When do I apply for the LPC?

Feb 10, 2020

Written By Becky Kells

If you’re approaching the end of your undergraduate studies and aiming to be a solicitor, you will need to do the Legal Practice Course (LPC). But the point at which you apply will differ depending on where you’re at in your education and whether you have a training contract offer.

If you have a training contract offer

Students with training contracts are in an enviable position—not only will the firm likely pay for your LPC in full, it will select a provider and determine a deadline for you. This means you don’t have to do a whole lot at this point. Most firms have preferred training providers with which they work, so it’s likely that your entire cohort will be enrolled on the same LPC at the same provider. Many trainees describe this as a great chance to bond with future colleagues.

At some point, your firm will likely ask you to enrol yourself on the LPC. They might specify a slightly earlier deadline than the LPC course deadline; you should adhere to the firm’s specified deadline. Whatever happens, they will contact you first—so it’s just a waiting game for you at this point!

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If you’re going it alone

The LPC can also be completed independently of a training contract. A lot of students do this if they want to do paralegal work for a bit first, or if they’ve exhausted training contract applications for a given year.

If you’re among this group, you can apply for LPC courses at any point in the academic year before you intend to start it. Most providers open applications in October. Unlike the UCAS deadline, there’s no specific cut-off point for all LPC courses. Some of the more oversubscribed courses with September start dates might close their applications from the end of July onwards, but other courses remain open up until study commences.

Having said that, you should still try to get your application in early for practical purposes; if you’re relocating to study the LPC you’ll need to figure out accommodation. The LPC is also a big financial commitment so the sooner you know what you’re doing, the better.

Students applying to LPCs starting in January should endeavour to get their applications in before Christmas. If you are an international student, you should leave a slightly bigger time margin before the deadline so that you can sort out any visa details.

Where to apply

All LPC applications are processed via the law central applications board (CAB).

LPC