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Take your bar training to the next level. Gain the essential knowledge and practical experience for a successful career as a barrister, with the support of leading experts in legal practice and academia.
Our LLM in Legal Practice at the Bar is a professionally focused course which brings together the essential practical skills and knowledge from our Bar Training Course (BTC) and masters level legal research skills. On this course we’ll help you develop the resilience, confidence and leadership skills required to thrive at the B...
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
2-5 years part-time flexible
Lianna"I would recommend Manchester Met as there are many professional links. My tutors are well qualified, extremely knowledgeable and provide the best experience. They will go the extra mile to ensure that you get the best result available for you."
LLM in Legal Practice at the Bar
There are few roles in the legal sector with the impact and profile of a barrister. More than a career, it’s a vocation with a well-charted path of progression up to the highest levels of the law. Our leading, modern law school offers the perfect first step on that path.
From the environment we’ve created and the methods of study we employ, to the real-world opportunities we provide and the extra activities we offer, everything in this course is built to prepare you for the Bar. With us, you can expect rigorous standards of teaching, delivered by an exceptional team that combines practising and former practising barristers and solicitors. The same standards apply for the LLM aspect of this course, with researchers and scholars who produce impactful legal research in the UK and internationally offering their expertise at every stage of your advanced independent study.
It’s a team that knows what it takes to succeed, delivering a course geared to give you an experience that’s as real and relevant as possible. That starts with being a member of a group set up as mini chambers, working in chambers rooms, our moot courtroom and a legal library to mirror the real-life practice of a working barrister. And, with our professional practice module, you’ll also have the chance to gain work experience, develop your confidence and learn from practising professionals. Once you have completed your BTC teaching you’ll commence the LLM part of your course which is based around advanced independent study (see module description for further details).
A wealth of pro bono opportunities offers the chance to tackle real-life legal issues, while our courtroom and mooting opportunities ensure you can put your advocacy skills to the test in a realistic and challenging environment. In short, you won’t just learn the principles, you’ll also get to grips with the practical skills and be able to enhance the skills while on the course.
Manchester Law School has a proud history of providing Bar training in the North West of England for over 20 years. As such, we know what it takes to succeed on the course and in the profession. We’ve built long-standing links to both the local legal profession and to the Northern Circuit of Chambers in Cheshire, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston, giving you access to professional insight within our professional practice module. Above all, we offer a supportive environment with tutors committed to helping you to achieve your very best.
For new graduates aiming for a career as a barrister, the market is incredibly competitive. Standing out from your peers demands well-honed skills, deep-rooted knowledge and relevant practical experience. Find out how you can achieve all this and more by joining our next cohort of LLM in Legal Practice at the Bar students in September 2025.
Whether you've already made your decision about what you want to study, or you're just considering whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about postgraduate student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
These typical entry requirements may be subject to change for the 2025/26 academic year. Please check back for further details.
Bar students are selected primarily on academic ability. To be considered for a place on the LLM in Legal Practice at the Bar you will need to satisfy one of the following criteria:
In exceptional circumstances, higher level qualifications such as a masters degree (with an overall grade of 55% or above) may be considered if your LLB or conversion course grade falls below the minimum requirement for this course.
All offers are subject to the condition that students successfully complete the academic stage of their training to the Bar Standards Board’s satisfaction and have enrolled as a student member of one of the four Inns of Court. For more information, requirements for the academic stage are set out in Part 2 of the Bar Qualification Manual.
You will need to apply to join one of the four Inns of Court (Gray’s Inn, Inner Temple, Lincoln’s Inn, Middle Temple) no later than 12 weeks prior to the start of this course. This means that to begin the course on 1 September 2025, you will need to have joined an Inn by 9 June 2025. Please note, the requirements for being called to the Bar by an Inn of Court will include an additional criminal records check.
International Students
If you have a degree from an institution outside of the UK/Republic of Ireland (with a grade equivalent to 55%*), you must first apply to the Bar Standards Board for a Certificate of Academic Standing to recognise your prior qualifications before you apply for this course. See Part 2D of the Bar Qualification Manual for further details.
