Cardiff has delivered the LPC since it was first introduced in 1993 and has established a national reputation for a demanding and high quality course. The Law Society has rated Cardiff's LPC as 'Excellent' four times in succession. In 2005, Cardiff's LPC once again achieved the highest rating following the Law Society's assessment visit. The Law Society praised the challenging learning environment and stimulating range of activities.  The Cardiff LPC continues to hold the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority’s highest rating in all aspects of the course - "Commendable Practice" in all six assessment areas.

To accommodate differing student needs, from September 2010 Cardiff will be offering the LPC part-time in addition to the existing full-time course.  Through both courses we will continue to provide our excellent learning experience which includes a high degree of hands-on teaching.  We offer the LPC full-time over one year and part-time over two years.  In addition, the elements of the LPC can be studied separately on a full-time basis - Stage 1 (the core subjects), Stage 2 (the elective subjects), and individual elective subjects can all be studied separately at Cardiff.  We provide broad-based courses that are suitable for most students entering the profession.

Please see our website for further details - www.law.cardiff.ac.uk/cpls or email law-lpc@cf.ac.uk .

Cardiff has delivered a high quality and highly regarded Bar Professional Training Course since it was first introduced by the Bar Council in 1997. There is a relatively small student cohort and the course provides a highly supportive learning environment with high levels of individual tutor feedback on all live skills performances. The course is delivered by a small team of experienced and dedicated practitioners. Students are offered 2 weeks of placements giving them the opportunity to marshall with both a Circuit Judge and District Judge in addition to undertaking a mini-pupillage.

Although a combination of large groups (lectures) and small groups (tutorials) are used, the learning will mostly take place in small groups: 12 students in knowledge and written skills and 6 in oral skills. Students are given the opportunity of learning by doing. The course focuses on the development of Advocacy skills, by providing the students with 2 hour classes in groups of 6 or less almost every week across all three terms (approximately 30 sessions, the BSB minimum recommended number is 12). Our students will be expected to develop their practitioner skills and copies of practitioners’ texts (The White Book and Archbold) will be given to all students.

Please see our website for further details – www.law.cardiff.ac.uk/cpls or email law-bptc@cf.ac.uk.

Pro Bono
There is also the Cardiff Pro Bono Scheme which has two distinct elements to it: The Cardiff Law School Innocence Project, which deals with cases of long-term prisoners maintaining their innocence, and the general Pro Bono Scheme, which assists members of the community and vulnerable groups where legal aid is not available. The scheme gives students the opportunity to experience the law in action, work alongside volunteer legal professionals and develop transferable skills to add to their CVs.

Facilities
We have dedicated accommodation for both the Legal Practice Course and the Bar Professional Training Course which houses a practitioner library, fixed and moveable audio visual equipment for recording practitioner skills, inter-active teaching equipment and extensive computer facilities. In addition, the main law library contains one of the largest collections of primary and secondary material within the UK.
The Law School is at the heart of the campus, itself located in one of the finest civic centres in Britain only a short walk from the main shopping area. The University has its own postgraduate centre and a full range of sports and social activities. Cardiff is a vibrant capital city with excellent cultural, sporting and leisure pursuits.

Cardiff offers opportunities for students to pursue postgraduate study by research leading to degrees of M.Phil and Ph.D.  In addition, the Law School offers a broadly based Masters (LLM) programme, in full and part time mode.  Students can choose to pursue an LLM that specialises in one of several routes or choose a mix of Modules from different areas.  For more details please see our website www.law.cardiff.ac.uk or email law-PG@cardiff.ac.uk.