LEGAL PRACTICE COURSE

LEGAL PRACTICE

COURSE

Oxford Institute of

Legal Practice

Educating Lawyers

in

Oxford

Oxford Brookes University, Headington Hill Hall, Oxford, OX3 0BP

Tel: +44 (0) 1865 488750 Fax: +44 (0) 1865 488751 Email: [email protected] Web: www.brookes.ac.uk/oxilp

Headington Campus

(Headington Hill)

Headington Campus

(Gipsy Lane)

The Oxford Institute of Legal Practice (OXILP) was established in 1993 to specialise in the delivery of the Legal Practice Course (LPC). OXILP prides itself on the excellence of its teaching and the level of attention it gives to each and every student. Since its establishment, OXILP has gained a reputation as one of the country’s foremost providers of the LPC.

At OXILP we pride ourselves on our personal approach. Unlike some of the bigger LPC providers, we work hard to ensure that we maintain a collegial feel – where every student is treated as an individual. Each student is allocated their own personal tutor to provide guidance and assistance. Support is also on hand from specialist advisers and counselling services at Oxford Brookes University.

OXILP students have access to all the services offered by Oxford Brookes University, but they are also entitled to use the Bodleian Law Library, to use Oxford University sports facilities, and to use the Oxford University Careers Service.

The Institute

If you have any general questions

call us on

+44 (0) 1865 488750

The Institute

1

OXILP and Brookes

2

Studying in Oxford

5

The Full-time LPC

6

The Part-time LPC

9

Extra-curricular activities

10

Careers

13

Applications and finance

14

Contents

1

OXILP's LPC is jointly validated by the University

of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University

In 2008 OXILP became part of Oxford Brookes University and moved to sit alongside the Law Department within the School of Social Sciences and Law. OXILP’s home is Headington Hill Hall – a beautiful Grade II listed mansion dating back to 1771. The hall has extensive gardens for students to enjoy, which command stunning views over Oxford.

OXILP students are taught in and around Headington Hill Hall and have full access to the wider resources within the University. LPC students have a priority space within the library and their own dedicated computer terminals and skills suite.

Studying at OXILP means that you can apply for University accommodation; and if you live in halls of residence you are entitled to a free Brookes Bus pass to get around the city. You will also have access to the careers and counselling services, the sports facilities, the student societies and to NHS dental care. Brookes even has a day nursery to provide childcare should you need it.

OXILP and Brookes

‘’

I have spent the last three years

studying in England but I can

say that my time so far at OXILP

has been the best as a student.

2

3

To find out more about Brookes’

superb facilities and support

services call the Enquiry Centre

on

+44 (0) 1865 484848

Oxford is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city has over 1,500 listed buildings, which would take a lifetime to explore. With over 30,000 students, Oxford is not only a centre of education and learning but it is also a thriving centre for art and culture. It has a wealth of cinemas, theatres and museums far exceeding any other city of its size and its vibrant music scene has spawned bands such as Radiohead and Supergrass.

Oxford sits on the River Thames and so it has beautiful riverside parks to relax in, as well as immaculate college gardens to stroll through, should you ever need to escape from it all.

Travelling around Oxford by bus is easy. The Brookes Bus service travels between the campuses, the city centre and the train station throughout the day and night. Park and Ride buses from Seacourt and Thornhill also take you direct to the Headington campus.

Oxford has excellent transport links with the rest of the country. London and Birmingham are an hour away by train, and the

Headington campus is minutes from Junction 8 of the M40. Regular, frequent express coach services from London and from Heathrow and Gatwick airports stop at the Headington campus.

Studying in Oxford

To find out more about Brookes’

superb facilities and support

services call the Enquiry Centre

on

+44 (0) 1865 484848

‘’

The city itself is beautiful, compact

enough to really get to know but

sufficiently large with enough young

people to avoid ever being dull.

6

The OXILP LPC is validated by both Oxford Brookes University and the University of Oxford, and is widely regarded as one of the best LPC courses in the country. It has been awarded the highest grade of commendable practice across all SRA assessment areas. All our teaching staff are qualified solicitors and barristers, and have good relevant experience of practice. Most of the teaching takes place in small group sessions, with an emphasis on interactive, collaborative learning.

IT is integrated into the LPC curriculum. Brookes is a leader in the field of e-learning and students have electronic access to OXILP’s extensive legal databases and to all course materials via ‘Moodle’ – our virtual learning environment. Students can also use this resource to participate in forums, quizzes and chat room sessions.

