PPC 1 2012 Blackhall Place

chopser

Hey all,

So shall be headed to Blackhall Place this September and wondering who all is also starting their PPC1 this year?

Has any body had any problems with the application procedure previously? Or any recommendations for the PPC1 itself.

Also anybody know what is happening regarding Post Graduate Grants or are they totally abolished?

chops018

Only starting the FE1's next month myself, seems a bit daunting. Just wanted to say fair play. Did you get an apprenticeship sorted? Have you started working with a solicitor yet?

chopser

Just got really lucky with the apprenticeship , new firm started up and I probably got in the door first. A pretty great boss to boot too.
Been working there over a year now as I failed my final FE1 last march thus meaning I missed getting into Blackhall 2010. (which was pretty gut wrenching).

Yeah so pretty much just really looking forward to attending Blackhall and wanted to know other peoples experience there and in getting their applications into the Law Society and back.

blueythebear

chopser wrote: »

Just got really lucky with the apprenticeship , new firm started up and I probably got in the door first. A pretty great boss to boot too.
Been working there over a year now as I failed my final FE1 last march thus meaning I missed getting into Blackhall 2010. (which was pretty gut wrenching).

Yeah so pretty much just really looking forward to attending Blackhall and wanted to know other peoples experience there and in getting their applications into the Law Society and back.

Get ready for 6 months of timetable confusion (complete with ridiculous timetabling such as a lecture at 11am followed by a Tutorial at 3pm), complete lack of organisation, very hit and miss lectures and that aside, an awesome time...

johnfás

blueythebear wrote: »

Get ready for 6 months of timetable confusion (complete with ridiculous timetabling such as a lecture at 11am followed by a Tutorial at 3pm), complete lack of organisation, very hit and miss lectures and that aside, an awesome time...

Don't forget the out of date manuals.

Dandelion6

chopser wrote: »

So shall be headed to Blackhall Place this September and wondering who all is also starting their PPC1 this year?

Me... finally

Also anybody know what is happening regarding Post Graduate Grants or are they totally abolished?

I asked about this a few weeks ago, apparently hasn't been announced yet.

Procrastastudy

Is it true that training contracts are practically non existent at the moment?

I was under the impression you needed a masters minimum to even get an interview these days?

Ned_led16

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

Is it true that training contracts are practically non existent at the moment?

I was under the impression you needed a masters minimum to even get an interview these days?

From what i can see, you need to have close family contacts in Ireland today. I know of Solicitors who are quiet that dont have space - and i also know of ones that are busy & who wont even read your cv!

Its not just about first class exam results - Solicitors want communicators and not the thought of babysitting newbies!

Its really tough for people starting out but the way i see it is that these exams will look good on a cv to prospective employers! I wonder what the percentage in any given year for those who sat the exams actually become Solicitors with full time work. I guess 10%?

So my advice is to be a sharp negotiator - walking the walk is ok - but talking the talk is another thing! odd isnt it!

chopser

GCDLawstudent wrote: »

Is it true that training contracts are practically non existent at the moment?

I was under the impression you needed a masters minimum to even get an interview these days?

I don't think that is true, it is very tough . It just takes a lot of perseverance, luck, and good grades wouldn't hurt either especially for big Dublin firms. Also family connections certainly help. Try get some unpaid internship work first as well.

Dandelion6

Ned_led16 wrote: »

From what i can see, you need to have close family contacts in Ireland today.

I don't have any family in Ireland. But I do have a Master's, good grades and lots of relevant experience. I did the Master's after being knocked back at every firm I applied to so I do think that probably made the difference to my getting the apprenticeship this year.

Podge007

Hi all. Just wondering with regards the grant does it matter if you are still living at home with your parents and are applying for the grant even if you are over 23 and not dependent on them? The maintenance grant has been abolished but the grant for fees is more or less the same as previous years as far as I know. Can anyone shed any light on this? I wll be starting in Blackhall in September 2012 please god!!

chopser

Podge007 wrote: »

Hi all. Just wondering with regards the grant does it matter if you are still living at home with your parents and are applying for the grant even if you are over 23 and not dependent on them? The maintenance grant has been abolished but the grant for fees is more or less the same as previous years as far as I know. Can anyone shed any light on this? I wll be starting in Blackhall in September 2012 please god!!

