Social Welfare Assistance for Trainees

Robaird

Are there any social welfare benefits available for trainees who are working in a non-salaried role? Obviously the law society website does not provide such info so any advice would be appreciated.

blueythebear

Robaird wrote: »

Are there any social welfare benefits available for trainees who are working in a non-salaried role? Obviously the law society website does not provide such info so any advice would be appreciated.

No you're not allowed claim as you're not available for full-time work so you can't claim jobseeker's allowance or benefit. No other benefits would be available either other possible student grants which I believe will cover about half the fees but won't provide an income.

So you'll be expected to work full-time for over two years with no income and also be expected to cover the €15,000 of fees for Blackhall Place.

I don't see how anybody could do this, especially when you bear in mind that when you qualify, you'll be extremely lucky to even get a job that pays over €30k per year.

johnnyskeleton

Probably best asked in the state benefits forum because there might be options such as fis or supplimentary allowance.

There is also the fas scam dealie called the work placement programme or some such.

In any event, straight up jobseekers is a no no.

bath handle

blueythebear wrote: »

Robaird wrote: »

Are there any social welfare benefits available for trainees who are working in a non-salaried role? Obviously the law society website does not provide such info so any advice would be appreciated.

I don't see how anybody could do this, especially when you bear in mind that when you qualify, you'll be extremely lucky to even get a job that pays over €30k per year.

Parental subsidy? that is how it was done for many years.

blueythebear

bath handle wrote: »

Parental subsidy? that is how it was done for many years.

Well yes that's true and thus furthering the opinion that solicitors are all from wealthy backgrounds... There's not too many that would be in a position to complete a TC without some assistance from their parents.

15,000 euros for PPCI and II is ridiculous. To repeat a year in any of TCD, UCD, etc is much less than €10,000. PPC Courses are about 8 months in total. It's a license for the Lawsociety to print money I reckon. About 400 Trainees go through PPC I and II in a year. That's about €6million per year from Trainees alone and don't get me started on the cost of Practising Certificates! Sorry, rant over.

McCrack

blueythebear wrote: »

Well yes that's true and thus furthering the opinion that solicitors are all from wealthy backgrounds... There's not too many that would be in a position to complete a TC without some assistance from their parents.

15,000 euros for PPCI and II is ridiculous. To repeat a year in any of TCD, UCD, etc is much less than €10,000. PPC Courses are about 8 months in total. It's a license for the Lawsociety to print money I reckon. About 400 Trainees go through PPC I and II in a year. That's about €6million per year from Trainees alone and don't get me started on the cost of Practising Certificates! Sorry, rant over.

I agree the costs are high but in fairness to the society they will dig a trainee out if he/she just doesn't have the funds or indeed their parents, they do operate an access/bursary scheme and I know people that have availed of it.

There are also believe it or not some generous practitioners that donate money to the scheme for whatever personal reasons (maybe he/she availed of it at one time)

blueythebear

McCrack wrote: »

I agree the costs are high but in fairness to the society they will dig a trainee out if he/she just doesn't have the funds or indeed their parents, they do operate an access/bursary scheme and I know people that have availed of it.

There are also believe it or not some generous practitioners that donate money to the scheme for whatever personal reasons (maybe he/she availed of it at one time)

I realise there's an bursary scheme alright but I wonder how many people they help out in any one year. Obviously people wouldn't broadcast that they have availed of it but I wonder how many people in a year would receive such assistance. I'd be interested to know.

While it is laudable to operate such a scheme, I would be of the view that the amount of people who receive assistance is a drop in the ocean and does not take away from my opinion that the PPC courses are a bit of a cash cow for the Law Society (even now when numbers are down).

shaneybaby

blueythebear wrote: »

I realise there's an bursary scheme alright but I wonder how many people they help out in any one year. Obviously people wouldn't broadcast that they have availed of it but I wonder how many people in a year would receive such assistance. I'd be interested to know.

While it is laudable to operate such a scheme, I would be of the view that the amount of people who receive assistance is a drop in the ocean and does not take away from my opinion that the PPC courses are a bit of a cash cow for the Law Society (even now when numbers are down).

The bursary scheme is difficult to get and doesn't cover everything. Be prepared to divulge your family's finances (not just your own) but to be fair they're quite helpful about it.

The DBSA also do a bursary but the applications closed last friday http://www.dsba.ie/news_and_events/dsba_bursary_2011.542.1714.news.html