Think carefully when choosing your Legal Practice Course (LPC), as where you study may help determine your success. Factors to consider include course reputation, electives, location and funding.

See a full list of institutions offering the LPC.

Your choice of course might be determined by the firm sponsoring you, but if you are free to decide then make sure you consider the following.

Course reputation

The reputation of the course provider is likely to be your main consideration. The Law Society regularly monitors and assesses all course providers, and grades each area of the course.

You can check the ratings of each institution at www.lpc.lawsociety.org.uk.

Deferral or part-time study?

You may consider taking time out to get relevant experience before starting an LPC. This is a good idea in theory, but you need to weigh up the benefits realistically.

Experience is an asset, but will your motivation to study go off the boil? Earning can help to pay LPC fees, but can you earn enough to make it worthwhile?

You may be able to get paralegal work and take the LPC part time, but working and studying at the same time is not an easy thing to do. More firms are showing interest in part-time qualifying routes, but they remain in the minority.

Course structure and electives

Does the content, teaching methods and assessment of the course meet your needs and provide the right environment?

Each institution offers its own range of electives. Make sure you apply for courses where you can study the subjects you are interested in.

Resources

What are the facilities like? Are they dedicated to LPC students or shared with other groups? Are individual learning resources provided as part of the package? Ask tutors and current students about this when you visit.

Location

Should you stay where you did your first degree (if they offer the LPC) because you know the set-up, or move elsewhere? Could studying elsewhere help reduce your living costs, or let you explore (and hopefully make contacts in) the area where you are hoping to secure a job?

Finding a job

Around 50% of LPC students are usually still looking for a training contract when they start the course.

How much help will you receive if you are one of those? Find out what professional links the institutions have, what percentage of students have secured work after finishing the course, and whether the institution offers careers advice and assistance.