Understanding Legal Practice PGDip/Professional Legal Practice LLM

Postgraduate

Female law student wearing robes and wig sitting in a court with notes in front of her, two people sitting behind her, blurred

Gain in-depth legal knowledge and professional skills to pursue solicitor or CILEx lawyer qualifications, with the option to achieve a master’s by completing the Professional Legal Practice LLM course.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

FBLT183 LLM
FBLT184 PGDip

Start date

September 2025
January 2026

How to apply

Book an Open Day

Postgraduate events

Ask a question

Course overview

Our professional legal practice preparation courses are designed for law graduates or those who have completed a Principles of Law PGCert or similar course.

Choose to study the Understanding Legal Principles PGDip or undertake the Professional Legal Practice LLM course, which includes an additional Case Study Project and results in a master’s level qualification on successful completion.

Prepare to take the professional qualifications required to pursue a career as a solicitor or a Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) lawyer.
Develop your ability to apply legal knowledge and skills, to both the theory and practice of law using real-world scenarios.
Understand professional ethics requirements of a legal practitioner based upon the Code of Conduct of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

On completion of the course, you are required to arrange and take the applicable examination with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) if you wish to become a solicitor, or with CILEx if you wish to become a CILEx lawyer and pay the associated fee (see section exemptions for more information).

The course is designed to prepare you to sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) Part 1 and (if you complete Professional Legal Practice LLM) Part 2. This is not embedded in the course. You will have to sit the exam independently and directly with the SRA.

The course is also designed to prepare you to sit the CILEx lawyer professional examinations (CPQ), which is not embedded in the course. You will have to sit the exam independently and directly with CILEx.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

Professional development pathways: develop knowledge of the law and professional practice required to sit both the SRA SQE and/or the CILEx lawyer professional programme, leading to a career in the legal profession.
Practice-based learning: learn through a range of workshops and practice your professional skills, including advocacy, interviewing, negotiation, writing and drafting, in addition to acquiring the required legal knowledge.
Networking opportunities: access Coventry Law School’s ‘Raising the Bar’ scheme, providing you with the opportunity to network with members of the legal profession.
Flexible study options: module-based delivery allows you to study around work and other commitments while enhancing your career and progression prospects.
Teaching excellence: learn from academics and qualified professional practitioners with experience of law and practice relevant to each module.

Memberships

International Association of Law Schools

Coventry Law School is a member of the International Association of Law Schools, an association of around 160 law schools from over 55 countries, representing around 7,500 law faculty members. Having this status allows you to access a variety of international experiences, including with our partner institutions across the world.

European Law Faculties Association (ELFA)

Coventry Law School is currently a member of the European Law Faculties Association with over 250 members from Europe and beyond.

British and Irish Law Education and Technology Association

Coventry Law School is currently a member of British and Irish Law Education and Technology Association, one of the largest Technology Law associations in Europe.

These memberships are renewed annually and there is currently no intentions for these memberships to lapse. However if our membership is not renewed for any reason, we would notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Collaborations

Central England Law Centre

Coventry Law School collaborates with the Central England Law Centre in order to offer a powerful professional element to your learning, through our Law Employment and Advocacy clinics. Students who participate in the clinics get involved with everything that the solicitors do at the Law Centre with supervisors who are currently working in practice and experts in specific areas of law. They get hands-on-experience doing reserved legal activities, providing supervised advice and assistance to members of the public.

Changes in the legal profession has made it easier to start a career in law

What you'll study

Learn key subjects such as business law, dispute resolution, property law and wills, all aligned with the SQE and CILEx requirements. You'll also develop essential professional skills, including advocacy and negotiation.

If you choose to progress to the Professional Legal Practice LLM degree, you’ll have the opportunity to work on a project based on a real-world legal case study.

Understanding Legal Practice PGDip – 120 credits

All modules are compulsory to complete Understanding Legal Practice PGDip (excluding the Case Study Project).

Professional Legal Practice LLM – 180 credits

In addition to the compulsory modules, you will need to undertake the Case Study Project to complete the Professional Legal Practice LLM course.

