LLM (SQE1+SQE2) at ULaw or BPP

[elinlindelow]

Hi all,

Is anyone currently doing/have done the LLM (SQE1+SQE2) course at either Ulaw or BPP (in London)?

Looking to start the course this year and would appreciate some advice/insight.

Thank you.

 

[axelbeugre]

Hi all,

Is anyone currently doing/have done the LLM (SQE1+SQE2) course at either Ulaw or BPP (in London)?

Looking to start the course this year and would appreciate some advice/insight.

Thank you.

Hey @elinlindelow,

Thank you for the question as it will help many in your same shoes and me personally too. I am going to start the program in September at BPP so I personally do not have knowledge on how to prepare. However, I have many friends who have started the program last September and just sat the SQE1.

The main advice they gave me is to start preparing for the courses you will not do on the course now so contract, public, tort, land, trusts, criminal. You should prepare those before starting so when you start you already have the basics down and you can focus a lot more on the new courses. Additionally, they told me that it is important to keep yourself up to date with the knowledge from those core courses and do multiple choice questions every weekend on those subjects that are not going to be taught on the program. This will allow you to be more prepared when SQE1 comes along.

I hope this was helpful!

 

[j.s.cox]

I am doing the CCP (which is the SQE1, SQE2, and masters) at BPP. I would not recommend ULaw or BPP, but I would choose ULaw over BPP. The materials we have been given were definitely not enough to support us going into the SQE.

QLTS has a really good programme and their practice test was most similar to the SQE1. BARBRI is also pretty good as they have lots of MCQs to practice and are a lot more flexible than other providers.

 

[elinlindelow]

Hey @elinlindelow,

Thank you for the question as it will help many in your same shoes and me personally too. I am going to start the program in September at BPP so I personally do not have knowledge on how to prepare. However, I have many friends who have started the program last September and just sat the SQE1.

The main advice they gave me is to start preparing for the courses you will not do on the course now so contract, public, tort, land, trusts, criminal. You should prepare those before starting so when you start you already have the basics down and you can focus a lot more on the new courses. Additionally, they told me that it is important to keep yourself up to date with the knowledge from those core courses and do multiple choice questions every weekend on those subjects that are not going to be taught on the program. This will allow you to be more prepared when SQE1 comes along.

I hope this was helpful!

Thank you Axel,

That's helpful advice.

(provided I don't get a training contract before starting the course) I wonder how to choose between ULaw and BPP.

Do you have any insight into which provider is better teaching-wise? As well as reputation?

Thanks!

 

[axelbeugre]

Thank you Axel,

That's helpful advice.

(provided I don't get a training contract before starting the course) I wonder how to choose between ULaw and BPP.

Do you have any insight into which provider is better teaching-wise? As well as reputation?

Thanks!

There is no difference from my perspective, they both have strengths and many weaknesses unfortunately. I would choose based on the firms you are interested in. BPP is where majority of the law firms send their candidates to so If i was applying to one of the two I would ultimately choose BPP.

 

[Melisaaa]

There is no difference from my perspective, they both have strengths and many weaknesses unfortunately. I would choose based on the firms you are interested in. BPP is where majority of the law firms send their candidates to so If i was applying to one of the two I would ultimately choose BPP.

Hi Axel

I am about to start the SQe2 with BPP. Can I ask how you found it. Would you recommend it?

 

[sarahfw]

Hi, appreciate this is a bit late to the party, but how long do the LLM SQE courses at Ulaw and BPP last?

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hi, appreciate this is a bit late to the party, but how long do the LLM SQE courses at Ulaw and BPP last?

Hiya @sarahfw

Apologies for the delayed response! I think the answer to your question really depends on whether you're on the full-time or part-time course.

• If you're on the full-time course, you can usually start at different points throughout the year, but it’s typically a 12-month commitment.
• If you're on the part-time course at either ULaw or BPP, the timeframe is much longer (usually 24 months).

For example, I’m currently doing the LLM at ULaw on a full-time basis and started in mid-September. Here’s a rough breakdown of my timeline:

• Mid-September to early December – Preparation for SQE1
• Late January to mid-March – Preparation for SQE2
• After SQE2 (from mid-March onwards) – Additional modules, with classes running into July and August

I hope this gives you a clearer picture of what the timeline looks like for the full-time course! Let us know if you have any other questions. Happy to help.

