LPC/BVC conversion course.

[St Germain]

Hi, does anyone know if there is a course to convert a BVC to LPC. I want to be a barrister but I don't rate my chances of getting a job once I finish the qualification. I think it's more realistic if I do the LPC and then convert it at a later date. If there is such a course does anyone know what universities run it?

[january_bug]

Why bother?  The two courses are COMPLETELY different.  They're professional skills courses.  There is no such thing as a conversion course from one to the other, as far as I know - because they are totally different skill sets.  The common knowledge base is law, but the professional skills are very different. 
Once you've got your LLB/CPE you pick one OR the other.  If you don't think you'll get a pupillage, hold off, and apply for the BVC once you think your CV is improved. 

There's no point developing the skills to be a solicitor and then suddenly wanting to "convert" to being a barrister.  It will make your CV look muddled. 

You could, of course, get a training contract, do the LPC, and then work for a firm for a while and eventually train to be a solicitor advocat. 

Good luck. 

[Miss Zippy]

If you were to qualify as a barrister you could take the Qualifed Lawyers Transfer Test to qualify as a solicitor. If your ambition is to qualify as a barrister, then why not stick with that? Competition for places at the Inns of Court are fierce as you would expect but you can help yourself secure a pupillage by undertaking a series of mini-pupillages (largely unpaid I'm afraid) at chambers local to you. Increasingly, larger firms of solicitors are employing in-house Counsel so there is a little more scope for securing employment once you qualify. 

[dawsont]

I think it is more realistic if you take the BVC and then get called to the bar, which will mean that if you are unable to secure a pupillage you will have the opportunity to take the QLTT and transfer to become a solicitor. If you take the LPC and fail to get a training contract then you will be stuck for opportunities to become a qualified lawyer. Having said that training contracts are quite a bit easier to come by than pupillages although they are still fiercely competitive at the lucrative commercial or niche firms, who will pay your LPC fees.  In addition, if you do not have a pupillage then you will still need to have gained two years work experience similar to a training contract to transfer to be a solicitor. The key benefit that you would have over an LPC graduate is that you would not need to be on a formalised training contract and it could be paralegal work or similar- just so long as it is similar  work to a trainee. After having become a solicitor and if you still want to be a practicing barrister you can become a solicitor advocate, gain full higher rights by building up a small portfolio of advocacy experience (no need for any more exams) and then cross over to become a practicing barrister with no need for pupillage. Essentially if you are unsure on which direction to take the BVC will leave you with many more options than the LPC. This is all though depending on you completing the BVC before 2008 (I think) as from then you cannot be Called until after pupillage and therefore I do not think that you would be able to transfer to be a solicitor.