Modules

Business Law and Practice – 20 credits

Build the knowledge, understanding and skills to identify and deal with a range of legal and ethical issues likely to be encountered in business. Learn about business formation, including the types of business, funding and liability. Explore the nature and function of various company structures, the rights and obligations of shareholders and directors, and how business may come to an end. Examine how business law principles are applied in professional legal practice, as well as the fundamentals of business ethics, including decision-making, governance and corporate social responsibility in a global economy.

Compulsory

Dispute Resolution – 20 credits

Dispute resolution is wider than litigation and has become common place for alternative dispute resolution. This module considers the various types of alternative dispute resolution including arbitration and mediation and how they are used as a means of alternative dispute resolution. You will have the opportunity to learn and apply the rules and etiquette used in such forums to provide access to justice and resolve of legal disputes. Develop key negotiation skills through exploration of authentic case studies.

Compulsory

Property Law and Practice – 20 credits

Learn to identify and evaluate a range of legal and ethical issues likely to be encountered in property law and practice. Examine the types of title to land, commercial and residential tenancies, and the conveyancing process. In addition to exploring how the key principles, theories and concepts of property law apply in professional legal practice, explore the various ethical dilemmas that individuals and organisations may face when dealing with property law issues. Understand the impact of professional ethics within land transactions, including money laundering.

Compulsory

Wills, Administration of Estates and Trusts – 20 credits

Gain the knowledge understanding and skills to identify and deal with a range of legal and ethical issues likely to be encountered when drafting wills and subsequently dealing with the estate when the client is deceased. This will include an examination of testate and intestate estates and related succession matters. Cover the drafting of a will, what makes a will valid and the planning of the administration of the estate. Explore the rights, powers and duties of the parties involved and how the estate is distributed after the death of the client.

Compulsory

Solicitors Accounts and Tax – 20 credits

Discover the accounting techniques used in legal practice and tackle various tax-related legal issues faced by solicitors. Learn how to compile and analyse accounts for strategic and operational decisions and examine ethical frameworks and accounting presumptions. Explore ethical decision-making in tax and financial transaction recording. This module covers key UK taxes, including income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporation tax and VAT, as well as specific taxes such as stamp duty.

Compulsory

Civil and Criminal Litigation – 20 credits

Develop advanced knowledge and understanding of how criminal and civil law works in practice. Acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to understand how the criminal and civil law is applied in practical situations and is governed by the Criminal Procedure Rules and Civil Procedure Rules respectively. You will have the opportunity to develop your advocacy skills through practical sessions that involve role-plays representing clients both in the criminal and civil courts.

Compulsory

Case Study Project – 60 credits

This module draws on and develops the professional legal skills gained throughout the course. Act as a legal professional for a hypothetical client facing various legal issues, such as starting a business, buying property and drafting a will. By applying your professional legal skills to a complex case study, you will tackle real-world legal problems, demonstrating a wide array of abilities. This project allows you to compile oral and written evidence of your skills, including attendance notes, negotiation strategies and skeleton arguments.

Compulsory for Professional Legal Practice LLM only

Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

Routes into a Legal Career

Find out more about how Coventry University can kick start your legal career through our preparation courses.

Learn more

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
presentations
group projects
workshops
practical laboratory sessions.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Guided and independent study

hroughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending on the module. Assessment methods may include:

reports
tests
essays
exams
practical coursework
assignments
multiple choice questions
skills-based activities
viva
presentations.

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Additional assessment

Our professional legal practices courses are designed to prepare you for the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) and CILEx professional level (CPQ). These are external examinations that you will have to arrange and sit independently on successful completion of this course at Coventry University (additional fees will apply).

Currently, the external examinations consist of:

SQE 1 tests functioning legal knowledge and is assessed 100 per cent by multiple choice questions (MCQ). This covers the knowledge of law and professional practice.
CILEx Professional Level Qualification is assessed by a portfolio of multiple-choice questions, short answer questions and skills-based activities.

If you complete the Professional Legal Practice LLM, you can also prepare for:

SQE 2, which is assessed by a series of skills-based activities testing the development of professional legal skills such as advocacy, negotiation, client interviewing and drafting.

To prepare you for this, it is essential that the assessment on our professional legal practice courses reflect what you will encounter in those external exams.

