Am I mad starting an LLB?

dumbyearbook

Hi,

I'm 24 and can go to UL in September to do the2 yr LLB. Been in Dublin 2 years and feel like a change.

Ive done a B.Comm and a masters too. I was thinking of going the Griffith FE1 route from November to April, but as I would have been working too it would be tougher than moving to Limerick but faster, yet the chances of success would be lower imo.

I'll have no commute in Limerick as I'll be working on Campus in the evenings and living really close aswell. Financially I'm ok as ill have a job and take time out for exams.

I'd prob go back to Dublin in May after the exams (as thats where all my old college friends are and I have a place to move into)

So main questions.........
Will I realistically be able to get a training contract after the two years are done without any FE1s?

Am I too bloody old or is that a mad thougt at 24? (25 at Christmas)

Advice please!!

2rs

dumbyearbook wrote:

So main questions.........
Will I realistically be able to get a training contract after the two years are done without any FE1s?

Am I too bloody old or is that a mad thougt at 24? (25 at Christmas)

Advice please!!

You do not need the LLB to do the FE-1s. You only need a recognised degree which you seem to have. Kings Inns would require the LLB

You are never to old. There were a couple of people well into their 50's (I am guessing) in my LLB class over the last 2 years.

dumbyearbook

Cheers 2RS,

I know i dont need the LLB but want to do it rather than a prep course in Griffith and all the hassle that goes with it commute etc. so thats why Limerick becomes the alternative. I actually like the idea of going back to college too!

2rs

dumbyearbook wrote:

Cheers 2RS,

I know i dont need the LLB but want to do it rather than a prep course in Griffith and all the hassle that goes with it commute etc. so thats why Limerick becomes the alternative. I actually like the idea of going back to college too!

Cool. The LLB will give you a good base, but I would strongly recommend (and I think others will agree) that you need a prep course before tackling the FE-1s. Griffith do webcast their FE-1 prep courses as far as I know if the commute does not suit

FE-1s are too difficult for me, I am tackling the KI exams this summer!

dumbyearbook

I think ill cross the FE1 bridge when it comes to me, I know its the longer route doing the LLB but I want the full thing rather than just the crash course. Loads of my friends did FE1s after their LLBs without doing a prep course and passed so ill prob do the same but they are a while off yet anyway.

tombren

you're defintely not too old, im 29 and just finishing up the fe-1's now, most of my class mates are 24/25, but there's plenty that i know that are well into their thirties,
as for getting a training contract without any fe-1s, unless u have an uncle or family friend that wants to give u one u wont get one. training contracts are very hard to get and its a requirement with most of the big firms that you've passed all eight and your irish exam before they'll give you one, that said i do know people who have got them with 6 or 7 passed, but think they might be the exception
like the other poster i would recommend doing the griffith course whether u do the llb or not, degree and fe-1's are miles apart, i know some of your mates did it that way, i also know quite a few who have llb's, did griffith and are on their 3rd time tryin to get their first three fe-1's passed,
even if u got yourself the griffith manuals from friends etc would be a great help

dumbyearbook

tombren wrote:

you're defintely not too old, im 29 and just finishing up the fe-1's now, most of my class mates are 24/25, but there's plenty that i know that are well into their thirties,
as for getting a training contract without any fe-1s, unless u have an uncle or family friend that wants to give u one u wont get one. training contracts are very hard to get and its a requirement with most of the big firms that you've passed all eight and your irish exam before they'll give you one, that said i do know people who have got them with 6 or 7 passed, but think they might be the exception
like the other poster i would recommend doing the griffith course whether u do the llb or not, degree and fe-1's are miles apart, i know some of your mates did it that way, i also know quite a few who have llb's, did griffith and are on their 3rd time tryin to get their first three fe-1's passed,
even if u got yourself the griffith manuals from friends etc would be a great help

Hi Tom,

thanks for the advice, im over the age thing now 24 aint that old sure. When it comes to the FE1s ill prob get the manuals and do them from there.

