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I agree with Jessica.Also on your questions BPP trains more City firm trainees than UoL. That is the only reason someone might put it ahead of UoL but they are both very good so it will not matter which and as Jessica says this is not like your first degree and there is never any issue of prestige of institution for these courses.The BPP PGDL was the on my twins did last academic year and is the course the City Consortium are sending their trainees on. It was a new course last September 2020. For some city firms after the PGDL they also send them after that course (the PGDL ends in April) on an SQE1 prep course - see the pdf linked here https://www.slaughterandmay.com/careers/trainee-solicitors/apply/the-route-to-qualification/ under "CCP here" on that link. That shows a graphic/timeline which shows 2 x 15 week terms for PDGL and then 15 week preparation and then SQE1 exam - so that is likely to take one academic year (similar to the GDL before).Going back to your original question without sponsorship from a law firm and wanting to convert to law it may be better to do the UoL one year SQE1 and 2 course and then the SQE1 and 2 exams. "LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) ..The course is delivered over a period of 42 weeks including two revision booster courses. There are a number of different weeks for holidays and consolidation built into the programme". It looks like the UoL course is for SQE 1 and 2 and in total is 42 weeks so about an academic year. I don't know how the SQE1 and 2 external exams feed into that but it sounds like a good course for someone without sponsorship wanting a full time course to get all the professional exams done in the year. However no one really knows yet and I am certainly not an expert.
I agree with Jessica.
Also on your questions BPP trains more City firm trainees than UoL. That is the only reason someone might put it ahead of UoL but they are both very good so it will not matter which and as Jessica says this is not like your first degree and there is never any issue of prestige of institution for these courses.
The BPP PGDL was the on my twins did last academic year and is the course the City Consortium are sending their trainees on. It was a new course last September 2020. For some city firms after the PGDL they also send them after that course (the PGDL ends in April) on an SQE1 prep course - see the pdf linked here https://www.slaughterandmay.com/careers/trainee-solicitors/apply/the-route-to-qualification/ under "CCP here" on that link. That shows a graphic/timeline which shows 2 x 15 week terms for PDGL and then 15 week preparation and then SQE1 exam - so that is likely to take one academic year (similar to the GDL before).
Going back to your original question without sponsorship from a law firm and wanting to convert to law it may be better to do the UoL one year SQE1 and 2 course and then the SQE1 and 2 exams. "LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) ..The course is delivered over a period of 42 weeks including two revision booster courses. There are a number of different weeks for holidays and consolidation built into the programme". It looks like the UoL course is for SQE 1 and 2 and in total is 42 weeks so about an academic year. I don't know how the SQE1 and 2 external exams feed into that but it sounds like a good course for someone without sponsorship wanting a full time course to get all the professional exams done in the year. However no one really knows yet and I am certainly not an expert.
