FE1's

Ava

hey,

is anyone else doing fe1's next month??

Ian147100

Did them already. What do you wish to know? <Zzzznipppp.>

Font22

let me know how you find them. trying to figure out what to do after the degree. very confused at the moment!!!!!

hullaballoo

That's some intersting pimping there Ian147100. If you want to advertise on boards.ie, please contact DeVore. Don't do it in here.

Ava

ian thanks for the offer not sitting eu till oct so i may get back to you.

hullabaloo : doubt an edit was necessary he was just trying to be helpful

what about freedom of expression?

Ian147100

Yeah. Just because I'm fascinated by things such as the concept of direct effect and A234 references I shouldn't be treated like an outcast. Any chance of getting a good discussion going on the Keck judgment sometime? No there's a subject that needs exploring.

Ian147100

Fe1's are hard, plain and simple. I think they're harder than before because now loads of non-law graduates who got 380 points in their Leaving Certs are sitting them too, but I suppose it's not the first time that Arts students have messed things up for the rest of us. It's particularly hard to get your foot on the ladder because you must pass 3 and get a fairly high grade in the fourth to be allowed to hang onto the 3 you pass e.g. if you sit 4, pass 2 and fail 2 then you can't keep the 2 you passed. You must sit 4 on your first sitting, my advice is to pick the best 4 for you. I picked EU, Contract, Tort and Criminal, I found them to be the easiest 4 and I passed them all. After that you can sit one at a time or two at a time or 4 in a block and you keep whatever you pass from those remaining 4. The only stipulation is that you must pass all 8 within 5 years from passing your first 3 or 4. They're hard enough but anyone with a law degree who is prepared to work hard to pass them should be ok. That's my experience anyway.

milkytigerrr

Ian147100 wrote:

I think they're harder than before because now loads of non-law graduates who got 380 points in their Leaving Certs are sitting them too, but I suppose it's not the first time that Arts students have messed things up for the rest of us.

I'm one of those Arts graduates 'messing it up' for the law grads. I've never heard such drivel, please take your self-righteous self back from the cave from whence tho came.
The FE-1'S ARE hard. Fact. I'm in the middle of preparing for my first four. I've been told that anyone with two brain cells to rub together and a good work ethic can pass them no bother. I've also been told that they're worse stress than the leaving and very difficult to pass. I never picked up a law book before starting grind class to pass them. In fact I've never been in a court. Why am I doing them? Because I've researched the profession and I think it'll suit me. There are an unprecedented amount of people applying but there is also a good chance of a fulfilling career after training. I'm also a sucker for a challenge.
If non-law grads can taken them and pass them then so be it. Thats the way the law society have designed the entry procedure. This does somewhat undermine a law degree. But this is only for people who choose to train as solicitors, alot of law graduates go on to other alternative professions and take their undergraduate skills with them. This comes full circle to my argument that an Arts grad has an equal right to convert his/her skills into the legal profession without having to do a three/four year law undergrad.
So, can't we all be friends and help each other pass these sadistic exams?
I'm doing criminal, company, equity and constitutional. Company and Constitutional are a complete nightmare.

Ava

don't particularily want to get involved in that argument, but i will say if you can't attain over 470 at least they're going to be a bit of a challenge - not to disparage anyone who has a BA.

the exams are getting tougher as mor eppl sit them.

i'm sitting 5. contract criminal property equity and constitutional

if i have a dodgy one its bound to be constitutional

hullaballoo

Ok, Ava, if you want to question my moderating techniques, please take it to the relevant forum ie Feedback. There's no need to try to undermine my authority in here. Advertising is against the forum charter and that's the long and the short of it. If Hewlett Packard and others have to pay for their advertising space on boards, then so does anybody else, there are no double-standards.

The other two of you would be doing well to keep things a bit more civil.

grumpytrousers

hullaballoo wrote:

Ok, Ava, if you want to question my moderating techniques, please take it to the relevant forum ie Feedback. There's no need to try to undermine my authority in here. Advertising is against the forum charter and that's the long and the short of it. If Hewlett Packard and others have to pay for their advertising space on boards, then so does anybody else, there are no double-standards.

The other two of you would be doing well to keep things a bit more civil.

Heh - to go back to what the OP asked, and it's worth pointing out - once you get the FE1's, you'll have all the fun of trying to find an apprenticeship...

milkytigerrr

Ava wrote:

don't particularily want to get involved in that argument, but i will say if you can't attain over 470 at least they're going to be a bit of a challenge - not to disparage anyone who has a BA.