As regards the training contract I had heard that youd need the 8 passed as you've highlighted just wanted to see if anyone else had any experience of trying to get one without, i might have a freind who could take me in after we'll see!

Either way im off to UL in September just paid the €100 there to confirm the place.

Rhonda9000

dumbyearbook wrote:

Am I too bloody old or is that a mad thougt at 24? (25 at Christmas)

24 / nearly 25 - shucks!! May I ask if you are currently working etc. with your current qualifications and if you have a set plan for yourself following your legal education? Best of luck with whatever you persue

Rhonda9000

dumbyearbook wrote:

Am I too bloody old or is that a mad thougt at 24? (25 at Christmas)

24 / nearly 25 - shucks!! May I ask if you are currently working etc. with your current qualifications and if you have a set plan for yourself following your legal education? Best of luck with whatever you persue

dumbyearbook

Rhonda9000 wrote:

24 / nearly 25 - shucks!! May I ask if you are currently working etc. with your current qualifications and if you have a set plan for yourself following your legal education? Best of luck with whatever you persue

Did a B.Comm and masters in Marketing, and yes ive followed the path (fairly sucessfully as regards marketing for a graduate) Its not for me though I want to qualify as a solicitor.

Any advice?

I could be asking friends on this too but i hav'nt told anyone yet that im going back to college, except the parents (= as that = half the fees)

dK1NG

dumbyearbook wrote:

Either way im off to UL in September just paid the €100 there to confirm the place.

Best of luck with it.:)

By the by, I think you probably made the right decision; from what I've heard (altho it may be idle rumours) a lot of firms prefer to take on people with a law degree (or, at least a finance/economics degree for commercial firms).

Rhonda9000

dumbyearbook wrote:

Did a B.Comm and masters in Marketing, and yes ive followed the path (fairly sucessfully as regards marketing for a graduate) Its not for me though I want to qualify as a solicitor.

Any advice?

I could be asking friends on this too but i hav'nt told anyone yet that im going back to college, except the parents (= as that = half the fees)

Re. advice - I don't have any as you seem to be going with your gut which is the best you can do. I'm also a career changer - leaving unstable IT as, like you, "it's not for me". Overall, the law degree is good but for me it hasn't lived up to all the hype. Personally, I think law is a very oversubscribed sector in this country. I wonder if I was inadvertently drawn into the illusion of prestige and soapboxism it offers.. All that aside it is definitely a better fit for me than IT ever would have been and I am happy I switched while I could and I will enjoy a more fulfilling and stimulating mode of work.

All the best with your LLB and feared FE1 exams; the 2 years will be finished before you know it and you still wont be "old"! IMHO I think your serparate degrees in commerce and law will stand to you very well indeed particularly if you find / create a convincing niche career path making the most of your dual-specialty.

dumbyearbook

Rhonda9000 - thanks for the insight/encouragement;

I suppose I am going with the gut; also though i'm under no illusion regarding the amount of study required. I don't believe in doing it for the prestige either its that I want to push myself.

dK1NG - cheers I hope you're right!

Font22

u dont need to have all the fe1's done to get a training contract!! i just finished my degree (business and legal studies) and most of my friends secured their training contracts while we were still in college!! and it doesnt matter what degree you did, there are plenty of people that havent completed the fe1's and have still secured their contracts. also note that the people that i know that secured the trainee contracts before the fe1's are all headed to the large commercial firms.

EdgarAllenPoo

Font22 wrote:

also note that the people that i know that secured the trainee contracts before the fe1's are all headed to the large commercial firms.

...Where they will get lost in the shuffle and won't see daylight until they're 40:D

dumbyearbook

Font22 wrote:

u dont need to have all the fe1's done to get a training contract!! i just finished my degree (business and legal studies) and most of my friends secured their training contracts while we were still in college!! and it doesnt matter what degree you did, there are plenty of people that havent completed the fe1's and have still secured their contracts. also note that the people that i know that secured the trainee contracts before the fe1's are all headed to the large commercial firms.