Course structure

The full-time LPC is a one-year course, taught over three terms. The first term begins with an induction course including an introduction to the skills and pervasive subjects. The compulsory subjects take up the rest of Terms 1 and 2 with examinations at the end of Term 2. Elective subjects are taught in Term 3 and examined at the end of that term.

Compulsory Subjects

ᔢBusiness Law and Practice

ᔢLitigation

ᔢProperty

Electives(students choose three)

ᔢAdvanced Property

ᔢClinical Negligence & Personal Injury

ᔢCommercial Law ᔢDebt Finance ᔢEmployment ᔢEquity Finance ᔢFamily Law ᔢPrivate Acquisitions ᔢPrivate Client

The Full-time LPC

‘’

If you have any questions about

the curriculum please call us on

+44 (0) 1865 488750

7

I particularly enjoyed the

‘hands-on’ parts of the

course such as practising

advocacy and giving

presentations… the OXILP

tutors were full of helpful

tips about pitfalls to avoid

in practice.

If you would like to know more

about the Part-time LPC call us

on

+44 (0) 1865 488750

OXILP’s Part-time LPC provides the same resources, facilities and standards as the Full-time LPC, but with added flexibility.

The Part-time LPC is a two year course, with students attending weekend sessions in Oxford eleven times each year. Weekend sessions run over three days from Friday to Sunday or Saturday to Monday. Part-time students study the same course as

Full-time students, the only difference being that lectures are delivered by podcast. In this way, students can listen to the lectures at times that suit them.

Course structure

The curriculum for the Part-time LPC incorporates exactly the same subjects as the Full-time course (see pages 6-7).

In Year 1 students study Business Law and Practice as their compulsory subject and can also choose one elective that follows on from this subject (ie Debt Finance, Equity Finance, Private Acquisitions or Commercial Law.) Or, instead, they can choose to take the Private Client, the Family Law or the Employment elective. In Year 2, along with their remaining two compulsory subjects, students must choose two more electives. The only electives reserved exclusively for Year 2 are Advanced Property and Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury.

The Part-time LPC

‘’

One of the great things about OXILP is

its size. The relatively small intake at the

Institute creates a friendly and collegial

atmosphere.

10

To find out more about Brookes’

superb facilities and support

services call the Enquiry Centre

on

+44 (0) 1865 484848

‘’

11

I was impressed by the level of

support and encouragement that

we received from teaching

staff at the Institute.

Pro-bono and advocacy

The Institute’s pro-bono scheme was set up by OXILP students with the aim of harnessing their fellow students’ skills for the benefit of the community. In its year of inception the scheme won the National Pro-bono prize. Since then it has grown year on year. Beneficiaries so far have included the Citizens Advice Bureau, Asylum Welcome, The Terrence Higgins Trust and The Human Rights Teaching project. Students have also provided Advocacy services for the Oxfordshire Short Term Advocacy Service and Age Concern. Each year students can apply to become Scheme or Project Co-ordinators.

Sports

OXILP students are able to participate in a broad range of both competitive and recreational sporting activities. OXILP students have access to the impressive sports facilities at both Oxford Brookes University and at the University of Oxford Iffley Road Sports Complex, including the Rosenblatt Swimming Pool. OXILP students

will be entitled to represent Oxford Brookes University in all BUSA sports competitions, and will also have a variety of other opportunities to participate in competitive and recreational sport. In recent years students have participated in a wide range of sports, including rowing, football, rugby, squash, netball, hockey, cricket, swimming and badminton.

Social events

All OXILP students are entitled to join the Law Society and other student societies at Brookes, which gives them access to a wide range of social events. In recent years OXILP students have also organised a masked winter ball, a candle-lit carol concert, a fun run and a dodgeball tournament.

Extra-curricular

activities

Visit the Brookes Careers website

at

www.brookes.ac.uk/careers

We will do our very best to help you on to your first professional post. The OXILP careers tutors produce a careers guide, provide guidance on drafting CVs and can conduct mock interviews. OXILP students also have access to the exceptional resources at the Oxford University Careers Service, which organises an extensive programme of talks and visits from recruiters.

Each year, students who have not yet obtained a training contract are assigned a personal careers tutor who can offer tailored advice to meet the particular needs of each student and will help to identify career goals and job search strategies. Details of current training contracts and other vacancies are circulated via email and we have links with employers so that certain firms come direct to us to recruit. As a result, OXILP has an impressive record of employment, with graduates finding work in all areas of the legal profession.