Yes i believe it does matter, you could be say 26 and if you were living at home after Oct 1st of the previous year, in this case 2011. then your grant is dependent on a means test of your parents.

Podge007

Ok but surely you would be entitled to some sort of financial help? The fees are pretty hefty. There is a change in the application process also from this year on where its dealt with by student finance instead of your local authority! I guess ill find out in due course

hession.law

anybody started apartment shopping??? I know its a bit earlier but maybe those who have a TC in Dublin might be moving up soon.

chopser

Just wondering if any of ye have applied yet.
How do you get your certificate of Education and Employment record?

Podge007

As far as I know you just fill out the Education and Employment records yourself on the pages provided at the back of the application pack. Havent read it all yet though

Chip Ralston

Has anyone sent in and had their PPC1 application accepted? How long did it take?

Cheers.

RebelScorned

Hi everybody!

It's great to finally be writing in this thread having stalked the Trainee Interviews and FE1 threads for years! Now that I have my training contract in the bag and I am starting in 3 weeks and 8 FE1s in the bag, I am Blackhall bound this September!

Is it weird to be excited about Blackhall already?! Sept 11th is the date right?

Right 2B a liar

Can't fluffing wait either! Everyone I know has enjoyed it and said its a great experience.

legal eagle 1

Counting down the days:D:D:D

DaleWinton

So delighted to be able to finally contribute to this thread. It's 2 years since I left college and spent that time working and studying for FE1s. Delighted to finally be going back to college and having the craic with other trainees.

rbag

Hi the postgrad grads are gone as of last budget.

Right 2B a liar

Typical! the first grant I would have applied for in my entire life and they stop doing them Looks like I'l be grafting all summer long, here money money money...

smjsmj

Finally BHP here i come. Can not wait. So glad to have the FE1's behind me. Working in a solicitors office for the last 6 months so getting great experience.
Congratulations to everyone that will be heading to BHP in Sept.
Have ordered my PPC1 application pack. anyone got theirs yet?

chopser

Right 2B a liar wrote: »

Typical! the first grant I would have applied for in my entire life and they stop doing them Looks like I'l be grafting all summer long, here money money money...

Same as me, never was able to get a grant before and thought that I would be eligible for this to be the first (and probably most needed one). Ah well.

chopser

smjsmj wrote: »

Finally BHP here i come. Can not wait. So glad to have the FE1's behind me. Working in a solicitors office for the last 6 months so getting great experience.
Congratulations to everyone that will be heading to BHP in Sept.
Have ordered my PPC1 application pack. anyone got theirs yet?

Yeah got mine a couple of weeks ago and just recently entered it.
Nothing too difficult in it, copy degree, Birth cert and photo and application form,do up your employment record page and education record page and thats really it. And the €850.00 application fee of course.

I called up Blackhall and was told the applications were steadily coming in but that there were still plenty of places left. I woukld say the days of refusing applications due to place is probably over, but you never know.

Just got my Deeds of indenture and acceptance/ consent letter back from Blackhall. So it only took a week to process

Bad news is that there is a two page information sheet on applying for the Grant which summises with the information that Grant contribution for fees are not available for 2012 ppc1. So pretty pointless.

It does say that maintenance grants of €1,008.00 are available for 2012 but the Citizens information website says that they are not available to new post graduate students. So I'm not sure what is going on there.

Chip Ralston

chopser wrote: »

Yeah got mine a couple of weeks ago and just recently entered it.
Nothing too difficult in it, copy degree, Birth cert and photo and application form,do up your employment record page and education record page and thats really it. And the €850.00 application fee of course.

I called up Blackhall and was told the applications were steadily coming in but that there were still plenty of places left. I woukld say the days of refusing applications due to place is probably over, but you never know.

Just got my Deeds of indenture and acceptance/ consent letter back from Blackhall. So it only took a week to process

Bad news is that there is a two page information sheet on applying for the Grant which summises with the information that Grant contribution for fees are not available for 2012 ppc1. So pretty pointless.

It does say that maintenance grants of €1,008.00 are available for 2012 but the Citizens information website says that they are not available to new post graduate students. So I'm not sure what is going on there.

