hertfordshire Law School we take a genuine interest in your career aims. We will do all we can to guide and support you in your steps towards your career goals.

The programme incorporates preparation for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), the new route to qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales. Throughout the programme there is a strong emphasis on the legal and other professional skills that aspiring solicitors will need to succeed in their chosen careers.

There will also be opportunities to develop qualifying work experience, counting towards qualification as a solicitor via the SQE route, for example by working on real-life client matters in our award-winning pro bono Law Clinic.

Looking beyond the programme, the Law School’s Employability Lead and the University’s Careers and Employment Team are committed to helping you progress in your chosen career. They organise frequent events, ranging from law careers fairs and networking events, to talks from UH alumni and other inspiring guest speakers, who share their career journeys and tips for success. We have a dedicated Law School ‘Employability and Career Enhancement’ site with a large number of career resources and opportunities, as well as a LinkedIn group for Hertfordshire Law School students and alumni. Our University Careers platform ‘Handshake’ gives students access to wide range of support, events, job vacancies and skills enhancement resources. One to one support from your own Academic Support Tutor is also readily available throughout your time at Herts.

Professional Accreditations

The programme is aligned with the SRA’s assessment specifications for the SQE assessments. The SRA does not accredit or regulate SQE preparation courses.

About the course

The route to qualifying as a solicitor is set to change over the next few years, with the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE). Following a transitional period, the SQE will eventually replace the existing LPC route to qualification.

The University of Hertfordshire’s LLM Solicitors’ Practice is designed to help you prepare for the SQE assessments, as well as to excel in professional legal practice.

The University of Hertfordshire is well known for its great links with industry and the professions, its first-class teaching, high-quality facilities and dedicated staff. Naturally, this course is no different. Taught by experts, including practising solicitors and barristers, it will equip you with all the up-to-date, transferable, interpersonal and practical skills you will need for your career in the legal profession.

Our innovative teaching methods utilise experiential learning to prepare you for practice, including in our state-of-the-art courtroom where you will develop your advocacy skills. We utilise a combination of blended learning techniques and assessment styles to mirror the different assessment styles of the SQE 1 and SQE 2 assessments, as well as helping you develop the skills you will need in professional legal practice. We limit class sizes to ensure that you receive the best teaching and pastoral support. From our friendly small-group Stage 1 Functioning Legal Knowledge sessions, where you have opportunities to ask our experienced practitioner teaching staff all your questions, to our coaching-style skills development sessions in Stage 2. This also enables the teaching to be flexible and focused on the needs of the individual students.

You will also have many opportunities to undertake co-curricular activities to strengthen your skills in areas such as commercial awareness, adjudication and family mediation and to participate in a range of pro-bono projects, including our award-winning Law Clinic. In many cases work undertaken in the Law Clinic can count towards your QWE hours, as well as being recognised as part of your LLM award, depending on which stream of the Solicitors’ Practice Project you choose to undertake.  

View our other SQE preparation courses.

Programme delivery

The course is practice-focused, with live interactive workshops in which you will apply your growing legal knowledge to realistic client scenarios. You will receive consistent feedback from a teaching staff of experienced practitioners, many of whom continue to practise as solicitors themselves. Lectures, recorded by our staff to help you prepare for the live workshops, are online, giving you flexibility to study these where and when you want.

The course fees include access to OUP’s specialist SQE preparation resources, including online manuals and practice questions to help you perfect your assessment technique for the SQE 1 assessments. There is also a strong emphasis on reflection as well as receiving individualised feedback from your tutors and peers. This will help you develop the legal and other professional skills that make candidates so attractive to law firms and other potential employers.

Assessments

The programme has a variety of assessments including multiple choice tests, oral assessments, written coursework and reflective journals.  Wherever possible assessments have been designed to mirror tasks that you might undertake in professional legal practice, whilst closely reflecting the SRA’s SQE assessment strategy, in order to prepare candidates for the centralised SQE assessments. In Stage 1 you will have regular practise on the type of single best answer multiple choice questions used in the SQE 1 assessment, and in Stage 2 formative assessments are provided in all modules before the final summative assessments, in order for you to receive feedback on which you will be taught to reflect in order to perfect your skills.

Programme outcomes

Successful students will leave the programme with an internationally recognised Master’s in law and be ready to undertake both the SQE 1 and SQE 2 assessments towards qualification as a solicitor of England and Wales. Graduates may also choose to pursue a role as a paralegal or other employment in the legal sector or industry.

Why choose this course?

The LLM Solicitors’ Practice and other SQE preparation courses offered by the University of Hertfordshire will offers many wonderful benefits to you.

