Legal practice course (LPC) students embarking on their studies this month will find themselves or their firms paying up to 13% more than their counterparts last year, Gazette research has revealed.

The survey of 23 LPC providers showed that full-time fees have been hiked up an average of 5% on last year; the biggest rise was at Staffordshire University, which made a 13% increase to 5,950.

Fees jumped 11% at the University of Northumbria to 6,200, and 8% at City LPC provider Inns of Court School of Law, to 8,340.

However, Staffordshire's course is relatively cheap compared to the highest-priced course, BPP Law School's City LPC, which raised its fees by 6% to 8,750.

The College of Law came second in the price league, a 4% rise pushing its London course up to 8,170.

Nottingham Law School, which provides the City LPC, is the third most expensive after a 3% increase to 7,780.

London Metropolitan University was the only provider to keep its fees static, at 6,100, while Wolverhampton University remains the cheapest, charging 5,300 despite a 6% increase.

Rosemary Evans, LPC director at Staffordshire, said the increases would fund investment in facilities, IT equipment and course materials.

'The university's LPC programme has been awarded "very good" status by the Law Society, placing it among the best in the country, yet the fee still remains below the national average,' she said.

Trainee Solicitors Group chairwoman Nadia Akhtar complained that debt-burdened graduates need loans to cover the cost of living as well as tuition fees, so they graduate already wary of LPC costs - creating a knock-on effect on smaller practices and legal aid work.

'There is no justification for these rises and nothing to indicate that the quality of the courses gets any better,' she said.

College of Law chief executive Nigel Savage agreed there was no need for rises above the 3% rate of inflation, plus the 1% increase in national insurance.

'Substantial increases in fees can only be justified by substantial added value for the customers,' he insisted.

Law Society chief executive Janet Paraskeva said it would launch its diversity access scheme - consisting of scholarships, mentoring and work placements - next month in response to a current lack of opportunities for students.

'Rising LPC costs will deter many talented graduates already burdened with large debts from becoming solicitors,' Ms Paraskeva warned.

Paula Rohan