When Should I Start Studying

chops018

Hi,

I am planning on taking the first block of 4 FE-1's next Spring. Was just wondering when I should get into studying for them. I have a Degree and a Masters in Law so I have some books on the subjects, and was looking online and some of them are still pretty up to date for the exams, e.g. My Contract Law book that I used in 2008 (Contract Law In Ireland, By Clarke, 2008), according to lawbooks.ie this is the most up to date book for Contract Law. Same goes for the Criminal Law book I used.

Anyone think I should be going through some of the topics now myself from the books I have, then when it comes closer i.e. around December start looking into getting exam papers, and previous manuals. Also there seems to be some places in Dublin that do full day seminars on a subject over 2 weeks closer to the exam time, would these prove useful.

Any feed back or experience would be greatly appreciated. Just trying to get an idea of how to get started in my studies and any opinions on what I stated above would be great, especially with regard to the books I have already and whether I should start going through some of the areas. Also I still have access to my 2 previous college library's as far as I know graduate's can get cards, and even if they can't a day or two in the library here and there would be great as they have the most relevant texts, this could be useful too.

Thanks in advance, would love to hear everyone's opinions on how they tackled getting going on their studies and what you think of what I stated above.

nuac

You should start studying day one. read your law books and report of decided cases.

You will be on a constant learning curve as law is always developing.

Just getting my head around some topics after 40+ years.

chops018

nuac wrote: »

You should start studying day one. read your law books and report of decided cases.

You will be on a constant learning curve as law is always developing.

Just getting my head around some topics after 40+ years.

Thanks for the reply, so you reckon get stuck into the books I already have and pin down the important cases in each topic.

Then when it gets closer to the exams should I get started on practising questions and getting my answers together for each topic.

SukisMam

Definitely start from day one. No degree or post grad prepares you for the rotten old FE1s! Are you preparing by yourself? Hope you're good with self discipline!

chops018

SukisMam wrote: »

Definitely start from day one. No degree or post grad prepares you for the rotten old FE1s! Are you preparing by yourself? Hope you're good with self discipline!

Yeah gonna prepare myself, was thinking of getting the books, and previous exams papers on the site and take it from there, trying to get a start early. I reckon once I get 3 out of the first 4 passed I can relax a bit as you can do them one by one then. Also I know some people that did some of the prep courses that would sell me the manuals and exam papers they got from only last year.

Also thinking of getting a few grinds and those day seminars when it gets close to the exams. I'd say the first set are very stressful, don't want to fail at all. Gonna have to get in contact with old college friends who did them for advice haha. Hopfully it will come together when I get a look at the past exam papers.

Haha, ah I should be good with the discipline, not all the time but should be able to get down to business and study the topics.

nuac

Suggest you make your own brief summary of important cases, I always found it easier to remember legal principles that way.

If it is still available there used to be a book by Glanville Williams on learning the law, which is well worth getting.

Good luck

NoQuarter

This is what I would do if I could try again:

You have until spring so PLENTY of time. You should push for more that 4, You have more than enough time to try 5, and you will have a better chance of getting 3 then. I done 4 first and missed 2, only by a couple of percent but still! Pick 5 easyish ones, like property, contract and equity (because there is crossover), tort and criminal. you could even have a chance of getting all 5 there (all us us Kings Inns candidates have to get 5 in one sitting so if we can do it so can you guys no problem!)

Sure, that leaves company, EU and Constitution, pretty nasty, but to be fair, its not too bad, and you would have plenty of time to study for them!

If I was you, judging on my FE1 experience, thats exactly what I would do.

Also, it would be worth getting the manuals now (assuming theres no big changes coming in any topic soon) and learn the manuals off by heart, forget the books for the moment, get the exam syllabus, get the manuals and learn them all...then next year in february, you should start looking at the books and the papers.

Do that and you will sail through.

nuac

Learning manuals by heart!

Hardly the best way to train to be a lawyer.

NoQuarter

nuac wrote: »

Learning manuals by heart!

Hardly the best way to train to be a lawyer.

Best way to pass the exams though! I dont recall during my KI exams pausing to wonder if the way I studied will make me the best lawyer, that all comes after!

Besides, the manuals are the law no?

Anyway I'm sure you will agree that the training to be a lawyer will take place during your apprenticeship and not how you study for the FE1's!

Milk & Honey

nuac wrote: »

Learning manuals by heart!

Hardly the best way to train to be a lawyer.

He was recommending Nutshells previously, so maybe it is progress.
I am constantly amazed at the attempt to prepare for exams by starting with the small books first.

NoQuarter

Milk & Honey wrote: »

He was recommending Nutshells previously, so maybe it is progress.
I am constantly amazed at the attempt to prepare for exams by starting with the small books first.

Nicely taken out of context there!

I recommended nutshells for a person to read before starting their degree!

But if you guys think learning an FE1 manual off by heart to pass an FE1 is crazy then so be it! :rolleyes:

chops018

Thanks for all the input everyone.. as NoQuarter said, I've plenty of time. Just trying to get people's views on getting going on study, been helpful so far.

blueythebear

YOu should start studying ASAP. You study the relevant materials until you know them inside out and then you study them some more.

As for No Quarter's point about learning off the manuals, I don't know if the posters who disagree with that course of action did the FE1s recently but the fact is that the Griffith (and I presume Independent) manuals are designed to be a one stop shop for the FE1s. In fact, if you knew the information in those manuals off by heart (and presuming you can apply the infomration properly) then you could get a very good mark and can certainly pass them.

The syllabus suggested by the Law Society is far too large for a closed book exam otherwise.