Law and order: BPP University’s practice-based programmes provide a clear path to the legal profession

Amy McLellan on the law school that sets itself apart with unrivalled links to employers

All the tutors are either practising or former barristers

With the mince pies eaten and the Christmas specials watched, thoughts start to turn to the New Year and promises of fresh starts and new ventures. If you’re wondering where 2016 will take you, then the festive lull is a good opportunity to think seriously about your future. If higher education is the right option for you, now is the time to take action: the deadline for applications is 15 January, putting you on track to start university nine months later, in September 2016.

For those with a clear career plan in mind, it makes sense to pick a university that shares those ambitions and is focused on successfully preparing students for real-world jobs. BPP University, an independent institution with seven study centres across the UK and six in London, is dedicated to business and the professions. Its programmes are practice-based and designed in collaboration with leading employers to make sure the next generation of solicitors, barristers, accountants, and business and healthcare professionals can hit the ground running.

The university has four schools – the law school, business school, school of health and school of foundation and English language studies – but is perhaps best known for its excellent law school.

BPP University Law School offers a practical undergraduate degree, known as the LLB, after which would-be lawyers specialise through a post-grad qualification (the LPC for solicitors or the BPTC for barristers). Because it provides exclusive legal training for trainees at more than 50 of the top law firms, BPP University has unrivalled links with leading employers, ensuring both undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum is highly attuned to the needs of the profession. This offers a great benefit to students, who are able to gain a clear edge when it comes to standing out in a fiercely-competitive market place for coveted training contracts or pupillage, the vocational training required of solicitors and barristers respectively.

BPP University has unrivalled links with leading employers, ensuring both undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum is highly attuned to the needs of the profession

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James Reckitt, 21, is studying for the BPTC at BPP University in Leeds, having picked the law school because all the tutors are either practising or former barristers. This provides invaluable insight into the realities of life at the bar, says Reckitt, who has already secured pupillage: “they really bring it to life.”

It is not just lawyers who should consider this style of practical degree. Those seeking to work in business, finance and management can pick from a range of career-focused programmes: for aspiring accountants the BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance offers students a fast-track for certification with a range of professional bodies, Alternatively, for those seeking a healthcare career there is the established School of Health, which has a range of specialist health and social care degrees & courses.

Programmes are designed to be flexible, including distance-learning options, with a number of undergraduate intakes throughout the year: those who can’t wait until September 2016 are advised to contact the admissions office to find out about alternative start dates.

For further information about BPP University’s programmes, please visit www.bppuniversity.ac.uk or call 03300 379 049