Applicants for the CPE/LLM must satisfy the requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority & Bar Standards Board academic stage to gain entry to the CPE/LLM

1. Applicants must therefore,

(I) hold a degree (other than an honorary degree) conferred by an institution in England or Wales empowered by the Privy Council to award degrees or by a university in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland or by the Council for National Academic Awards before its dissolution on 31st March 1993 or a licence awarded by the University College of Buckingham before that college was granted university status,

or

(II) hold a degree (other than an honorary degree) conferred by a university outside the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland which the Society considers to be of a standard at least equivalent to that of a degree conferred by a university in the United Kingdom, or

(III) be accepted by the Society for admission as a mature student, the applicant for such acceptance must:

(a) have had considerable experience or shown exceptional ability in an academic, professional, business or administrative field,

(b) have attained the age of 25 years,

(c) have attained such standard of general education as the Society may consider sufficient,

(d) have satisfied the Society as to character and suitability to become a solicitor, and

(e) have a good knowledge of written and spoken English, or

(IV) be a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Legal Executives , or

(V) be a Member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives who has three years' qualifying employment, or

(VI) have attained the age of 25 years and hold such qualification in Magisterial Law awarded after successful completion of a relevant course as shall from time to time be recognised by the SRA or BSB, or

(VII) have attained such academic and vocational qualifications as the SRA or BSB considers to be equivalent to a first degree under paragraph (i).



2. In exceptional circumstances notified to and accepted as such by the Master of the Rolls, the SRA and BSB may accept such other evidence of academic eligibility as it thinks fit in the case of a person who completes a course of study for a degree at an institution referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii).

Students who wish to qualify as a solicitor should obtain a Certificate of Academic Standing from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Students who wish to qualify as a barrister should obtain a Certificate of Academic Standing from the Bar Standards Board.

A Certificate of Academic Standing issued by one professional body is not binding upon the other professional body

The university will normally require an undergraduate degree 2:2 or above from a UK university. There is normally no restriction on the subject matter of your degree. Candidates from other institutions will be considered on an individual basis. Candidates must also have IELTS level 6.5. This is in line with the University requirement at postgraduate level.

Exemptions from undertaking the whole course

If you have studied and passed at degree level a few ‘foundation' modules, you may apply for partial exemption from undertaking the full course programme, see reference to this in the Academic Stage Handbook. However, where exemptions are granted, so that you do not study the full course programme, you will not be eligible for the Master's award. You will only be eligible for postgraduate credits for the modules you have successful completed.