Hi Font

Sounds ok then; Ive been talking to a few others on this and they say you'll need the FE1s to be considered? I dunno sure its all along way off anyway, but good to hear some people managed it.

Font22

i suppose everyone is going to have their own opinions but anyone i know that is going down the legal route has managed to secure a contract without them. best of luck with everything anyways!

EdgarAllenPoo

dumbyearbook wrote:

Hi Font

Sounds ok then; Ive been talking to a few others on this and they say you'll need the FE1s to be considered? I dunno sure its all along way off anyway, but good to hear some people managed it.

Unless of course you know someone or know somone who knows someone who would be willing to give you a job straight out of college.

Some of the people I was in college with were in that siuation(the lucky ones), others had no legal background and would have to go to as many interviews as they could in third year.

johnnyskeleton

My understanding was that if you get a 1st/high 2h1 in 2nd year UCD or 3rd year Trinity then you will have the pick of the crop in terms of training contracts with the big firms (although they make a big song and dance about it not being about results).

Smaller firms would want some kind of committment before they take you on, and I don't think they would be that keen on someone who says they are going to be a solicitor and then at the end of the summer tells their boss that they are going to become a barrister and thanks for the experience.

dumbyearbook

Font22 wrote:

i suppose everyone is going to have their own opinions but anyone i know that is going down the legal route has managed to secure a contract without them. best of luck with everything anyways!

Cheers for the info.

dumbyearbook

FYI - decided against UL, Griffith here I come...

dumbyearbook

ANd thanks for everyones advise too its still totally appreciated

EdgarAllenPoo

dumbyearbook wrote:

FYI - decided against UL, Griffith here I come...

Is that for the LLB or just the FE-1 course?

dumbyearbook

The FE1

Duffman

If securing a TC is your objective then I doing the LLB isn't really going to make this any more likely I'm afraid.

Significant numbers of trainees in the large firms don't have law degrees at all. In fact some of the country's leading lawyers and even judges don't have them!

Commercial firms actively recruit graduates from different backgrounds because, as law students quickly realise, the type of work they do really bears little relation to what they studied in college.

So do the LLB if you have a genuine, academic (don't overlook this one - you have to want to study this stuff because you're interested) interest in studying law. If what you want is to secure a TC in a commercial firm as soon as possible, do the FE1s immediately and apply to the firms with some of them under your belt.

dumbyearbook

Duffman wrote:

If what you want is to secure a TC in a commercial firm as soon as possible, do the FE1s immediately and apply to the firms with some of them under your belt.

Cheers for the input, this is the plan now (ie. not doing LLB) will take the head on coalision with the FE1s.

If you did the prep course in Griffth and kept notes all up to date etc. how much time do you think would be considered reasonable to pass some Fe1s? If even to get 3 it would be some achievement would'nt it? Would 3 months be anyway feasible to get the 3?

johnnyskeleton

dumbyearbook wrote:

Cheers for the input, this is the plan now (ie. not doing LLB) will take the head on coalision with the FE1s.

If you did the prep course in Griffth and kept notes all up to date etc. how much time do you think would be considered reasonable to pass some Fe1s? If even to get 3 it would be some achievement would'nt it? Would 3 months be anyway feasible to get the 3?

How intelligent, hard working, articulate, confident and lucky are you?

dumbyearbook

Well above average on all counts Johnny, am I in with a shout?

johnnyskeleton

dumbyearbook wrote:

Well above average on all counts Johnny, am I in with a shout?

The amount of time required depends on the person, is what I meant. You'll have to work out for yourself how much time it will take you to cover enough law to pass.

Good luck.

dumbyearbook

Ya I figured that...I think i'll be in with a shout im the type that learns in lectures which should help! Sure we'll see

dedon

I studied Business in UL and I am now doing the LLB. I aim to enter Commercial/business Law and do my FE1s when I am finished the LLB. I will be 25 when I finish the LLB but I feel it is totally worth it.

Its a great course and it is very well thought.

Best of luck with it.