Centre for Professional Legal Studies

We offer :

• A course provided by a leading ‘old’ university with substantial experience of delivering high quality professional legal education
• Outstanding library and IT facilities
• Support and training in use of IT facilities at the start of the course
• Specially adapted teaching rooms all equipped with cameras, video-recorders and playback facilities to assist in giving feedback in oral skills
• A mock courtroom
• A magnificent civic centre location within walking distance of all the facilities of a capital city
• Major Crown Court, Employment Tribunal and Civil Justice Centres all within walking distance of the Law School, enabling you to observe a wide range of advocacy outside class
• A course designed by practitoners with substantial experience in consultation with members of the Local Bar and Judiciary
• Your own copy of practitioner texts (The White Book and Archbold)
• A course strongly supported by the local employed Bar, the independent Bar and the Judiciary
• A guaranteed place in a University Hall of Residence for overseas students
• Practice experience, following appropriate training, through the Pro Bono scheme and Innocence Projects run by the Law School

• A guaranteed period of two weeks’ placements in the first term, consisting of: a week providing a minipupillage with a local chambers or other placement with the employed Bar together with time with a district judge; a second week marshalling with a local Circuit Judge in the Crown or County Court
• A course which focuses on the development of your Advocacy skills and offers almost weekly two hour classes in groups of 6 or less students in all three terms
• Tutors who have substantial practitioner experience and who have been NITA, IATC or ATC trained to teach advocacy
• A friendly and supportive teaching environment
• A small cosmopolitan student body enabling you to get to know all your fellow students
• A high staff/student ratio (currently over 1:8) enabling us to provide you with a high level of individual feedback and support on your performance in the oral and written skills
• Support and advice in your pursuit of a career as a Barrister, including advice on CVs and mock interviews
• Access to all the facilities, sporting and recreational of 'One of the best Students’ Unions in the country'
• All skills practices in small groups exceed the BSB recommended minimum, are performed in full and observed in their entirety by the tutor