Getting a training contract

It is vital when seeking a training contract to have some experience of a legal

environment to show both your commitment to a career as a solicitor and that you are aware of the work and the demands it will make on you. You can gain legal experience by undertaking vacation work via a formal scheme at a large law firm or shadowing a solicitor at a local firm; by working in a Citizens Advice Bureau or Legal Advice Centre; or by doing paralegal work.

Always target your applications, taking into consideration the type of work you want to do, the location, the size of firm and the nature of the business (government service, in-house etc) Then tailor your CV and covering letter to fit the firm or organisation you are sending them to.

Useful publications

The Training Contract and Pupillage Handbook

Available free through university careers centres and law faculties

Chambers Student Guide to the Legal Profession

Order at www.chambersandpartners.com

Careers

12

‘’

13

Careers support at OXILP is

excellent and I was given

help not only from my

personal tutor but also my

allocated careers tutor.

14

To find out more about

Student Finance at Brookes visit

www.brookes.ac.uk/studying/finance

15

Application to the Legal Practice Course is normally open to graduates holding a qualifying law degree or non-law graduates who have passed the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). Members of the Institute of Legal Executives are also eligible to apply for entry to the course (subject to SRA approval).

Entry requirements

ᔢMinimum 2:2 honours degree

ᔢEvidence of motivation to be a solicitor

The LPC course starts in September each year.

How to apply

Full-time course

Full-time students must apply through the Central Applications Board (CAB) between October and December of the year prior to which they would like to start the course. Applications can be made after this time and will be considered subject to the availability of places. Second round offers are made subject to the availability of places.

All applications must be made online via the Central Applications Board (CAB):

www.lawcabs.ac.uk.

Or contact:

Central Applications Board PO Box 84 Guildford Surrey GU3 1YX Tel: +44 (0) 1483 301282 Part-time course

Students wishing to apply for the part-time course must apply directly to OXILP from October of the year prior to which they would like to start the course. Applications will be considered up until the start of term each year subject to the availability of places. An application form can be

downloaded from our website, or contact us on +44 (0) 1865 488750 if you would like us to send you a form.

The LPC fee is subject to review each year, but students can pay their fees in

instalments. The part-time fee is half the full-time fee per year of study.

Applications and

finance

16

Visit the Brookes Careers website at

www.brookes.ac.uk/careers

These are just some of the firms where our

students have won training contracts:

Ashurst(London)

Beachcroft(Manchester)

Bentleys, Stokes and Lowless(London)

Bird & Bird(London)

Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons

(Plymouth/Oxford)

Boodle Hatfield(London)

Bond Pearce(Plymouth)

Bower & Bailey(Oxford)

Brabners Chaffe Street(Liverpool)

Bristows(London)

Burges Salmon(Bristol)

Campbell Hooper(London)

Capstick Solicitors(London)

Charles Russell(London)

Cleary Gottlieb(London)

Cripps Harries Hall(Kent)

Darbys(Oxford)

Denton Wilde Sapte(London)

Dewey & LeBoeuf(London)

DFA Law(Northampton)

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge(London)

Eversheds(London)

Farrer & Co(London)

Financial Services Authority(London)

Goodhand & Forsyth(Surrey)

Harris da Silva(London)

HBJ Gateley Wareing(Birmingham)

Henmans(Oxford)

Holman Fenwick Willan(London)

Hughes Paddison(Cheltenham)

K&L Gates(London)

Latham & Watkins(London)

Lawrence Graham(London)

Lester Aldridge(Bournemouth)

Macnab Clarke(Abingdon)

Manches(London)

Mills & Reeve(Cambridge)

Morgan Cole(Oxford)

Mundays(Surrey)

Nabarro(London)

Olswang(London)

Pannone(Manchester)

Penningtons(Berks/ Surrey)

Peter Peter & Wright(Devon)

Pritchard Englefield(London)

Reed Smith Warner Cranston(London)

Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau(London)

Shearman & Sterling(London)

Shoosmiths(Northants)

Sidley Austin(London)

Skadden(London)

Spratt Endicott(Banbury)

Stephenson Harwood(London)

Taylor Vinters(Cambridge)

Taylor Wessing(London)

TLT(Bristol)

Travers Smith(London)

Trowers & Hamlins(London)

Tuckers(London)

Veale Wasbrough(Bristol)

Walker Morris(Leeds)

White & Case(London)

Wiggin(Cheltenham)

Wilsons(Oxford)

Winckworth Sherwood(London)

Withers(London)