Does 'Not available' not just mean exact figures not available as yet rather than withdrawn in this case?

chopser

Chip Ralston wrote: »

Does 'Not available' not just mean exact figures not available as yet rather than withdrawn in this case?

You are probably right, this is from Citizens Information website

Postgraduate students: No maintenance grants will be paid for new entrants on postgraduate courses from the 2012-13 academic year. Fee grants (described below) will continue to be paid for those postgraduate students who would previously have qualified for the special rate of grant (see 'Special rates of grants for disadvantaged students' below).

legal eagle 1

chopser wrote: »

It does say that maintenance grants of €1,008.00 are available for 2012 but the Citizens information website says that they are not available to new post graduate students. So I'm not sure what is going on there.

Excuse my ignorance, but are maintenance grants one off payments of say €1,008.00 or do you get more than one payment if you succeed in obtaining the grant?

Podge007

chopser wrote: »

You are probably right, this is from Citizens Information website

Postgraduate students: No maintenance grants will be paid for new entrants on postgraduate courses from the 2012-13 academic year. Fee grants (described below) will continue to be paid for those postgraduate students who would previously have qualified for the special rate of grant (see 'Special rates of grants for disadvantaged students' below).

I don't think they have been abolished entirely. I think the amount has been reduced automatically by 3% maybe more. The maintenance grant has been cut for ppc 1 from a maximum of two payments of €1040 last year to a once off payment of €1008 this year. Surely there has to be some help towards fees for those of us who are working for jack sh1t?

Durry

Hey, I'm heading to PPC 1 in September also, cannot wait! Just got my indentures, was wondering about that grant myself so thanks for the update folks. I hear the PPC 1 timetable each year is quite a mess so wondering if it would be in my interests to live very close by to blackhall? Anyone have any input?

murrayp4

Durry wrote: »

Hey, I'm heading to PPC 1 in September also, cannot wait! Just got my indentures, was wondering about that grant myself so thanks for the update folks. I hear the PPC 1 timetable each year is quite a mess so wondering if it would be in my interests to live very close by to blackhall? Anyone have any input?

Also...do the PPCI schedules change every week or is it the same days every week for the duration of the term?

jasonpat

Is these are the final status or its gonna be change one more time.

liam-h

Podge007 wrote: »

As far as I know you just fill out the Education and Employment records yourself on the pages provided at the back of the application pack. Havent read it all yet though

Did you e-mail the law society to get the application pack?

Thanks

Durry

I rang the traineeship section, gave my name & address & she sent it out to me. I suppose you could e-mail them alright but you have to contact them, they don't send it out automatically.

Podge007

liam-h wrote: »

Did you e-mail the law society to get the application pack?

Thanks

Hey! Yeah i just rang them up and they took my details and sent it out to me within a few days. Filled it out and sent it back. They had it all done in a week or ten days. Make sure you have all your references ready and all that!

legaleagle18

Hey starting in Sept too! Just wondered does anyone know when the fees have to be paid to the Law Soc. And is it definite that grants are no more for 2012?

Chip Ralston

legaleagle18 wrote: »

... And is it definite that grants are no more for 2012?

From studentfinance.ie:

-Students entering new postgraduate courses from the 2012-13 academic year onwards will not be entitled to any maintenance payment under the Student Grant scheme
-However, students on the lowest level of income entering new postgraduate courses from the 2012-13 academic year who qualify for the special rate of grant will be eligible to qualify to have tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit under the Student Grant scheme

Right 2B a liar

I dont care about the maintenance grant as I can live on Tesco value I just hope I can get something towards the fees, which are ridonkulously high and dont allow for direct debit instalments as that would be too helpful. I guess the LSI are looking at it as sure they'll have it made back in first month as a qualified lawyer

Durry

Contacted student finance and this is what they had to say;

In general under the 2012/2013 Student Support Scheme, there is no provision for any maintenance grant for postgraduate study. However, subject to certain income thresholds, eligible postgraduate students may apply for tuition grants up to a maximum of €6,270. Not every applicant will qualify, due to the new additional income thresholds.

Previous study at further education or higher education may affect your eligibility to be considered for a grant. If you hold a qualification you will need to be “in progression” as defined in the Student Support Act, 2011 and outlined in articles 15 to 17 of the Student Grant Scheme, 2011. There are limits on the number of years for which you can be grant-aided for post leaving certificate, undergraduate and postgraduate courses. This may be subject to change as details of this years Student Grant Scheme is expected to be published by the Department of Education and Skills in May. When published the details of the Student Grant scheme will be on the www.studentfinance.ie and www.citizensinformation.ie websites.

