Under the changes, the first stage of the LPC will cover core practice areas, professional responsibilities, conduct and course skills, while the second stage will see students opt for three vocational electives.
The electives, which will be directly linked to the area in which the student is working, can be run alongside their training contracts, allowing them to spread the costs of study.
Trainees will either study for the electives in their own time by distance learning or weekend and evening work, or some employers will allow time off to study.
The changes comes as part of the SRA’s effort to revamp the education system, with the regulatory body launching a long-awaited pilot of training contract changes in August.
The new scheme, which focuses on work-based learning, has two strands — one for those trainees with a formal training contract and one — more controversially — for paralegals hoping to qualify without a contract.