 

[sarahfw]

Hi all, I'm really nervous about SQE and wanted something to calm my nerves. I've been reading a lot recently about grant and fee clawback clauses and I am getting so stressed about the possibility of having to pay back all that money. @Ram Sabaratnam @Jessica Booker how common is it that firms will ask you to pay back the full amount? I've seen a story online about someone who has been asked to pay back the full amount which is really making me feel very anxious indeed. Thanks so much for your help

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi all, I'm really nervous about SQE and wanted something to calm my nerves. I've been reading a lot recently about grant and fee clawback clauses and I am getting so stressed about the possibility of having to pay back all that money. @Ram Sabaratnam @Jessica Booker how common is it that firms will ask you to pay back the full amount? I've seen a story online about someone who has been asked to pay back the full amount which is really making me feel very anxious indeed. Thanks so much for your help

From what I understand and know, having terms in offers is reasonably common but firms may not act on those terms but have them should they need to in circumstances where the candidate is not keeping to their terms (beyond not passing the SQE assessments.)

Do you have a TC offer? If so, I would look at your terms rather than worrying about this generally.

If you don’t have a TC offer, this is something to consider when you receive an offer - I don’t think it’s worthwhile worrying about it now as it could easily not impact you at all.

 

[sarahfw]

From what I understand and know, having terms in offers is reasonably common but firms may not act on those terms but have them should they need to in circumstances where the candidate is not keeping to their terms (beyond not passing the SQE assessments.)

Do you have a TC offer? If so, I would look at your terms rather than worrying about this generally.

If you don’t have a TC offer, this is something to consider when you receive an offer - I don’t think it’s worthwhile worrying about it now as it could easily not impact you at all.

Hi Jess, thanks so much for the response! I do have a TC offer and we do have a clawback clause in the event of first-time failure of the GDL or SQE, so this is something that worries me specifically especially if I fail the SQE on the first attempt. Do you know how likely it is that firms will request the full expense back in the event of failure?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jess, thanks so much for the response! I do have a TC offer and we do have a clawback clause in the event of first-time failure of the GDL or SQE, so this is something that worries me specifically especially if I fail the SQE on the first attempt. Do you know how likely it is that firms will request the full expense back in the event of failure?

I can't comment on that unfortunately. I don't know the firm and even if I did, I wouldn't be privy to their policies and what factors they consider when considering to use the term or not.

From speaking to firms about this last week though, there seems to be very much a "case by case" attitude to both the resit and claw back policies. For instance, if your attendance of SQE prep course lectures/classes is poor (and for no reason) and you had failed the SQE by some significant margin then they are much more likely to stand by the clause(s) than if you had been diligently keeping up with your studies and only marginally failed.

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hi all, I'm really nervous about SQE and wanted something to calm my nerves. I've been reading a lot recently about grant and fee clawback clauses and I am getting so stressed about the possibility of having to pay back all that money. @Ram Sabaratnam @Jessica Booker how common is it that firms will ask you to pay back the full amount? I've seen a story online about someone who has been asked to pay back the full amount which is really making me feel very anxious indeed. Thanks so much for your help

Hiya @sarahfw

Completely get why this might be playing on your mind (notwithstanding all the unfortunate LegalCheek coverage of the issue). However, I’ll have to echo what @Jessica Booker has already said: unfortunately, clawback clauses do exist, and there have been instances where firms have asked individuals to repay SQE-related fees. I know several people who failed parts of the SQE while studying with me. Some had their training contracts withdrawn, but weren’t asked to repay their fees. In those cases, the firms seemed to recognise that the individuals had taken their studies seriously and were genuinely trying, but just found the exam itself difficult.

As Jess said, my advice would be not to dwell too much on this now. Once you’ve secured a TC and know which provider you’ll be studying with, focus on putting together a structured, consistent study plan that works for you. And if it’s weighing on your mind a lot, it’s okay to ask questions about clawback clauses during the offer stage. Some firms are more flexible than others, and this might factor into your decision-making. But for now, I'd recommend just taking things one step at a time. Good luck and don't let the negative press coverage of this issue get you down

 

[sarahfw]

Thanks for the helpful comments @Ram Sabaratnam @Jessica Booker, it has put my mind at ease a bit. I will just have to take things one step at a time as you say Ram!