LPC+ pre-reading?

[marcpiano]

Hi,

Am starting an LPC+ in September, working as a paralegal prior (starting next week). Now since I've graduated I've been working n fields totally and utterly unrelated to law (and in another country), so as such my legal knowledge is quite rusty.

After reading through the SRA publication on what one should know prior to the LPC, it seems that core knowledge of the compulsory LLB subjects are required.

Can anyone recommend any refresher/primer publications or sites I can refer to over the coming months to get myself back up to speed? I was considering the 'Nutshells' and 'Nutcases' series initially. Very interested to hear others' recommendations though.

Any other publications worth pursuing?

Final question: Does the Legal Practice Companion in the 'Recommended Reading' thread update each year, or will the 2007 revision suffice for a 2008 LPC?

Thanks!

Marc

[DaveT]

1. No need to bother reading anything.

2. LPC Companion does update every year, and you will need the new one - nothing so useless as an out-of-date law book.

HTH

[marcpiano]

Thanks - there really isn't any need for pre-reading? Had to research some of the principles referred to in the SRA examples even though it was first year stuff - but then it was over 4 years ago I learnt it!

[VICKY2323]

I did very little reading while doing the LPC

So i wouldnt worry!

[LawJo]

Hi

If you have been out of the academic field for some time, then I am sure it wont do any harm to brush up on some of the core legal doctrines.

Try the 'Unlocking Law' series. I used Unlocking EU law, to get to grips with some of the tough areas in this module. These books simplify whole modules and squeeze them in to reasonable sized books.

I know they do books on Tort, Contract, EU, Equity and Criminal. As for the rest, I am unsure.

Jo

[TeNosce]

The 2007 LPC Companion will def. be out of date next year for BLP but I used mine a lot so it would be worth getting the 2008 one IMO. Get it is soon as you start though to get your money's worth and then you can flag as you go along.

I would read a Key Facts/Nutshells/Unlocking Commercial and Land. Probably not any need to read anything for Litigation.

[marcpiano]

Ah yes, never studied Commercial (was an elective on my course structure) so will definately be reading up on that one. Thanks for the advice and suggestions!

[Vix1985]

I did all the pre reading before starting my LPC but found that I used very little of it. Id say to just read through ur old law notes to remember the basics although much of this will be out of date it is a good starting point. They will teach most things, although I found that my residential property compulsory module assumed that the basics were known and did not go over these again.

The nutshells series are quite good although very basic, but I think that would be enough to get you on the right track.

[insufficient experience]

The main things we needed to know for the core units at Leeds Met, 07-08 were-

Business Law and Practice, large chunks of both the Companies Act 1985 and the Companies Act 2006, relating to: directors, secretaries, share holders, dividends, company meetings, resolutions, share issues, et cetera. Check which sections of 2006 are in force!

The Partnership Act 1890

Business Names Act 1985, can't find a link to the actual act, but it would be a good idea to get familiar with Companies House, it's a handy tool.

Insolvency Act 1986, bankruptcy, voluntary arrangements, insolvency.

EC competition law, Art.81 and Art.82, plus exemptions.

Getting familiar with income tax and capital gains would be an advantage.

Civil litigation was based around the Civil Procedure Rules.

PACE and the Codes of Practice were the main parts of Criminal Litigation.

The Law Society Standard Conditions would probably be handy to read for Property Law and Practice.

[Pen73669]

I don't know where your studying but I did the LPC at BPP. They sent through a booklet which included all the pre-reading we had to do. It gave a break down of contract, business law etc so I just read this.

I wouldn't do too much pre-reading. If you find a tutorial coming up and you have no idea about the law in that area you could do some research then. At BPP they always talked us through the law if we needed to know it e.g. in civil litigation where needed to know the in and outs of contract to draft the PofC and Defence.

Good luck!