There’s a lot of information to absorb on the LPC. Some of it is rather dry material. And there’s a lot to learn in a limited timeframe – especially if you’re on an accelerated or MA version of the LPC. So, here are my tips to help you work smart – as well as working hard!
You have to do the prep
You will be given some pre-reading to do before the course begins. Make sure you read it! If you don’t you risk starting your course on the back foot and forever playing catch up. Being behind is demoralising as well as a bad way to learn.
You’ll also have preparatory work before each tutorial or workshop during the course. Again, do it! Tutorials will assume a base level of knowledge and some tutors will launch straight into the more detailed and complicated issues. If you haven’t done the preparatory work, you won’t have a clue what they’re going on about. Not the best way to learn.
Be organised
There are a lot of lectures and tutorials to attend along with the hours you will need each week to study in your own time. There’s also a huge amount of information and paper in circulation. Make sure to get on top of this as soon as possible. Plan timeslots in your calendar to study in advance of each tutorial, and set reminders to make sure you bring the right materials to each session.
Get tabbing
Do not be fooled by the prospect of an open book exam. The book is really only there to jog your memory. Learn the law, and as you go along mark up your book extremely well with coloured tabs (or post-it notes could do). You should know the book and your system of tabs inside out so that you can quickly find a point without any stress. If you’re having to look things up in the exam then you’ll run out of time. If you start doing this during your studies, it will save you hours going through books during revision.
Work out how you will be assessed – and study accordingly
Different modules are assessed in different ways through a variety of questions: multiple choice, short answers and longer answers. Make sure that you are not just rote-learning, but understanding which information is central to understanding a topic. Ultimately, you need to be able to apply the most important information in the exam. Happily, at Law Answered we have already done much of that work for you – check out our LPC Answered Core Guide if you want to get straight to the point of what you need to know.
Remember also that the LPC is not an academic course – unlike your GDL or LLB studies the focus in much more practical. Avoid the temptation to get sucked into academic debates, and remember that you are aiming to write a practical answer – almost as if you were a practising lawyer already.
Practice, practice, practice
Once you’ve learned the legal basics, an excellent way to prepare is by practising past papers. Get your hands on as many past papers as you can to understand how certain topics are examined and how you can best answer. Take advantage of all opportunities to get feedbacks from your tutors on how best to answer mock assessments.
Other ways to broaden your knowledge
Stuck on a commute? Bored at home? Use this dead time to improve your learning through an alternative means. Rather than just staring at your notes again and hoping it will go in, try listening to a podcast. There are plenty of podcasts that are directly relevant to your studies but also plenty that are indirectly relevant – think of it as an opportunity to broaden your business knowledge, your understanding of current affairs and work on your commercial awareness, by simply listening to something interesting.
Keep your career goals in mind – and use your law school’s facilities
Remember why you are studying. If you are intending to become a solicitor but have not yet secured a training contract, make sure you don’t just study. Set aside time for law fairs and vacation scheme applications. Research and apply to a select list of firms in good time – do not leave it until the last minute to get your applications in.
The LPC is expensive – and if you haven’t been lucky enough to get a training contract, one of the things you are paying for is the careers and skills services at your law school. So use them! Skills workshops, talks with careers advisors, CV workshops, training contract application reviews, even additional study options and modules. Competition to get a training contract is intense, so get your money’s worth.
Look after yourself
Life does not always go to plan, and the LPC already takes up enough of it. There may be times when you fall behind with your work or studies or let stress get you down. Try to recognise when you’re under too much stress so that you can get back on track. Talk to your tutor, law school support staff, or friends and family about your feelings. Remember also that many other students with you will be in the same boat. Make sure to put aside time during the day to reset – go for a coffee, a short walk, the gym or a lunch break – these will al help clear your head and keep you on track.
Good luck!