I don't understand what the leaving cert and points have to do with it. If you've done a degree that was three, maybe four years ago at least. It is well argued that the leaving cert has nothing to do with intelligence. I'd also say that the FE-1'S are similarly about rote-learning, but most choose to do them and are more mature about their study. And anyhow... not all Arts degrees require under 470. Mine was over 500...
If I get all the fe1's I'll have got the best of both worlds.. Culture and Commerce..

milkytigerrr

hullaballoo wrote:

The other two of you would be doing well to keep things a bit more civil.

U talkin' bout me?! This is a 'legal discussion' , a civil one at that. This is what boards is all about. One person makes a point and anyone else can give their supported opinions without being offensive.

Ava

think is getting off topic somewhat....

milkytiger - you should be fine, which subj is your biggest prob? did you do griffith? he didnt cut down constitutional too much...altho with const and crim you're better off knowing a bit of everything than a lot of one partic area.

milkytigerrr

Ava- I agree about Constitutional, he didn't pare it down, just told us what we really should know. I think learning a few cases that come up alot in the different areas should cover that exam. Otherwise company is the thorn in my side. I think I know the stuff and when I try a question I find it hard to identify what the examiner is looking for, like what parts to leave out. Anyone got advice?!

Ava

not doing company. a friend of mine who's a BL said to just minimise your stuff write clearly and highlight cases. when you've got a thousand scripts of illegible waffle the examiner is going to be in a good mood marking a clear concise script.

as for q's at this stage your best bet is to read exam q's write 5/6 bullet points and main cases then check against exam reports to make sure you have key points if you get into habit of being able to do this in under 5 mins it'll be a big help for exams

Font22

I'm still in B+L but from my experience of law exams its really important to read the question properly, especially in company law/constitutional etc. Its not a case of writing down everything you know. Identify the key issues, discuss statute where applicable and then cite cases that are relevant to the given subject area.
Anyway my advice is prob uselss seeing as I havent even finished my degree. Hope everything works out for those sitting the exams!!!

Ava

ehh BL = Barrister at Law

not a business and legal graduate!

Font22

yea i know!!! I was just letting people know i was still in college and not to take my advice as gospel!
I'm not that idiotic!!! Although I have been known to be on the odd occassion...

besty

Font22 wrote:

yea i know!!! I was just letting people know i was still in college and not to take my advice as gospel!
I'm not that idiotic!!! Although I have been known to be on the odd occassion...

Amen to that!

Thirdfox

CLEO and ILAC methods

S.I. Strong's book on how to write law essays... did anyone else read it and find it helpful?

Font22

besty wrote:

Amen to that!

i knew i wud regret typing that last sentence!

milkytigerrr

Thirdfox wrote:

CLEO and ILAC methods

S.I. Strong's book on how to write law essays... did anyone else read it and find it helpful?

Whazza CLEO? ILAC I can handle.

Thirdfox

It is contained in S.I. Strong's book on how to answer law problem questions.

C = claim
L = law
E = evaluation
O = outcome
....in other words the same as ILAC, just written in different words

Ava

what about you third fox? you sat them already? sitting them? good old ilac - as my const lectr says a good way to answer law q's as opposed to a dodgy shopping centre on the north side!!

Thirdfox

Moi? I'm just a junior freshman Trinner's law student! Not like you experienced law graduates! ...still I've covered most of Torts, a sprinkling of Constitutional and Criminal...

Anyway... I'm probably aiming to be a barrister (but it's early days yet! )

Font22

hey thirdfox,

any chance you could PM me the title of that book? wud be interesting to look at it and see what it says.

thanks

Charlie

I'm a second year law student and have exams twice a year in each subject (i.e. I have sat three sets of exams). So far I have attained a 2.1 in evry exam. What can I expect from the FE1's? Are they a big step up from the exams you do for your degree? Also, a little off topic, i've seen a few places advertise courses to prepare you for the New York Bar exam. Has anyone else seen this or looked into taking the New York Bar exam? (the reason I ask is i'm doing conveyancing at the moment and I'm seriously put off being a solicitor:( )

Thirdfox

How to write law essays and exams / Stacie Strong.

available in the Berkeley library in Trinity right now!

