eh confused????

legal lady

im a final year law student and i cant make up my mind whether to try for kings inns or just do FE1s........:rolleyes:.....

i really need to decide but just wondering does anyone know how long each will take and how hard it is to secure an apprenriceship/ devilling????? thanks

dats_right

Anecdotally and statistically the Fe-1's are much harder exams than the Bar exams, so I wouldn't choose on the baisis of 'just doing' the fe-1's. There are 8 FE-1 exams with each individual subject having a failure rate of about 50%, whereas the Bar exams have five subjects and the overall pass rate (i.e. for all 5 exams) of in the region of 90-95%. Also apprenticeships are very difficult to secure and total time taken to qualify as a solicitor is substantially longer than the Bar. Furthermore, as far as I am aware every new BL is guaranteed a master, whether they get a good, busy master is another matter but at least once they pass the relatively straightforward exams they are virtually guaranteed to qualify.

dee8839

I'm in the same situation but I just bought some FE-1 manuals so I suppose I've made my bed.

I always got the impression that it was very difficult to make a proper living as a barrister, as it was all about contacts. Also, I have heard that there are far too many barristers being called to the bar and that only a small percentage of these earn a regular wage without supplementary income from somewhere. Maybe that's wrong but that's always the impression I got.

Also, if you did a typical law degree its unlikely that you covered subjects like Evidence and Administration Law unless you did them as extra subjects. I know my degree only covers the main 8 FE-1 subjects as well as stuff like Labour Law and Commercial Law. But I suppose if you're a good studier with a genuine interest in the subject that wouldn't be a problem.

Maybe you could shadow a solicitor from your home town, or a barrister for that matter, and see what work you find more interesting. I think practicing at the bar would be much more interesting but for me its all about making a living at the end of the day. You're probably too late for most solicitor internships but check and see, a few weeks in the summer could decide it for you.

It's tough to make any living in law these days from the look of it. Apprenticeships are thin enough on the ground. It can be disheartening to look at boards sometimes, there are some seriously disillusioned law graduates around. Best of look whatever you decide.

legal lady

well i have covered all my required subjects for both......
i want to make a good living but i want to like what i do.....
im a real country girl and most people say that barristers are early all dublin based!!!!!!!!!!!!!:(
ugh i just wish it was more straight forward........!!!!!!!!!!
thanks for the replies........

legal eagle 1

As a girl who has her law degree done and Fe1's completed, my opinion is that you should really think about whether you really want to be a solicitor or a barrister, don't base the decision on the exams, length of time to qualify etc.
Im currently looking for an apprenticeship, a search i've been at for two years to no avail. Its tough going, extremely disheartening and after a while the constant rejection hurts your confidence. In the current climate especially,i think you should focus on whether you really wanna be a solicitor or a barrister, make sure there what you wanna be because you may call it into question alot on your path to achieving it.
Another piece of advice i would offer is to ensure that you start applying for the large law firms in September/October if a solicitor is what you wanna become. Lots of luck