Law Firms specifying which LPC provider to use

OP

Most firms seem to say that they are indifferent as to which LPC provider you opt for. On the other hand, some like B & M state they want you to go to a specific provider that they have a relation with. Have found a few more firms that are doing this, here's the list so far:

College of Law
Allen & Overy
Baker & Mckenzie
Clifford Chance
Linklaters

BPP Law school
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Herbert Smith
Lovells
Macfarlanes
Norton Rose
Slaughter & May

Nottingham Law school at Kaplan (yes, it does exist)
Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw

edit- just updated!

Reply 3

Purple

18

In the FAQ of one of the magic circle firms it said that they and some other firms had teamed up to with an LPC provider to provide their own LPC specialising in relevant modules.

Reply 4

chalks

Some time ago, a consortium of 8 City firms decided to contract with the College of Law to provide a specialist LPC. Essentially, those firms wanted to ensure that their trainees came to their firm with some knowledge of the specialist corporate areas of work they were to undertake when they started work. It was thought, understandably, that a future A&O trainee, for example, would be better off studying equity finance etc rather than wills and probate. There have been criticisms that this arrangement makes those top firms even more elitist etc - I think that it is a sensible arrangement and prevents students wasting their time on areas which they will never need in practice. I recall being incredibly frustrated at studing both conveyancing and probate modules when I knew that I would never need those skills once I joined my firm.

That arrangement has now broken down and, as of September this year, 3 of the firms (A&O, CC and Linkies) are making their own separate arrangements with the College of Law, and the remaining 5 (Freshies, Herbies, Lovells, NR and S&M) are contracting with the BPP to provide a specialist course.

The following article, whilst old, may be of interest.

http://www.legalweekstudent.com/ViewItem.asp?id=19301

Chalks

Reply 5

Happy1

MOst of the firms mentioned are city firms... are many of the larger firms in Manchester, Birmingham or Newcastle doing this?

Reply 6

Purple

18

I was looking at the large Newcastle firms as thats probably where I will end up doing my TC and none mentioned anything about a specific LPC, one said that students on Northumbria's exempting course would get a bigger maintenance grant because you will have already paid your LPC fees.

Reply 7

chalks

Please see my post above. My understanding is that the specialist courses are only being run by/through a limited number of City firms.

Reply 8

OP

These law firms will have made it a tough time for the other LPC etc providers who are I guess "relegated" to having students who aren't going to as big a firms as those stated above.
I guess its a good idea to study the things that you will really need once you come to practice at these firms, makes things more worthwhile.

Reply 9

chalks

Not really. They are simply specialised courses at the existing providers. Plus, these are only a handful of students in the greater scheme of things. Those 8 firms, between them, will probably be taking on about 500-600 trainees which isn't that many out of the total number of LPC students.

It is interesting, however, to consider the effect this separation has - do either the specialist City students or the remaining "standard" students suffer in any way from the division I wonder?

Reply 10

Lewisy-boy

11

Only the top london firms seem to send you compulsory to somewhere ... the rest just have a preference, and some none at all.

Reply 11

Ethereal

19

superdillon

These law firms will have made it a tough time for the other LPC etc providers who are I guess "relegated" to having students who aren't going to as big a firms as those stated above.
I guess its a good idea to study the things that you will really need once you come to practice at these firms, makes things more worthwhile.

Why would that be relegated? Not all the top students apply to city firms. What a ridiculous assumption!! Hasn't it occured to you that very good students might simply choose not to practice corporate law, or even choose to practice it but outside of the MC & top london firms.

Why do people assume the top students must all go work in MC/top firms??

Reply 12

OP

Didn't make that assumption. Brain wasn't working at the time and I couldn't think of a better term than "relegated"- the best I could do was put it in quotation marks.

Reply 13

ellewoods

10

Ethereal

Why do people assume the top students must all go work in MC/top firms??

Precisely!!

I chose to apply to a national firm with regional offices with a family department, because that's what I'm interested in, plus there isn't much space in London for keeping horses! :rolleyes:

My firm is Top 20 with excellent prospects. They do not specify where I undertake my LPC.

I am not a "standard" or "relegated" student, I am one that chose not to apply to Magic Circle firms for my own reasons.

Reply 14

trina

1

It might interest you guys to know that the Nottingham law school is in the process of creating a way of studying the Nottingham LPC in London.
It seems to me that they must feel that the students they want to teach aren't coming to Nottingham, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it. Perhaps it reflects the fact that MC firms are now demanding specific LPC courses in London or perhaps students simply want to study in London.
I'm not implying a criticism of any student who chooses not to apply to a MC firm, but the fact is the majoity of the brightest students do seem to see their future there and to my mind, Nottingham's decision to create a London-based LPC reflects that.

Reply 15

OP

trina

It might interest you guys to know that the Nottingham law school is in the process of creating a way of studying the Nottingham LPC in London.
It seems to me that they must feel that the students they want to teach aren't coming to Nottingham, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it. Perhaps it reflects the fact that MC firms are now demanding specific LPC courses in London or perhaps students simply want to study in London.
I'm not implying a criticism of any student who chooses not to apply to a MC firm, but the fact is the majoity of the brightest students do seem to see their future there and to my mind, Nottingham's decision to create a London-based LPC reflects that.

LOL, they are calling it the "Nottingham at Kaplan Law School". It seems they have teamed together with Kaplan- the international admissions test helper, such as for LNAT.
See this link for more information:
http://www.kaplan.com/AboutKaplan/PressReleases/June-22-NottinghamLawSchool.htm

Wonder if they are going to attract any Top-end Law Firms to send their trainees to their place in London.

Reply 16

rah2

6

Well Nottingham had the vast majority of the 'top' trainees until about three years ago, its a shame for them how they've lost favour to BPP and CoL.

Reply 17

rah2

6

?

I'm not sure that requires a neg rep of 20 points or so? Its the truth. For the more sensitive individuals out there note the 'top' is in quotation marks, suggesting i do not advocate this view.

:rolleyes:

Reply 18

Lewisy-boy

11

Nottingham had the highest pass rates and was highly regarded as the best LPC provider up until very recently, what he said was almost entirely accurate. But since its affiliated to the ghastly trent i couldn't possibly agree :biggrin:

Reply 19

OP