How important is it to do the LPC with your starting cohort?

[Harky167]

Hello!

I have a TC which I am down to start in Feb 2024.
I've just been asked by my law firm to decide if I want to start my LPC early (Jan 2023) or do it with my cohort in July 2023.

Obviously, it would be most preferable to start in July with my entry cohort so I can get to know everybody better and feel more integrated.
On the other hand, July 2023 is 9 months away and I'm slightly worried that I'll forget everything from my GDL (which I finished June this year) and my brain will just lose momentum.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks!

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hello!

I have a TC which I am down to start in Feb 2024.
I've just been asked by my law firm to decide if I want to start my LPC early (Jan 2023) or do it with my cohort in July 2023.

Obviously, it would be most preferable to start in July with my entry cohort so I can get to know everybody better and feel more integrated.
On the other hand, July 2023 is 9 months away and I'm slightly worried that I'll forget everything from my GDL (which I finished June this year) and my brain will just lose momentum.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks!

You will get to know the earlier cohort though (that is by no means a bad thing - you'll have people/friends you know who are six months ahead of you that you can seek advice/guidance from). You could also put effort in to get to know your trainee cohort through other means outside of studying the LPC.

Given both of those things, I don't think it is very important at all.

The gap in knowledge point could also apply to the LPC to TC gap too though.

But even then, I don't think the gap is that big enough to worry about it. I would go with whatever start date works best for you and what you want to do with the time you will have out.

 

[HopefulFutureTrainee]

Hello!

I have a TC which I am down to start in Feb 2024.
I've just been asked by my law firm to decide if I want to start my LPC early (Jan 2023) or do it with my cohort in July 2023.

Obviously, it would be most preferable to start in July with my entry cohort so I can get to know everybody better and feel more integrated.
On the other hand, July 2023 is 9 months away and I'm slightly worried that I'll forget everything from my GDL (which I finished June this year) and my brain will just lose momentum.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks!

Hi! I am currently doing my LPC outside of London, and most of the other future trainees from my firm are doing it together in Holborn. Despite this, I don't feel excluded or anything - we have a group chat where we communicate from time to time, and we will meet when we go to firm events, so I agree with what Jessica said above in terms of choosing what works best for you.

 

[Jane Smith]

I would get started ono it as you can get to know the other trainees in due course anyway. It is not really like going to university at 18 and making friends for life. Best to get on with it so it is over and done with quickly.