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Original poster

Lawyers: is it possible to study the LPC full time whilst working part time as a paralegal?

36 replies

googleismyfriend · 31/08/2018 15:32

Just that really.

I will be studying the LPC full time from September: the 2 day a week option. I have an interview for a part time paralegal position coming up, this will be 2-3 days a week.

If I get the position, will this be doable with my full time LPC? Changing to the part time course isn't an option as I have a TC starting in Sept 2019. The main reason I would want to do the role is for experience as a paralegal in a different legal area that I can put on my CV that may help me to stand out if I want/need to make any applications for NQ solicitor positions.

I don't know if this is relevant, but I got a 1st in my LLB from a decent university without too much stress. I have heard that the LPC is a larger workload though...

Thank you in advance for any advice given.

OP posts:
Motherhood101Fail · 31/08/2018 15:37

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cloudtree · 31/08/2018 15:41

I suspect you'd be better off asking the law school. I'm a 20 year PQE solicitor and I haven't a clue how much contact time there is on a current LPC course

AllyMcBeagle · 31/08/2018 15:41

I agree. The LPC is fairly easy. I got 98% in 2 modules without working massively hard.

Where are you studying though? I think it's a lot easier if the exams are open book (eg University of Law) because then it's just basically a question of making sure you have some good notes and flow charts ready for the exams.

Original poster
googleismyfriend · 31/08/2018 15:44

Thank you for all the opinions so far.

I will be studying at BPP where the exams are closed book.

OP posts:
AllyMcBeagle · 31/08/2018 15:49

I will be studying at BPP where the exams are closed book.

Ah, probably a bit trickier then especially all that dull Companies Act stuff, but probably still doable I reckon if you did well on your undergrad.

Original poster
googleismyfriend · 31/08/2018 15:52

I think they let you take statute books into the exam but not your own notes.

I am a bit worried because the tutor said the LPC was equivalent to a full time job and required 40+ hours of work a week. Not sure if this is actually true or just scaremongering.

OP posts:
Soyalatteforme · 31/08/2018 15:58

I did mine PT and worked full time hours. It's piss easy, but a lot of reading IF you read everything they suggest in advance of the tutorials. I found out quite quickly that the reading was un-necessary as the tutorials we had just went over the reading prep! I suspect if you contact the course provider they will insist that you need to do the 40 hours a week to pass, in reality no one on my course did anything like that amount. We were all working to various degrees and all passed. Some of us with distinctions 😉

TheGirlWithGlassFeet · 31/08/2018 16:02

I did mine PT whilst working full time and it was fine. Just studied in the evenings and weekends. There is a lot of reading to do but the actual work is quite easy. Good luck.

AllyMcBeagle · 31/08/2018 16:05

Yes, they'll let you take statute books in but it's not as good as open book where you can literally annotate all over the statute books, add tabs to it to make it easy to flick to the relevant sections and bring in a whole file of notes if you want. That's what made it really easy, although I still it shouldn't be too bad if closed book. The content is often dull but not generally difficult.

I did know a couple of people who failed one or two modules, but they were the exception and I think they struggled on their GDL/undergrad degrees. I think they have to try and scare people because they know some will struggle. In the same way, I remember having to do lots of classes as part of the LPC about basic grammar, use of apostrophes etc. I found this pointless and dull because I already knew how to write but they have got to aim everything at the lowest level I guess.

Plus if you've got a TC already then you probably only need to pass rather than aiming too high. IIRC I messed up the timing massively on a mock exam and didn't even get started on the final third of the paper but still would have received a pass.

ShalomJackie · 31/08/2018 16:08

When I did the LPC there was a certain amount of pre-reading to get done so as long as you can fit that in on your actual working days (ie. on the commute and after work) it should be doable.

Remember though that your exams and assessments may not be set for your "taught" days so you will need your work to be flexible about this.

Somewhereoverthesanddune · 31/08/2018 16:08

I also did mine pt whilst working ft (60 to 70 hours a week) (and two under 2). Nearly killed me but doable. Do you have kids? If not what you're proposing should be fine. With kids it'll be tough but doable.

werekitty · 31/08/2018 16:09

I did the lpc part time on Saturdays at BPP as well as working full time, it's not difficult just takes a lot of time to do all the reading. I got a distinction but a lot of people were happy to do less reading / prep work / revision and pass.

Somewhereoverthesanddune · 31/08/2018 16:17

Quite a few people on my part time course failed modules. Most of the time not working hard enough combined with not academic enough. If you work and still fail a module, you probably need to think about whether it's the right career choice.

Chocolala · 31/08/2018 16:25

Yes, provided you put In The work on the LPC outside BPP contact hours. If you’re no good at self directed study, don’t do it.

Original poster
googleismyfriend · 31/08/2018 16:26

Do you have kids?

I don't have any kids, but my commute to work would be 2 hours. I'm planning to travel to DP's the evening before work and stay there the nights that I am working as he only lives 20 minutes away from the workplace.

With all the travelling (how much work can you realistically do on a tube or train with no tables...) and working part-time I am concerned as to whether I will be able to manage.

OP posts:
1Wanda1 · 31/08/2018 16:26

Totally do-able, the LPC is not arduous at all.

Original poster
googleismyfriend · 31/08/2018 16:29

it's not difficult just takes a lot of time to do all the reading

Is it a good idea to make notes on the reading, or just read it? The tutor advised just reading the material but I feel like it wouldn't 'go in' as well. Obviously, making notes on 100+ pages takes a long time so it is really which option most of you would recommend.

OP posts:
Soyalatteforme · 31/08/2018 17:23

I didn't make notes as I read, just made notes throughout tutorials and then typed them up on train journey back. Seemed to help sink in.

Worth doing revision groups with anyone you get on with. We had a group of four of us sharing notes.

Xenia · 01/09/2018 16:57

My daughters did it full time and I don't remember that they had loads of free time to do a job as well but they preobably have lectures most days. Also if you fail one module some law firms withdraw your training contract so I would not take any chances.

Somewhereoverthesanddune · 02/09/2018 06:09

I missed that you already had a TC. I wouldn't risk it OP. It can be done but it will be hard and you risk your training contract if you fail modules. I don't think part time paralegalling will make much if a difference to your ability to get an NQ job - are you worried the firm you're training with won't have enough NQ seats?

Nakedavenger74 · 02/09/2018 06:35

I'd say no. I did the LPC part time whike working full time and I struggled with that.

It's not difficult no but lots to get through. My contact hours were 9-5 Saturday and Sunday every other week for 2 years. Full time is 1 year so that's 14 hours a week and I think there's contact time every day so not sure you could fit part time work in unless they were very very flexible with your days and hours.

cloudtree · 02/09/2018 07:30

I really don't see the point if you have a training contract already.

puguin86 · 02/09/2018 07:39

I did it. It was fine. That was ten years ago. It's actually useful in some of the modules you will already know some of the stuff because of what you will be doing at work. Go for it x

My38274thNameChange · 02/09/2018 16:43

My friend worked 40 hours per week and also did her LPC full time. It was a tough year but she managed.

I did my part time degree whilst working FT and the last year can’t have been more work than the LPC!

AndersArms · 02/09/2018 17:05

Disclaimer - I did the LPC 14 years ago so fully appreciate that it may be different now.

The LPC was a doddle and it's an absolute joke that it's deemed a full time course. I did v limited reading and worked 3 days per week while I did it.

If you have a TC already all you need is a pass and that should be achievable.

However, as you have a TC am not sure why you need to paralegal too, unless you need money? Does your firm not give you a maintenance grant?

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