Consequently, the course is assessed by MCQs and portfolios that may comprise of MCQ tests, short answer question and skills-based activities.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

A UK law degree (minimum 2:2), the Graduate Diploma in Law (or equivalent law conversion course) or a PGCert Principles of Law from Coventry University.

Alternative qualifications or work experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Typical entry requirements

A UK law degree (minimum 2:2), the Graduate Diploma in Law (or equivalent law conversion course) or a PGCert Principles of Law from Coventry University.

Alternative qualifications or work experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 6.0.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200 LLM PGDip 2025/26 fees TBC	Not available
EU	£11,200 LLM per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 LLM per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600 LLM PGDip 2025/26 fees TBC	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Develop your advocacy and courtroom skills in our moot room. It is used to simulate mock court trials where you and other students can role-play as barristers, sharpening your legal skills and knowledge.

Use the legal clinic to develop your practical legal skills and help you stand out in your future career. You will have access to 'real' clients and work with supervisors who are currently working in practice and who are experts in specific areas of law.

People walking in front of a building which has a big library sign

Lanchester Library

The library is usually open 24/7, in term-time. It’s where you can access your course’s specialist Academic Liaison Librarian. It’s also home to specialist teams which can support you with your academic writing and maths and statistics questions.

Glass modern building with a spire in the background

The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student life on campus. Facilities include a food court, convenience store, multi-faith centre, medical centre, hairdresser, coffee shops and the Your SU offices. It has fully licensed function spaces and a bar.

Two people working together with a laptop in front of them

Careers and employability

Get one-on-one career and employability guidance lasting up to 36 months from the end of your course. We’ll help you find placements and graduate roles, offer CV and application checks, mentoring, skills workshops, employer events and more.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

Our professional legal practice course prepares you to enter the legal profession as a solicitor or CILEx lawyer, equipping you for professional-level assessments in both fields.

Upon successful completion, it is anticipated that you'll be ready to undertake the necessary assessments and transition into your chosen legal career, meeting the requirements of relevant regulatory bodies.

Additionally, the skills you develop are highly transferable, opening up various other career opportunities.

On successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

Understand and critically evaluate knowledge of legal principles, concepts and theories as they apply to professional practice.
Demonstrate the professional legal skills required for professional legal practice.
Understand the professional ethical requirements for the legal profession and apply ethical decision-making.
Draw reasoned conclusions through the application of legal principles and knowledge and legal practice to complex authentic problems, whilst tolerating ambiguity and recognising alternative legal and practical outcomes.
Communicate effectively and professionally, by conveying and explaining legal information, ideas and arguments in appropriate contexts to a range of specialist and non-specialist audiences e.g., supervising legal professionals, clients.
Identify and critically evaluate relevant information from primary and secondary legal sources, using both digital and non-digital resources, whilst adhering to principles of academic integrity.
Demonstrate self-management, including through reflective practice, make effective use of feedback, and work independently or collaboratively as appropriate.
Develop and apply a range of practical professional legal skills through a hypothetical authentic case study, evidencing professional conduct and ethical decision making.
Understand the role and responsibilities of the various branches of the legal profession and how the UK legal qualifications apply both in the UK and around the world.

Where our graduates work

Previous law graduates from Coventry Law School have gone on to work at a wide variety of organisations and firms including:

DAC Beachcroft
NFU Mutual
PwC
Deloitte
Linklaters
Countrywide Tax and Trust Corporation
Oracle
Squire Patton Boggs
Stobbs
Co-op Legal Services.

Further study

After completion of this course, further graduate level study such as a PhD may be considered.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online. Please read the entry criteria page before applying.

Full-time applications

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Full-time international students should apply directly to the university. Please read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degrees view our International hub.

You can also download our international mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and memberships

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

Where relevant, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) module content is undergoing assessment by the CMI to confirm that all criteria are met to the required standard. Whilst it is expected that students who successfully pass the module will be eligible to be considered by CMI for the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice as an additional qualification, we cannot confirm this until the accreditation is approved. This is a normal part of the continuous improvement process for our courses to ensure they remain up-to-date and reflect best practice.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.