Font22

thanks thirdfox! i'm in UCD but i'm sure i'll find it!

aoifegwalsh

hey guys is there anyone that has recieved any hot tips for any of the FE1s that are coming up in two weeks??? is anybody else freakin out????

enry

bridheffernan wrote: »

If anyone can't find an apprenticeship I advise going onto Facebook and befriending Revolutionise the LawSociety or Brid Heffernan or emailing apprentice@bridheffernan.com. They are trying to organise a group of graduates to lobby the Law Soc to change the requirements for getting into Blackhall! or call 0851705555.

Brid well done for doing something I have tried everything in an attempt to get a training contract. I dont have a Facebook account however I'd love to know what changes you are looking for. Personally I'd like to see the law society change the requirement of having to have a training contract signed before being able to start the ppc1

Dante09

Open a FB account

enry

Dante09 wrote: »

Open a FB account

cant understand this facebook, bebo or that thing that sounds like a bird at all, was not around when i was finishing school cant understand why a person would advertise their personal details online other then for business. its mad

Dante09

enry wrote: »

cant understand this facebook, bebo or that thing that sounds like a bird at all, was not around when i was finishing school cant understand why a person would advertise their personal details online other then for business. its mad

I was never on bebo either. Used to have your attitude. All my friends were on FB though so I joined after finishing college to stay in touch with them as they would have moved home or abroad. Also helps to stay in touch with family living abroad. May prove useful for other things too. Dont knock it till you try it.

Johnny Utah

bridheffernan wrote: »

If anyone can't find an apprenticeship I advise going onto Facebook and befriending Revolutionise the LawSociety or Brid Heffernan or emailing apprentice@bridheffernan.com. They are trying to organise a group of graduates to lobby the Law Soc to change the requirements for getting into Blackhall! or call 0851705555.

I'm not on Facebook either, but I'm interested in hearing your objective. Do you really expect to revolutionise the Law Society? They don't give a fiddlers about their own members, let alone a couple of law grads left between the FE1s and Blackhall. Interested in hearing your plan nevertheless.

legal eagle 1

Do you really expect to revolutionise the Law Society?

All I say is fair play to her for giving it a go!!!

jenny C29

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone is looking for grinds in any of the fe1 subjects. I am a qualified practitioner offering one to one or group grinds complete with condensed notes and sample answers to interested parties.

For more information please contact me off thread.

Many thanks,

Jenny

alandalelegal

Am I mad to think I can do and pass all 8 at once?

Jev/N

No; but if you haven't started studying yet, it'll be tough

NOIMAGINATION

I'm Irish studying Law in the UK and want to come back home once i'm finished my degree and make an attempt at getting a contract in Ireland (figured its just as bad in the UK now so might as well struggle at home)

I'm just wondering if anyone can give me some insight into the FE1s - Ideally (naive I know) I'd want to be taking up my training contract asap after graduation - do law firms take you on before you've completed your Fe1s? How long do they normally give you to complete them after graduation? I see a lot of people seem to take 4 and then 4 - is it crazy to think I could do all 8 in the October after my final exams?

Sorry for all the questions but career advisors over here aren't extremely up to date on the Irish system!!!!:D

Ruby83

NOIMAGINATION wrote: »

I'm Irish studying Law in the UK and want to come back home once i'm finished my degree and make an attempt at getting a contract in Ireland (figured its just as bad in the UK now so might as well struggle at home)

I'm just wondering if anyone can give me some insight into the FE1s - Ideally (naive I know) I'd want to be taking up my training contract asap after graduation - do law firms take you on before you've completed your Fe1s? How long do they normally give you to complete them after graduation? I see a lot of people seem to take 4 and then 4 - is it crazy to think I could do all 8 in the October after my final exams?

Sorry for all the questions but career advisors over here aren't extremely up to date on the Irish system!!!!:D

I got a training contract without having any FE1s. Pressure is on now though to start and finish them! I think I was at a disadvantage not having any given that I got PFOs from 95% of the firms I applied to even though I have really good work experience and a first class honours law degree. FE1s almost seem to be a pre-requisite at this stage in the application process. Usual process would be that you get an offer in 2010 and start in either 2011 or 2012. That was the trend this year anyway.
Have a look at the other thread on this site re FE1 exams themselves. It has more information and general sentiments on the difficulty of each subject etc. If I was not working full time, I'd tackle all eight. But only if I had about 3-4 months full time preparation. At the moment I'm doing 4 but have left myself a bit short on time so it'll most likely be three. If you're planning on doing them after your finals you should be grand as you'll have alot done for some subjects but presume you're not doing any Irish law in a UK university so you may have that bit extra to do. Still very do-able I hear though from buddies who have gone down the same route. Best of luck anyway with it!