Masters or FE-1s - what would you do first?

dee8839

Hi, I graduate in May and I haven't managed to get a TC (shocking, not...) so I have to decide my next move.

I may not get the post-grads I apply for, of course, but assuming I had the choice, would I be better off to do my first 4 FE-1s this coming October and go from there, or to hold out for a post-grad and if I don't get one, just go for the April sitting?

I'm currently doing my thesis while trying to decide what to apply for and where, and its all just confusing and daunting TBH, so any advice would be so great. Thanks.

drkpower

Do an internship - might be a better "in" to most fiirms these days.

monaghanbiffo

i just did the FE 1's and then got a training contract. But i think i was very lucky.

Given todays climate i'd say go for the Masters option and then if you still want to go and do the FE 1's go down that route. I honestly see no downside to doing the masters first, given how scarce jobs are at teh minute. Hopefully things will be somewhat different in a year!

Best of luck with whatever you choose

dats_right

dee8839 wrote: »

Hi, I graduate in May and I haven't managed to get a TC (shocking, not...) so I have to decide my next move.

A one way plane ticket to US/Aus/UK/Dubai or somesuch would be my advice...

MissMacMacMac

dats_right wrote: »

A one way plane ticket to US/Aus/UK/Dubai or somesuch would be my advice...

That is hardly the answer IMO- the worlds economy is in a downturn so going to some other country is not going to solve your problems.

My advice would be to do the Masters if you think in the long run it is going to help you. At least after you complete the Masters you will have more options open to you. By doing the FE-1's you will be going down one very particular career path (that being a solicitor) and there is no guarantee of a job at the end of it. By doing the Master's first you may be the end of it want a career as something other than a solicitor.

I went to the Bar in London after I finished my undergraduate law degree and now having been Called to the Bar and started working I cannot imagine going back to study no matter how much I would like to do a Masters. In hind sight i should have completed the Masters after my undergaduate and then gone to the Bar.

If you can afford the Masters and are prepared for the work load- do it....leave the FE-1's to another time.

Sangre

Do both.

Study during the summer for 4 or 5 in October, then knock another 2 our in March. Leave last ones to next October. Got to put in some effort in these troubled times.

AKK

Sangre wrote: »

Do both.

Study during the summer for 4 or 5 in October, then knock another 2 our in March. Leave last ones to next October. Got to put in some effort in these troubled times.

+1

I passed 3 Fe-1s in the "March session" during my Masters. It's a bit of work but worth it.

guerito

Sangre wrote: »

Do both.

+1

Especially when you consider that a lot of the competition will have been doing FE-1s during their final year in college. Need every advantage you can get to stop your CV getting binned out of hand.

hullaballoo

OP, I'm not sure if you've been in receipt of a grant up to this point, but it may be something to consider that you automatically preclude yourself from eligibility for a grant for an LLM if you've previously completed a higher qualification. You'd have to be finished in Blackhall for that little iota to come in useful, but watch out for it. It can be a nasty surprise for those who depend on the trusty maintenance cheque year in year out.

drkpower

guerito wrote: »

+1

Especially when you consider that a lot of the competition will have been doing FE-1s during their final year in college. Need every advantage you can get to stop your CV getting binned out of hand.

Having done FE1's is not nearly as important as having had releveant legal experience (whether as an intern, paralegal, law reform commissiion, even secretarial) or, to a lesser extent, having done relevant post-graduate qualifications. Trainees are offered a TC on the basis that they will be taken on after they have completed all FE1s anyway so its not such a big issue. This applies to the Big Firms anyway, not so sure about smaller ones.

Dan133269

hullaballú wrote: »

OP, I'm not sure if you've been in receipt of a grant up to this point, but it may be something to consider that you automatically preclude yourself from eligibility for a grant for an LLM if you've previously completed a higher qualification. You'd have to be finished in Blackhall for that little iota to come in useful, but watch out for it. It can be a nasty surprise for those who depend on the trusty maintenance cheque year in year out.

