City Law School
Encyclopedia
The City Law School is one of the seven schools of City University
in the City of London
, and includes the former Inns of Court School of Law.
The School is divided into two sections on two campuses. The academic instruction section is based in the Gloucester Building, next to the university's main campus on Northampton Square
. It offers education at all levels of legal qualification, including a three-year undergraduate Bachelor of Laws
(LLB) programme, a two-year Graduate Entry LLB degree programme, a one-year Masters of Law (LLM) and the Graduate Diploma in Law course (also known as the Common Professional Examination). This latter programme enjoys a nationwide reputation as one of Britain
's elite qualifying diploma courses for non-law graduates.
The professional instruction section, formerly the Inns of Court School of Law, is located at Gray's Inn
near Holborn
in the Camden
district of London. This section administers the Bar Professional Training Course
(formerly the Bar Vocational Course) for intending barristers and the Legal Practice Course
for intending solicitors as well as several Master of Laws
(LLM) masters programmes. The Legal Practice Course is the only one in London to be rated 'Excellent' by the Law Society
.
Approximately 550 students are enrolled at the City Law School each year.
and Martin Dixon of the University of Cambridge
.
GDL graduates may, through additional study over a second year, apply to receive a LLB degree. The School also offers an undergraduate LLB programme, as well as a two year LLB programme for postgraduates.
Students who successfully complete the BPTC or LPC are awarded a Postgraduate Diploma
. The City Law School provides both BPTC and LPC students with the ability to apply for a LLM degree with additional work to be completed over a second year of study.
, part of the Northampton Square campus of City University. Law students are granted their own academic and library facilities.
Professional courses are based in three buildings at the site of the former Inns of Court School of Law, at Gray's Inn: 4, Gray's Inn Place, Atkin Building and Princeton Street.
4 Gray's Inn Place houses the library, school office and the staff offices. Located in Atkin Building is the lecture theatre, (occasionally named Morrison Hall), the Common Room, the Muslim Prayer Room and several small group rooms. The Princeton Street building houses a computer suite and classrooms, and is host to the School's pro bono
facilities and the video recording rooms. The building contains a "mini-courtroom" in which BPTC students practice their advocacy skills.
All small group rooms are specifically maintained to accommodate a class of twelve. Each room has a television, video camera and DVD player to allow for filming a student's advocacy performances.
and then at Gray's Inn in London. Until 1999, the ICSL had a monopoly on the provision of the Bar Vocational Course (now the Bar Professional Training Course), the obligatory, pre-pupillage
training course for intending barristers in England and Wales
.
The ICSL was founded by the Council of Legal Education in 1852. Before that time, the Inns of Court
were responsible for the education of young barristers. There was a call during the nineteenth century for the education of barristers to be unified and thus the Council of Legal Education was formed and the ICSL was founded. Since 2001, the ICSL has been administered by City University. Although the name "Inns of Court School of Law" is no longer used, the location, facilities and traditions of the original institution remain unchanged.
When the ICSL was first created, each of the four Inns of Court were required to provide two rooms for teaching purposes. Until just after the Second World War, the ICSL was located in Lincoln's Inn. In the 1950s, a purpose-built building was constructed at 4, Gray's Inn Place (within Gray's Inn) and the school relocated there. Shortly after that, Atkin Building in Gray's Inn was secured and then in the 1980s a further building was acquired for the ICSL in Princeton Street, formerly the London studios of Yorkshire Television
.
One possible motive for the rebranding of the ICSL appears to be pressure from the Bar Council
as a result of complaints raised by other BPTC providers. The concern was that the association to the Inns within the name of the ICSL could result in prejudice against BPTC graduates from non-ICSL institutions.
Many students, legal professionals and Inns of Court School of Law alumni still refer to City Law School as the "Inns of Court School of Law".
, and distinguished academics. Others who went on to achieve the highest distinction include four British Prime Ministers - Tony Blair
, Margaret Thatcher
, Clement Attlee
and Herbert Asquith - Mahatma Gandhi
, Muhammad Ali Jinnah
(first Governor General of Pakistan
), Muhammad Iqbal
(Allama Iqbal ) and Jawaharlal Nehru
(first Prime Minister of India
).
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, and includes the former Inns of Court School of Law.
The School is divided into two sections on two campuses. The academic instruction section is based in the Gloucester Building, next to the university's main campus on Northampton Square
Northampton Square
Northampton Square is a town square in Islington, north London. It houses City University London's main campus at one end. The Ewan McGregor film Incendiary was filmed partly at this location....
. It offers education at all levels of legal qualification, including a three-year undergraduate Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
(LLB) programme, a two-year Graduate Entry LLB degree programme, a one-year Masters of Law (LLM) and the Graduate Diploma in Law course (also known as the Common Professional Examination). This latter programme enjoys a nationwide reputation as one of Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's elite qualifying diploma courses for non-law graduates.
The professional instruction section, formerly the Inns of Court School of Law, is located at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
near Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
in the Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
district of London. This section administers the Bar Professional Training Course
Bar Professional Training Course
The Bar Professional Training Course is a graduate course that is completed by those wishing to be called to the Bar, i.e. to practise as a barrister in England and Wales...
(formerly the Bar Vocational Course) for intending barristers and the Legal Practice Course
Legal Practice Course
The Legal Practice Course also known as the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practiceis the vocational stage for becoming a solicitor in England and Wales. The course is the successor to Law Society Finals and is more vocational in its syllabus. The LPC can be taken in many different formats including...
for intending solicitors as well as several Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
(LLM) masters programmes. The Legal Practice Course is the only one in London to be rated 'Excellent' by the Law Society
Law Society of England and Wales
The Law Society is the professional association that represents the solicitors' profession in England and Wales. It provides services and support to practising and training solicitors as well as serving as a sounding board for law reform. Members of the Society are often consulted when important...