A student will be ineligible for funding for the Barrister-at-Law Degree at the Honorable Society of the King's Inn or the Professional Practice Course in the Law Society of Ireland if he or she already holds a masters degree at Level 9 unless that masters degree is in law.

Please visit http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/Student%20Grant%20Scheme%202011.pdf for further information.

As soon as the online application system opens for the 2012/13 academic year, currently scheduled for the end of May, applicants will be able to register online with SUSI and then complete the online application form. The online application facility will be available through www.studentfinance.ie.

murrayp4

How many lecture/tutorial hours per. week on average are there?

legaleagle18

Ok so just keep checking studentfinance.ie so! Is anyone else looking at accom? Moving down in Sept and wondering were to move and if there were peeps out there lookin also and looking for share places?

Durry

legaleagle18 wrote: »

Ok so just keep checking studentfinance.ie so! Is anyone else looking at accom? Moving down in Sept and wondering were to move and if there were peeps out there lookin also and looking for share places?

I'm in the same situ, was looking to get somewhere close by because the time table changes from wk to wk and could have a gap of a couple of hrs from lecture to lecture. Stoneybatter and Smithfield seem to be te areas recommended. Student finance are putting grant form up June 11th.

Sala

Durry wrote: »

A student will be ineligible for funding for the Barrister-at-Law Degree at the Honorable Society of the King's Inn or the Professional Practice Course in the Law Society of Ireland if he or she already holds a masters degree at Level 9 unless that masters degree is in law.
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That's a bit mean! Why is that, because you already paid for/ had a grant for something unrelated and it's your fault you changed your mind, or is the PPC1 seen as an extension of a law postgraduate?

smjsmj

legaleagle18 wrote: »

Ok so just keep checking studentfinance.ie so! Is anyone else looking at accom? Moving down in Sept and wondering were to move and if there were peeps out there lookin also and looking for share places?

Hi, Yeh i'll be moving down in Sept looking for a place to share. im not sure where is best to stay as i dont know Dublin well at all. Somewhere either within walking distance or a quick bus ride. Any suggestions? People have said that Smithfield is good location wise but it wouldnt be the safest.

Right 2B a liar

smjsmj wrote: »

Hi, Yeh i'll be moving down in Sept looking for a place to share. im not sure where is best to stay as i dont know Dublin well at all. Somewhere either within walking distance or a quick bus ride. Any suggestions? People have said that Smithfield is good location wise but it wouldnt be the safest.

I think somewhere along the luas red line would be the best for both getting into BH and town. I would like to share with fellow PPC too, as if we rented a place together we could negotiate a 6/7 month lease instead of having to be in a year lease.

Riona235

Hi, I'm also heading to Dublin to September! At last-thought the FE-1s were going to get the better of me a couple of times... I've been assured that PPC1 won't be as tough! Also going to be looking for somewhere to stay. Open to staying with other PPC students and to any suggestions of the best areas to live. Would Rathmines-direction be a bit far to commute?

Durry

Riona235 wrote: »

Would Rathmines-direction be a bit far to commute?

Hey, tbh rathmines or anywhere in twn would suit but blackhall is the other side of d city, if ur driving to bh, no hassle but otherwise u'll av to get a bus into twn n walk across d quay which isn't ideal.

Dandelion6

smjsmj wrote: »

People have said that Smithfield is good location wise but it wouldnt be the safest.

I've lived in Smithfield for five years, it's perfectly safe as long as you use a bit of common sense. Stoneybatter is also very convenient and affordable.

Chip Ralston

Hi,

what type of course is the PPC for the purposes of a studenetfinance grant?

Is it Postgraduate Diploma Level 9?

Cheers.

Mojo22

Chip Ralston wrote: »

Hi,

what type of course is the PPC for the purposes of a studenetfinance grant?

Is it Postgraduate Diploma Level 9?

Cheers.

I put down phd level 10 simply because i did the masters which is level 9 & you cannot recieve the grant for the same level twice. I will get in touch with them & just let them know its PPC1.