Top Up LLM FAQs

If we haven't answered your question(s) with the information below then please email us at nclt@nclt.co.uk or call the NCLT Team on 0121 326 7529.

Q1 Who is NCLT?

Q2 Why choose NCLT?

Q3 What is the LLM in Legal Practice (Top up)?

Q4 What topics can I do for my RPP?

Q5 What support do I get?

Q6 How long can/should I take?

Q7 What are the deadlines for applying?

Q8 How and when do I apply; I've already got an LPC or BPTC?

Q9 How and when do I apply; I am currently studying on NCLT's LPC?

Q10 What's the cost?

Q11 Where will I study?

Q12 When will the results be published?

Q13 What's the pass mark?

Q14 What happens if I fail?

Q15 Can I get a Merit or a Distinction?

Q1 Who are NCLT?

NCLT (National College of Legal Training) is a collaboration between CLT (Central Law Training), the UK's premier provider of legal training and UWE. Established some 25 years ago, CLT has been delivering conferences, courses, professional qualifications and webinars to a wide range of firms all over the country and UWE (University of the West of England) is one ofBritain's most popular universities, with around 30,000 students and 3,000 staff and is the largest provider of Higher Education in the South West of England. 

Q2 Why choose NCLT?

NCLT is different. It is all about offering something better for less. It can do this because it concentrates on the important things - quality materials, experienced, knowledgeable tutors and efficient processes.

Q3 What is the LLM in Legal Practice (Top up)?

Having completed an LPC you will have accrued 120 credits. A Masters award (LLM) requires 180 credits.  If you successfully complete NCLT's LLM Top Up course it will provide you with the outstanding 60 credits to enable you to be awarded an LLM in Legal Practice.

You will be required to generate 3 formal documents during the process:

The first, a one page Outline will need to be submitted with your application, indicating the area of law you intend to work in, what you intend to do and the form of your Research and Practice Portfolio (RPP).  This will enable NCLT to consider whether it can support you through your LLM and assess your RPP.

The second, is a five to six page Proposal, which forms part of the LLM. This is submitted after registration but early in the process. This goes further than your Outline but the purpose is the same; to define what you are going to research and what you are going to produce. It has to be in a prescribed form. The Proposal is marked by our internal examiners and by the external examiner. If your Proposal is approved you can then start writing the RPP.

Finally the RPP itself. The RPP is expected to be between 12,000 and 15,000 words. We recommend that you go for the top end of the range; you would have to write extremely well to pass on a 12,000 word document. Again this has to be in prescribed form on a template NCLT supplies, which will be about 45/46 pages long.

Q4 What topics can I do for my RPP?

Topic choice is up to you. Your RPP has to based on, or be for use in, legal practice (eg practice note, training materials or precedent with drafting note, case study/ies); we think they will probably be sparked by ideas arising from your electives.

Q5 What support do I get?

At the beginning - before you submit your Proposal, you will attend a two day course - Research Methods Programme which comprises an introduction to research, research methodology and research methods. This includes sessions on how to write a Research and Practice Portfolio and on reflective learning; reflection is an important part of research. The two day course takes place at the Frenchay campus, UWE, Bristol.

After you have attended the Research Methods Programme you will be allocated a Supervisor.  The Supervisor will be a member of the teaching staff with expertise in the subject area you have chosen. Shortly after this the Supervisor will meet with you to discuss your ideas and assist you in preparing your Proposal. The Supervisor will also guide you on your proposed timetable for writing the RPP.   

Please note the LLM is a self study programme; ie self-directed learning with advice but no teaching (apart from the Research Methods Programme).

Q6 How long can/should I take?

If you want to complete the RPP in a short space of time (for employment or other reasons) you may do so. Your Supervisor will help you make a decision on this. We would envisage that you would not be able to write something satisfactory in less than 3 or 4 months.

Or you can take your time but you must have submitted your RPP within 5 years of registering for the BPTC/LPC. Extensions for Extenuating Circumstances are likely to be rare; and pressure of work is not an acceptable reason for non completion. In any event we would encourage you to complete within 12 months of your BPTC/LPC results to keep your work fresh and not be a burden to you.

Q7 What are the deadlines for applying?

You must register for the LLM within 30 months of passing the LPC / BPTC and submit the RPP within 5 years of registering for the LPC/BPTC. However we strongly recommend registering for the LLM immediately after passing LPC/BPTC and completing within 6 - 12 months thereafter.

Q8 How and when do I apply; I've already got an LPC or BPTC?

If you have already passed NCLT's LPC you can apply now; although there may be a delay until we can run a Research Methods Programme for you. This depends on the number of applications.

If you have undertaken the LPC or BPTC with another authorised provider you can still enrol on NCLT's LLM Top Up. 

Q9 How and when do I apply; I am currently studying on NCLT's LPC?

If you are currently studying NCLT's LPC, you can apply at any time after you have started studying for your last round of assessments.  In most cases this will be when you start your elective subjects. If you have not completed your LPC when you apply we can make you an offer which is conditional on your passing the LPC.

We would encourage you to think about possible topics and how you would research them during the electives period. Speak to tutors who teach relevant practice areas.

We envisage current LPC students writing and submitting their Outline in the fortnight after completing their last LPC assessment, formally registering as LLM students on the issue of the results (as you have to have an LPC to do the LLM), attending the Research Methods Programme in early/mid July and completing the LLM in time for the February or June (of the year following) LLM exam boards.

Q10 What's the cost?

The fees are:

£1,995 for NCLT LPC students (July 2011 course)

£2,450 for non NCLT students (July 2011 course)

NB. For the course starting January 2012, fess will be released on the website shortly.

Fees are payable upfront once your Outline has been accepted and you are enrolled on the course.

Q11 Where will I study?

The LLM is a self study programme; ie self directed learning with advice but no teaching (apart from the Research Methods Programme).

So after the Research Methods Programme you need not come onto campus at all; although you are very welcome to use the Library and other campus facilities if you wish and we would be very happy to see you.

If you choose not to come to campus, all UWE's electronic resources (eg e-library, Blackboard and IT services) will be available to you.

You will need to have at least one meeting with your Supervisor but the "meetings" could be on the telephone or via e-mail.

Q12 When will the results be published?

LLM boards take place in September, February and June. We need two months in which to mark the Research & Practice Portfolio, so if you submitted your RPP in say December, you should be considered by the February board. The timeframe is up to you; although you are expected to discuss and agree it with your supervisor.

Results are published within 2 weeks of the LLM Board.

Q13 What's the pass mark?

50%

Q14 What happens if I fail?

You would be entitled to one meeting with your Supervisor for feedback on your fail and one further attempt (a re-write and re-submission). Your mark would be capped at 50%. The further attempt must be submitted within the overall 5 year deadline.

Q15 Can I get a Merit or a Distinction?

If you passed the NCLT LPC:

• If you scored 60% or more on both the LPC and the RPP you could be awarded a Merit.
• If you scored 70% or more on both the LPC and RPP you could be awarded a Distinction.

If you studied your LPC or BPTC with another provider other than NCLT then we regret you will only be able to receive a 'pass' grade. This is to do with the way 'accredited prior learning' works and because NCLT will only have marked one third of the work ie your RPP.