Inclusive and flexible: Study the whole LLM programme or a postgraduate diploma to help you prepare for the SQE 1 or SQE 2 assessments – it’s up to you. Blended learning helps you study where and when suits you.
Certificated: If you follow the LLM SQE programme, leave us with a prestigious Master's qualification, as well as being SQE-ready. If you undertake a SQE preparation course, leave us with a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma.
Affordable: If you study the LLM SQE programme, you may be eligible for financial support from Student Finance England, so you can focus entirely on your studies to maximise your potential. Find out more about a Postgraduate Master's Loan on the Government website.
Employability embedded: Opportunities to gain legal work experience will boost your CV and employability skills, as well as potentially counting towards your QWE hours and, if you study the LLM programme, your Master’s qualification too!
CV-enhancing activities: An extensive array of co-curricular activities including trial advocacy, family mediation, client interviewing, debating, commercial awareness and mooting.
Strong industry links: Hertfordshire Law School has close links with the Law Clinic and the Careers and Employment Service, providing you with the skills and support you need to make the most of your time on the programme and succeed in your chosen career.
Fantastic facilities: We are one of the few providers of legal education in the country with a full-scale multi-million-pound replica Crown Courtroom which is fully equipped with the latest technology to enable you to perform your Advocacy skills and prepare you for practice.
Teaching excellence: You’ll be taught by experienced practitioners in the legal field including practising solicitors, barristers and former judges as well as expert academics, all of whom understand the context of the modules in practice.
Exceptional student learning experience: 85% overall satisfaction score in Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (2022).

What will I study?

In semester A (Sept – January) you will enrol on Stage 1 of the programme which incorporates preparation for the SQE 1 assessments of functioning legal knowledge. Following an intensive induction period covering an introduction to the solicitors’ profession, revision of the Foundations of Legal Knowledge from your undergraduate law degree, and assessment technique for the SQE 1 assessment, you will study modules in the following areas of legal knowledge:

Business Law and Practice
Dispute Resolution
Property Practice
Criminal Law and Practice
Wills and the Administration of Estates

Within these modules you will also have the opportunity to develop your understanding of the rules and principles of ethics and professional conduct applying to the solicitors’ profession, and of solicitors' accounts (i.e. the way solicitors deal with money belonging to their clients and others).

In semester B (Jan-May) you progress to Stage 2 of the programme which incorporates preparation for the SQE 2 legal skills assessments and will include modules in:

Oral skills (client interviewing and advocacy)
Case and matter analysis with practical legal research
Legal drafting

Legal writing skills will be developed within these modules. In Stage 2 you will have the opportunity to practise your skills in every legal context in which they could be assessed in the SQE2 assessment. There is a strong emphasis on individual feedback from your tutors and peers, and on reflection, to help you develop your skills in preparation for professional legal practice, as well as for the assessments.

You will also undertake supported independent study to complete a project to showcase your professional employability skills and enhance your CV. You may choose to enhance your academic research skills whilst further deepening your understanding of an area of law or legal ethics of your choice. Alternatively, you may choose to work on real-life client matters in our award-winning Law Clinic, including undertaking research to resolve clients’ legal questions, and will demonstrate your development by submitting a professional reflective journal.

In your final semester, you will embark on Stage 3, where you WILL have the opportunity to tailor your programme of study (and your CV!) by choosing three elective modules in specialist areas of legal practice, taught by experts in their field. Examples include Family Law, Immigration Law, or Employment Law.