Are you saying that no one is eligibile for a grant for a masters degree seeing as they already have their bachelor degree?

hullaballoo

No, you're not eligible for a grant for a masters degree if you already have a superior qualification. In this context, 'higher' means 'a qualification of higher status' - e.g., LLM is higher than BCL, but Barrister-at-law or Solicitor are higher than LLM.

Edit: sorry for the confusion, I see where you're coming from there. I could have chosen my words more carefully!

Sangre

guerito wrote: »

+1

Especially when you consider that a lot of the competition will have been doing FE-1s during their final year in college. Need every advantage you can get to stop your CV getting binned out of hand.

you can't sit any FE1s until you've a degree, therefore unless its your second one you can't sit them in final year.

paulanthony

Sangre wrote: »

you can't sit any FE1s until you've a degree, therefore unless its your second one you can't sit them in final year.

Not necessarily - if you are currently in penultimate year, you could take the preliminary exam this March and then be eligable to take the FE-1s during final year. It wouldnt interfere with college too much as you can study during the summer for the October ones and over Christmas for the March ones.

THE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

This is an examination for non-graduates. This examination is held once a year, usually in March. To sit the Preliminary Examination a candidate must be at least 21 years old. The closing date for applications is normally six weeks before the examination. The examination consists of the following three papers:

English
Irish Government and Politics
General Knowledge

The pass mark in each paper is 50% and all three papers must be passed at one sitting in order to pass the examination. Candidates are allowed a maximum of 3 attempts.

Sangre

didn't know that. you'd be mad to take that route. the best chance of getting a TC is excellent college results, which won't be helped by extra exams.

Punchesnpeaches

Sangre wrote: »

Do both.

Study during the summer for 4 or 5 in October, then knock another 2 our in March. Leave last ones to next October. Got to put in some effort in these troubled times.[/QUOT

I took the summer off after 4th year and then did the masters with FE-1s the following year, but I would definitely follow Sangre's advice if I had to do it all again. It's great to have some FE-1s under your belt before you start the Msters and the people on my LL. M who had passed 4 were able to do 1 FE-1 in the March/April sitting during the masters.

drkpower

Sangre wrote: »

didn't know that. you'd be mad to take that route. the best chance of getting a TC is excellent college results, which won't be helped by extra exams.

unless u are outstanding and get a 1.1, there are so many 2.1/2.2 students that the real deciding factor is relevant legal experience showing aptitude and interest

Sangre

drkpower wrote: »

unless u are outstanding and get a 1.1, there are so many 2.1/2.2 students that the real deciding factor is relevant legal experience showing aptitude and interest

most people i know who got a job didn't have any legal experience and i know a lot who got a job, its too bloody hard to come by.

so forget fe1s in college and go for that 1.1, make life a lot easier for yourself.

drkpower

Sangre wrote: »

most people i know who got a job didn't have any legal experience and i know a lot who got a job, its too bloody hard to come by.

so forget fe1s in college and go for that 1.1, make life a lot easier for yourself.

in the big firms, 50% of trainees are being taken from those who do an internship in the firm. of the remaining ones, there will be a few with 1.1's and they will have a strong chance but if you do not have a 1.1, in order to get an interview you really need something on your cv that shows interest and aptitude to be noticed.

dee8839

OP here, some food for thought there, thanks a million. I'm reluctant to give up my summer but at this stage I suppose I have to realise there are things more important than one last summer in the college mindframe!

I'm now leaning towards doing my Masters (hopefully!) and my first 4/5 FE-1s in October. It makes sense when you think about it I suppose, since I'll have Company, Property and Equity very fresh in my mind from this year.

Just to Sangre, I agree that a 1:1 is more important than maybe carefree students are led to believe, but its too late for me on that front! I definitely think that relevant work experience is just as important, but unfortunately all I had was 8 months as a legal exec in Property and that's hardly useful in the current climate.

As for doing FE-1s in your final year, I think it does show a commitment to the career and a good work ethic. It wasn't an option for me as I only turned 21 today! But I wish it had been. Although, god, I pity anyone trying to combine finals with FE-1s because I'm nearly cracking up with college work alone!

Hope this thread has helped others at my stage. Thanks!