We also require international students to have a minimum score of 7.5 in each element of the IELTS test (or equivalent English Language Proficiency test). Please note, we will not accept an average score of 7.5 if the minimum requirement has not been met in each individual element.
*You can apply for this course whilst studying the final year of your degree/conversion course, however any offers you receive will remain conditional until your final grade is confirmed.
Full-time fee: £15,000 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Part-time fee: £834 per 10 credits studied. The fee per credit will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (eg no repeat years or breaks in study). The total amount you pay each year may differ based on the number of credits studied.
Full-time fee: £15,000 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Part-time fee: £834 per 10 credits studied. The fee per credit will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (eg no repeat years or breaks in study). The total amount you pay each year may differ based on the number of credits studied.
A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of study provided the course is completed in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Compulsory estimate: 100-125
Optional estimate: Dependent on seasonal travel costs, mode of transport, session fees and number of sessions attended in London, in comparison to Manchester.
Prior to enrolment, students are required to join one of the four Inns of Court. Joining fees are approximately £100-£125. You can check the joining fee of your chosen Inn on their website. For September 2024 entry, you must apply to join an Inn of Court by 9 June 2025.
Whilst studying the BTC you are required to complete 10 qualifying sessions at your Inn in order to be called to the Bar. You need to book these sessions through your Inn. There are fees for these sessions depending on the nature of the event - you can check these by contacting your Inn. Most qualifying sessions will take place in London so you will need to pay for travel to London. There will usually be around 2 to 3 qualifying sessions in Manchester each year.
All students will be required to pay an additional Bar Registration Fee. For the 2024/25 academic year this fee was £705. The fee for 2025/26 entry will be confirmed in due course.
Optional estimate: £400
Students will be provided with Civil and Criminal Practitioner books. All of the research materials required for the course are available from the library, and where possible in digital format.
The University also has PC labs and a laptop loan service. However, many students may choose to buy a laptop. Students may also need to print their assignments and other documents. Campus printing costs start from 5p per page. Estimated costs are £300 for a laptop and up to £100 for printing.
This course combines both professional and academic study. While your course work will give you the skills and knowledge you’ll need for a successful legal career, we’ll be here to help prepare you for pupillage, with a practical focus and a range of professional connections. From the start, we’ll help you develop your network with local practitioners through guest lectures, mentors and employer events.
The LLM element of the course is a useful addition if you want to pursue a future in a specialist area of law, while the BTC is built around everything you need to become a barrister. However, with the skills you’ll learn throughout your time with us, you can pave the way for a much wider range of careers across the legal or related sectors.
Bar training courses at Manchester Met
We’ve been delivering the bar course in Manchester for over 20 years, establishing a worldwide alumni network of successful barristers and members of the judiciary. Find out more about the benefits of studying your bar training course at Manchester Met, hear from some of our students and understand the three components towards qualifying as a barrister in England and Wales.
Please contact our course enquiries team.
What you’ll need
To apply for this course, you will need to complete the following items:
Additional Requirements
A detailed academic reference from your most recent place of study. You will need to send your completed Reference Form to [email protected].
Application deadline
International applicants: May 2025 (exact date to be confirmed)
Home applicants: June 2025 (exact date to be confirmed)
How we will process your application
LLM in Legal Practice at the Bar applications are processed by our Postgraduate Admissions Team.
If you have any questions about your application, please contact our admissions team at [email protected]
Course start date: 1 September 2025
*Where stipulated, please complete the application form as linked to this page.
Get advice and support on making a successful application.
You can review our current terms and conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Programme review
Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally
at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the
latest online learning technology. For further information on when we
may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our
terms and conditions.
Important notice
This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study
and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that
our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the
online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most
up to date information for your chosen course of study.
Confirmation of regulator
The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for
Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education
in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory
framework can be found at
officeforstudents.org.uk.
All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current student protection plan.