Level 7

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Business Law and Practice	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module will give you an insight into the professional legal practice of a solicitor acting for business clients. It considers the role of commercial organisations and their legal regulation, analysing in detail the structure and powers of companies, partnerships and sole traders, and considers their relationship to organisations and individuals with whom they have dealings. It will also introduce you to the taxation of businesses and the individuals who own or work in them, consider rules of professional conduct and ethics relevant to solicitors working in a business law context, and help you develop your commercial awareness so that you better understand the needs of a law firm's business clients.
Dispute Resolution	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module seeks to develop in students an appreciation of the nature of mediation, arbitration and civil litigation, the ability to identify the main stages in the civil litigation process and to understand the underlying procedural rules in the conduct of civil litigation through the courts. Students will also develop an understanding of the rules of professional conduct and ethics relevant to solicitors working in a dispute resolution context, and of the financial, commercial and personal priorities and constraints to be taken into account when undertaking litigation in the context of the clients objectives, together with the costs, benefits and risks involved in litigation and alternative dispute resolution processes.
Property Practice	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module aims to equip students with the basic knowledge required to understand a simple domestic sale or purchase whether dealing with commercial or residential, freehold or leasehold property in a registered or unregistered context. Students are expected to develop awareness of basic taxation issues in property transactions, and an appreciation of the most relevant conventions and regulations of solicitors accounts as governed by the Solicitors Accounts Rules, as well as considering some of the most relevant rules of professional conduct and ethics relevant to solicitors working in a property law context.
Wills and Administration of Estates	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module introduces students to the law relevant to the professional practice of the preparation of wills and the administration of estates. Students are also expected to develop awareness of taxation issues in this practice area, and an appreciation of the conventions and regulations of solicitors accounts as governed by the Solicitors Accounts Rules, as well as considering rules of professional conduct and ethics relevant to solicitors working in a private client context.
Criminal Law and Practice	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module seeks to develop in students an appreciation of the nature of criminal litigation, the ability to identify the critical steps in the process of litigation and to provide opportunities for the practice of some of those elements. Students also develop an understanding of the rules of professional conduct and ethics relevant to solicitors working in a criminal law context.
Oral Skills (Interviewing and Advocacy)	15 Credits	Compulsory
In order to advance transactions or matters, a solicitor must be able to conduct an effective client interview, drawing out the information the solicitor needs in order to advise the client, through the appropriate use of questioning. A solicitor must also know how to deliver an application or other piece of advocacy before a judge on behalf of a client. Through practical tasks based on realistic client-based scenarios, this module will give you the opportunity to develop the practical legal skills of client interviewing and advocacy to a professional standard. You will also learn how to write a clear and comprehensive attendance note following a client interview.
Case and Matter Analysis with Legal Research	15 Credits	Compulsory
When a new client approaches a solicitor for legal advice, or as a client's case or matter progresses and new information or arguments are presented, the solicitor must be able to analyse the legal issues involved and apply the relevant law to the client's situation, in order to give correct and client-focussed advice. Sometimes, in the course of a case or matter, the solicitors encounter an unfamiliar situation or a legal problem to which they do not know the answer. When this happens, the solicitor must know how to identify and find the relevant law, selecting and using appropriate resources for the task, and how to apply it to the client's situation. Through practical tasks based on realistic client-based scenarios, this module will give you the opportunity to develop the skills of case and matter analysis and practical legal research to a professional standard. You will also learn how to produce an appropriately-worded written report of your analysis or research findings, as if to a supervising partner in a law firm.
Legal Drafting	15 Credits	Compulsory
In order to advance a case or matter, a solicitor must be able to prepare legal documentation which is legally and practically effective, as well as being clear, comprehensive and unambiguous. Sometimes this will involve use of an appropriately selected precedent document or amending a document another person has drafted. Through practical tasks based on realistic client-based scenarios, this module will give you the opportunity to develop the skill of legal drafting, to a professional standard.
Solicitors' Practice Project	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module offers students the opportunity to consider their own professional interests, career aspirations and development goals and to progress towards qualification as a solicitor via a chosen 'stream': Clinical, Business, or Research-based. The Clinical stream enables students to gain practical authentic experience within the Hertfordshire Law Clinic, helping the wider community and developing professional and transferable skills. The Business stream enables students to gain in-depth insight into law firms as businesses, prioritising commercial awareness and enhancing students employability and business skills. Students will consider areas such as marketing of legal services and client development, or legal technologies, in order to prepare a business case which they will 'pitch' to the management board of a hypothetical law firm. The Research stream enables students to deepen their understanding of research methods in law and allied fields such as criminology, sociology, economics, ethics, etc, in order to undertake a research project examining a legal topic of the student's choice (taken from any of the practice areas studied in Stages 0 or 1 or in the Stage 3 electives, including the pervasive topic of ethics and professional conduct).
Introduction to Solicitors Practice (ISP)	0 Credits	Compulsory
This module aims to help students bridge the gap from undergraduate study to postgraduate study and to professional legal practice. In it you will consider the nature of the solicitors profession and the legal services provided by solicitors to their clients, as well as the ethical and professional conduct issues that may impact on solicitors. You will have the opportunity to develop your understanding of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) as a route to qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales, as well as exploring techniques to help you succeed in SQE assessments. This module will also include revision of the core foundations of legal knowledge. During the module you will have the opportunity to reflect on the knowledge and skills you have developed so far, as well as your aspirations and career goals, including how to develop autonomy and other transferable skills which will support you in achieving them whilst you are with us at University of Hertfordshire and in the future.
Family Law	15 Credits	Optional
The module considers Family Law and its statutory legal regulation. It examines the process of divorce and the drafting of divorce petitions, the protection of children in the family and approaches to the resolution of domestic violence, together with the litigation procedures which underpin these legal issues. Students are expected to demonstrate awareness of professional conduct in advice given to clients.
Employment Law	15 Credits	Optional
The module considers the employment contract and its statutory legal regulation. It examines the legal requirements for the formation of a contract of employment, wrongful and unfair dismissal, discrimination and Employment Tribunal procedures and remedies. Students are expected to demonstrate awareness of professional conduct in advice given to clients.
Commercial Law	15 Credits	Optional
The module considers commercial activity and its legal regulation. It analyses commercial and consumer transactions and the legal framework in which they exist. It considers the law of agency and distributorship. Students are expected to demonstrate awareness of professional conduct and financial services legislation on advice given to clients.
Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence	15 Credits	Optional
The module considers Personal Injury and relevant statutory regulation. It examines the process of personal injury claims and how to solve these through litigation and negotiation, together with the litigation procedures which underpin these legal issues. Students are expected to demonstrate awareness of professional conduct in advice given to clients.
Private Acquisitions	15 Credits	Optional
This module considers the legal and practical aspects of the acquisition and disposal of companies and businesses. It examines transaction process, transaction structure (including factors influencing the choice of structure) and the tax implications of such transactions, as well as practical aspects of carrying out due diligence, risk allocation and the drafting and negotiation of contractual provisions commonly used in this context. It also considers related professional conduct and financial services issues.
Immigration Law	15 Credits	Optional
The module considers Immigration Law and relevant statutory legal regulation. It examines the process of immigration disputes and how to solve these through litigation and negotiation, together with the litigation procedures which underpin these legal issues. Students are expected to demonstrate awareness of professional conduct in advice given to clients.
Advanced Criminal Litigation	15 Credits	Optional
The module considers the progression of Crown Court litigation and advanced practical skills of drafting and witness handling. The module will build on the knowledge and skills from Parts 1 and 2 and apply them to a multi-track fact pattern. Students will undertake research at a level which enables them to prepare and undertake a multi-defendant Crown Court trial.
Advanced Civil Litigation	15 Credits	Optional
The module considers the progression of civil litigation generally and the progress of complex multi-track litigation specifically. The module will build on the knowledge and skills from Parts 1 and 2 and apply them to a multi-track fact pattern. Students will undertake research at a level which enables them to prepare and undertake a multi-track trial.

