Legal practice course (LPC) fees have risen by an average of 5% for the new academic year, well above the rate of inflation, Gazette research has revealed .

Many courses are now heading towards the £10,000 mark, with some institutions imposing double-digit increases over last year's fees.


Fears over access to legal training may lend support to controversial proposals to shake up the entire regime, which would remove the compulsory nature of the LPC.


The Gazette survey of the 26 LPC providers showed that students in London face the highest fees, with a bill of £9,200 at BPP's branch (up 2%), and £9,155 (up 4%) at the Inns of Court School of Law (ICSL). The College of Law in London comes in at £8,950 (up 4%).


The biggest fee increases come outside London. Anglia Polytechnic University's fees soared 17% to £6,800. It said the rise followed two years where costs were frozen and the law school had also moved to new premises. Other notable risers were Cardiff Law School (£8,300, up 14%), Northumbria University (£6,950, up 12%), and Staffordshire University (£6,500, up 9%). The cheapest providers were the University of Central England (£5,855, up 4%) and Wolverhampton University (£5,900, up 5%).


Six providers have the top Law Society rating of 'excellent': BPP London, Cardiff, ICSL, Nottingham Law School (£8,415, up 3%), Staffordshire and the University of the West of England (£7,550, up 3%). A further 12 have 'very good' ratings - including all five College of Law branches - and the rest are 'good'.


BPP chief executive Peter Crisp said that in comparison with doing an MBA, the LPC was good value. He explained that the course is 'resource-heavy' and needs to be staffed to a high quality.


Mr Crisp added that the fees are reinvested in the facilities and that BPP has a scholarship programme to address access issues. 'But in the end, the course is a major commitment,' he said.


Peter Wright, chairman of the Trainee Solicitors Group, said the rises were disappointing but not surprising, and contributed to students' escalating debt levels.


As law firm sponsorship packages 'tend to go to those who are least in need of them', Mr Wright said there is 'a compelling case for reform of the training structure'.


Law Society chief executive Janet Paraskeva said: 'We are concerned that the rising cost of the LPC could deter talented people. Costs of qualification are being considered as part of the training framework review and it is important that flexible study paths, such as part-time courses and exempting law degrees, are available.'