University of Law

The University of Law
Motto	Leges Juraque Cognoscamus ("May we learn the laws and ordinances")
Established	1962
School type	Private university
Dean	Professor Nigel Savage, Chief Executive
Location	Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Guildford, London (Moorgate and Bloomsbury), Manchester, York, England
Enrollment
Faculty
Website	http://www.law.ac.uk/

The University of Law (formerly The College of Law) is a private teaching university in England which specialises in providing legal education. The University has its own degree awarding powers under English law. It offers courses including the Graduate Diploma in Law, the Bar Professional Training Course, the Legal Practice Course, the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) and the Master of Laws (LL.M).

History

20th century

The Law Society of England and Wales created The College of Law by merging its own School of Law and the tutorial firm Gibson and Weldon in 1962. The College was created in its current legal form by Royal Charter on 5 December 1975. It was registered as a charity on 24 May 1976 with the aim "to promote the advancement of legal education and the study of law in all its branches".

In 1975, the College of Law submitted proposals which changed the face of legal education, recommending a 36-week Final Examination course for aspiring solicitors and a Common Professional Examination (CPE) or law conversion course for non-law graduates. It became a major provider of – and examining body for – the CPE (now known as the Graduate Diploma in Law).

In the 1980s, The Law Society asked the College to produce a scheme for additional tuition in accounts for articled clerks (now trainee solicitors), combining distance learning with one-day’s attendance at lectures. The course became compulsory for those taking the Final Examination, which meant the College was able to develop distance learning study on other courses over the coming years.

The skills-based Legal Practice Course replaced the Final Examination, giving students a more vocational education. Student numbers grew to around 4,500 a year by the mid 1990s. A few years later, the College severed its links with The Law Society and, when the Council for Legal Education lost its monopoly, was able to run the new Bar Vocational Course, now known as the Bar Professional Training Course, for aspiring barristers.^{[citation needed]}

21st century

Former crest of The College of Law

The College of Law pioneered the establishment of pro bono clinics, with students undertaking legal advice work for free under the guidance of practitioners. It also forged international links, introducing young European lawyers to the English legal system for the British Council.

The College restructured its Legal Practice Courses to give students more choice and won a contract to develop law firm-specific LPC programmes for three magic circle firms – Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and Linklaters.

In 2006 the College became the first for-profit institution to be granted degree awarding powers by the Privy Council, leading to development of its Bachelor and Master of Laws degree programmes. The London Moorgate centre was also opened – currently the UK’s largest corporate-specific law school.

In March 2010 the College announced that they would become the first legal education provider in the UK to offer direct access to the New York Bar for non-law graduates.

It was also announced in April 2012 that the College has teamed up with international law firm CMS Cameron McKenna to launch an International Legal Practice Course, the first LPC to focus on the global legal services market.

On 22 November 2012 it was announced that the College was given full University status and its name was changed to "The University of Law".

Campuses

The University of Law has eight branches across England.

Birmingham Campus

• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Chester
• Guildford
• London (Bloomsbury)
• London (Moorgate)
• Manchester
• York

Academics

Courses

A large variety of courses are offered, mainly including:

• the Graduate Diploma in Law (otherwise known as the Common Professional Examination, or the "Law Conversion Course")
• the Bar Professional Training Course (the professional qualification for barristers)
• the LL.M Legal Practice Course (the professional qualification for solicitors) - new for 2013
• the Legal Practice Course (the professional qualification for solicitors)
• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
• Master of Laws (LL.M)

The University of Law is the largest postgraduate legal education provider in Europe with 5,300 students in 2005, and is also a major provider of Continuing Professional Development courses for solicitors and barristers.

The Open University's courses in Law (including the LL.B by distance learning) are offered in association with the University of Law.

As of May 2006 the University of Law became the first private institution to receive the power to award degrees, allowing it to award the degree of LL.B to those of its students who complete both the Graduate Diploma in Law and either the Legal Practice Course or the Bar Professional Training Course.

The University of Law also offers a new two-year undergraduate law degree LL.B which started in September 2012.

The University of Law is a recognised body, an institution which has its own degree awarding powers under British law. It is in the top 100 of UK charities ranked by expenditure.

Reputation

Various student surveys and legal fora show that the University of Law is among the top LPC providers in the UK along with BPP Law School and Kaplan Law School. This may have been attributed to the number of applicants the three law schools receive annually, consistent top ratings from the Solicitors Regulation Authority and their partnerships with law firms.^{[citation needed]}

In an article published in The Daily Telegraph, the University of Law was described as "the country’s longest-established specialist provider of legal education and training". It was further stated "Mix the institution's experience of delivering education, with its unrivalled contacts within the legal profession and no other law school can match their reputation and commitment to preparing future lawyers for the fast moving world of modern law".

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of the University of Law include:

• Jonny Searle, British Olympic rower
• Cherie Blair QC, British barrister
• Lord Falconer of Thoroton, former Lord Chancellor of Great Britain
• Lord Widgery, judge and former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
• Margaret Fiedler, UK-based American musician
• Francis Maude, Conservative Member of Parliament for Horsham
• Cheryl Gillan, Conservative Member of Parliament for Chesham and Amersham
• Baroness Warsi, Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party and Minister without Portfolio
• Edward Garnier QC, Conservative Member of Parliament for Harborough
• Bryan Ian Le Marquand Minister for Home Affairs for States of Jersey and former magistrate
• Guy Stair Sainty, author on royal genealogy and heraldry

External links

• Official website