Further course information

Course fact sheets
LLM Solicitors' Practice	Download

Programme specifications
LLM Solicitors' Practice	Download

Additional information
Sandwich placement or study abroad year
Applications open to international and EU students	Yes

Student experience

At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying, building your career and having fun.

If you need support, we are here for you. Hertfordshire Law School is a warm, welcoming community where you will find staff who encourage you through your studies. You will have academic support through our personal tutoring system. If you need some personal support, we have a wellbeing leader and many members of teaching staff are trained and accredited in mental health first aid.

For additional help with study skills, you will have access to our academic support services. You can attend workshops, 1:1 sessions and online tutorials. Both our Learning Resource Centres (LRCs) run drop-in study skills sessions.

Find out about how we support our students

You can also read our student blogs to find out about life at Herts.

Funding and fees
Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Fees 2023
UK Students

Full time
- £12900 for the 2023/2024 academic year
Part time
- £1075 per 15 credits for the 2023/2024 academic year
EU Students

Full time
- £12900 for the 2023/2024 academic year
Part time
- £1075 per 15 credits for the 2023/2024 academic year
International Students

Full time
- £12900 for the 2023/2024 academic year
Part time
- £1075 per 15 credits for the 2023/2024 academic year
Find out about our Herts graduate/alumni 20% discount on tuition fees

This programme is eligible for the postgraduate student loan.

*Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University's Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed "When tuition fees change"), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

View detailed information about tuition fees

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through our international/EU application portal

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

2024

Start Date	End Date	Link
04/09/2024	31/08/2025	Apply online (Full Time)
05/09/2024	31/08/2025	Apply online (Full Time)
30/01/2025	31/01/2026	Apply online (Full Time)
30/01/2025	31/01/2026	Apply online (Full Time)
05/09/2024	31/08/2025	Apply online (Part Time)
30/01/2025	31/01/2026	Apply online (Part Time)

Book an open event

Master of Laws Solicitors' Practice

Book an open event

Why choose Herts?

Careers

Professional Accreditations

About the course

Why choose this course?

What will I study?

Further course information

Student experience

Other financial support

Fees 2023

UK Students

Full time

Part time

EU Students

Full time

Part time

International Students

Full time

Part time

Living costs / accommodation

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

2024