.
Approximately 550 students are enrolled at the City Law School each year.
Academic courses
The School teaches the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) for graduates who wish to qualify as a lawyer without a law degree. The diploma has a strong reputation, and is taught by many of the leading academics in legal education, including John HopkinsJohn Hopkins (academic)
John Hopkins is an Emeritus fellow of Downing College, Cambridge. He is married to Cherry, a retired fellow and Director of Studies in law of Girton College, Cambridge....
and Martin Dixon of the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
GDL graduates may, through additional study over a second year, apply to receive a LLB degree. The School also offers an undergraduate LLB programme, as well as a two year LLB programme for postgraduates.
Professional courses
The School teaches the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) for intending barristers and the Legal Practice Course (LPC) for intending solicitors. In 2007, it received the highest grading from the Law Society of England and Wales. The School also provides a range of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses and a Master of Laws (LLM) programme.Students who successfully complete the BPTC or LPC are awarded a Postgraduate Diploma
Postgraduate diploma
A postgraduate diploma is a postgraduate qualification awarded typically after a bachelor's degree. It can be contrasted with a graduate diploma...
. The City Law School provides both BPTC and LPC students with the ability to apply for a LLM degree with additional work to be completed over a second year of study.
Campus
Academic courses are based in the Gloucester Building, on Whiskin Street in ClerkenwellClerkenwell
Clerkenwell is an area of central London in the London Borough of Islington. From 1900 to 1965 it was part of the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury. The well after which it was named was rediscovered in 1924. The watchmaking and watch repairing trades were once of great importance...
, part of the Northampton Square campus of City University. Law students are granted their own academic and library facilities.
Professional courses are based in three buildings at the site of the former Inns of Court School of Law, at Gray's Inn: 4, Gray's Inn Place, Atkin Building and Princeton Street.
4 Gray's Inn Place houses the library, school office and the staff offices. Located in Atkin Building is the lecture theatre, (occasionally named Morrison Hall), the Common Room, the Muslim Prayer Room and several small group rooms. The Princeton Street building houses a computer suite and classrooms, and is host to the School's pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
facilities and the video recording rooms. The building contains a "mini-courtroom" in which BPTC students practice their advocacy skills.
All small group rooms are specifically maintained to accommodate a class of twelve. Each room has a television, video camera and DVD player to allow for filming a student's advocacy performances.
History
Inns of Court School of Law
The Inns of Court School of Law, often abbreviated as ICSL, was a professional legal training institution based for 100 years at Lincoln's InnLincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
and then at Gray's Inn in London. Until 1999, the ICSL had a monopoly on the provision of the Bar Vocational Course (now the Bar Professional Training Course), the obligatory, pre-pupillage
Pupillage
A pupillage, in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, is the barrister's equivalent of the training contract that a solicitor undertakes...
training course for intending barristers in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
.
The ICSL was founded by the Council of Legal Education in 1852. Before that time, the Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
were responsible for the education of young barristers. There was a call during the nineteenth century for the education of barristers to be unified and thus the Council of Legal Education was formed and the ICSL was founded. Since 2001, the ICSL has been administered by City University. Although the name "Inns of Court School of Law" is no longer used, the location, facilities and traditions of the original institution remain unchanged.
When the ICSL was first created, each of the four Inns of Court were required to provide two rooms for teaching purposes. Until just after the Second World War, the ICSL was located in Lincoln's Inn. In the 1950s, a purpose-built building was constructed at 4, Gray's Inn Place (within Gray's Inn) and the school relocated there. Shortly after that, Atkin Building in Gray's Inn was secured and then in the 1980s a further building was acquired for the ICSL in Princeton Street, formerly the London studios of Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
.
Rebranding
In July 2008, the ICSL brand was dropped and replaced with the City Law School brand. Replacement of the ICSL brand was phased in gradually. Initially, both logos were used on the school stationery. In the 2007-2008 academic year, school publications bore the City Law School name with the ICSL logo, and now all notices in the school are being replaced with the City Law School logo. However, some options manuals still carry ICSL insignia.One possible motive for the rebranding of the ICSL appears to be pressure from the Bar Council
Bar council
A bar council , in a Commonwealth country and in the Republic of Ireland, the Bar Council of Ireland is a professional body that regulates the profession of barristers together with the King's Inns. Solicitors are generally regulated by the Law society....
as a result of complaints raised by other BPTC providers. The concern was that the association to the Inns within the name of the ICSL could result in prejudice against BPTC graduates from non-ICSL institutions.
Many students, legal professionals and Inns of Court School of Law alumni still refer to City Law School as the "Inns of Court School of Law".
Famous alumni
As might be expected from the institution which had a monopoly on half of the legal training in a large jurisdiction for nearly 150 years, alumni of the ICSL include many judges, Queen's CounselQueen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, and distinguished academics. Others who went on to achieve the highest distinction include four British Prime Ministers - Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
, Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
and Herbert Asquith - Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
, Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
(first Governor General of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
), Muhammad Iqbal
Muhammad Iqbal
Sir Muhammad Iqbal , commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal , was a poet and philosopher born in Sialkot, then in the Punjab Province of British India, now in Pakistan...
(Allama Iqbal ) and Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
(first Prime Minister of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
).