BPP law degree or reapply somewhere else next year?

[wisecamel]

Hi, has anyone studied the law degree at BPP? A family member has just had A level results and been offered a place with BPP, but I'm not sure if I should be advising him to take a year out and reapply to more traditional universities. Would he be more likely to get a job going somewhere else? I'd never heard of BPP and googled them to find out who they are. He asked me what I thought, and I have no idea! Can anyone put my mind at rest that he is doing the right thing? He got AAB. Thanks!

I can't answer your question but I can tell you something about BPP.
I graduated over thirty years ago. I got articles with one of the big Accountancy firms: this means that I worked during the day and studied at night to pass the professional exams. Tuition was provided by block-release and the same company did revision, assessments, mock exams etc. Our firm didn't use BPP but many of the big-names frms did.
What I am saying is that BPP have been around for a long time, providing post-graduate level training to the professions so they know about practical learning. What they are like about more esoteric, research-based academics (which is what the traditional providers of degrees do) I don't know.

Also, does your relative realise that a holder of AAB is a specialy blessed applicant this year? This year has seen changes to the admissions process - with universities allowed to recruit an unlimited number of students with AAB A-level grades or better

Thanks senua you have put my mind at rest. He is very career focussed so this may suit him, particularly if he can 'fast-track' some of the modules, avoiding the traditional long summer break and qualify sooner.

I am a lawyer. BPP are a reputable provider of CPD (continuing professional development courses) but I was unaware they did traditional law degrees.

IMO I would advise your relative to think quite carefully. Law firms are inundated with candidates for training contracts. There are far too many law graduates and not nearly enough training contracts. Most law firms will also look at where the degree is from. That's not to say that BPP would be held against your relative but it would be unusual not to do a law degree at a university. Is he planning on working at the same time? Presumably it's distance learning?

I also can't comment about law. But I did do my accountancy exam tuition through BPP. They were excellent.

Yes, they are not a traditional provider, but I bet they have excellent contacts.

I did my GDL (law conversion) at BPP. It's quite a standard place to go for GDL and LPC but the LLB is still quite new and I think firms will generally prefer a traditional uni. I don't think it's a terrible option and it does have some advantages I guess (taught by ex lawyers, more practical, chance to do pro bono work) but with AAB your relative might be able to go somewhere more traditional. I don 't think it would be that great in terms of uni life - I always found it a bit businesslike.

Good luck to him anyway wherever he goes!

Agree with Ellen - I know people who have been there for the conversion course. It's not like being at university - basically for the GDL/LPC they will take anyone who can pay so there is no screening in terms of academics (probably different for LLB). I think firms would probably prefer a degree from a traditional university, where there will also be more extra-curricular activities he can get involved him which are good for the CV.

Are his A levels in traditional subjects or a little more unusual? If they are academic A levels e.g. History, English & Maths then no prob getting into a traditional Uni for Law.

If they are more unusual such as Theatre Studies, Media Studies and product design then it might be a good idea to take the BPP place.

Do you know which A levels he studied?

For a law degree and not GDL I would be really inclined to go the traditional university route. Law firms are looking for more than just the qualifications when they recruit. They look for the potential of bringing in business, and where you do your degree matters to them from that pov. He might also find that getting articled was easier if he was admitted to a better university.

Thanks for your responses - pippop he studied maths (B) business studies (A) and geography (A) but he's all signed up to BPP now, so whatever happens will happen.

I admit, I was a bit anxious about it as I thought he might be able to have more of a university experience and better prospects somewhere else, but he's a couple of years older than your average A level student due to time out for health issues and he's just wanting to get to work, rather than live the uni student life and I do respect and admire that. Also he can continue to live where he does now and hopefully get some work experience in during the course.

Whatever will be will be! Thanks for your advice.

I wanted to go there when there was talk of a special 'commercial' or city LPC but went to CoL instead as it hadn't materialised by then. In those days we were told that most firms don't like the llb or llm, just a good normal academic degree then pgdl and lpc/bvc but I expect things have changed?

They are sound subjects and the fact that he is a little more mature should help. Definitely look for work experience anywhere.

Why don’t you check some online courses? I have also opted for the Best LSAT Courses online at testmaxprep.com/lsat/ and they are benefiting me a lot in a way that there is no time bound thing involved and also, I can study wherever and wherever I have time apart from my regular classes.

He is all signed up. Most lawyers use BPP just for post grad and get jobs after on the back of the status of their first university but BPP have good contacts with employers. They also do a law degree in only 2 years so someone wanting to keep fees right down could do the 2 year law degree and one year GDL after, in London and loads of work experience as they went through and may do okay.

he should try to get as much legal work experience as he can and in year 2 (assuming 3 year degree) right at the start of year 2 apply for vacation placements at law firms for the second year - or holiday after end of second year but there is a strict timetable so he shoudl be thinking of applying a year after he starts his degree and look at the law firm websites (if he wants to work in a law firm and more importantly wants them to pay his post grad fees for him and pay him for the vacation scheme work - a lot of the law firms recruit from those getting places on their vacation schemes - BPP will also be able to tell him all about that).

This is a thread from 2012...

Ooops. May be we can find out how he did then - he would have graduated in 2015, finished GDL in 2016 and possible qualifies as a solicitor later this year.