PPC I finished!

Thirdfox

Last exam done - probate was quite nice I thought, though surprisingly long.

Back to the offices we go! :pac:

Procrastastudy

Congrats!

Thirdfox

Just got a PM asking some questions on PPC I - I'll answer them here so whoever's interested can get a heads up on what to expect:

Was just wondering what format do the exams take?

Open book - you can bring in anything on paper (manuals, tutorial books, notes, sample answers etc).

Is it all open book exams and no more FE1 style cramming?

No cramming per se - but the manuals can be quite long and you'll need to know where the stuff is quite quickly (time is of the essence). And sometimes the answer can be in one paragraph on page 648 etc, so you'll need to know your stuff too. No more learning a case citation off by rote though.

I would imagine open book exams are very difficult in themselves but are they really as difficult or as pressurised as the FE1s.

I sat all 8 FE-1s so my experience of them is a bit skewed. But, subjectively speaking, it is easier due to the PPC I exams being (seemingly) more focused on finding the right answers for your client over spewing everything you know about mistake in contract law. There is negative marking if you don't seem to know what your client's instructions and wants are.

I.e. probate (wills) - man comes in telling you he has never been married/engaged/civil partnered...don't talk about spouses/partners and Legal Right Shares (though you may know it in minute detail!)

Also how many exams do you sit and do you get to choose subjects in PPCI or is there compulsory subjects everyone has to do.

There are 7 subjects - grouped into 4 exams. All are compulsory, all questions are compulsory. Conveyancing/Landlord and Tenant, Business Law, Probate/Tax, Civil/Criminal Litigation.

Do the exams count for 100% of your mark or is there continuous assessment?

Exams count for 100% of your subjects marks. There are mandatory Skills assignments/workshops/assessments which, if failed will lead you to fail your PPC I - however these can be done over the summer I believe.

There is also Legal Irish - something that must be completed satisfactorily (otherwise you'll be back repeating it with the next bunch of PPC I people we were told).

Hope that helps!

chops018

Very informative, thanks for that!

Just an add on question, what is the pass threshold for the PPC1?

Thirdfox

chops018 wrote: »

Very informative, thanks for that!

Just an add on question, what is the pass threshold for the PPC1?

50% for all subjects, assessments and whatnot.

Jev/N

Oh, sweet freedom

McCrack

My experience is you can piss it for the first 5 months and knuckle down for the last and be grand. Tutorials are essential to go to, lectures not so much, in fact I skipped majority lectures but I had the benefit of working in firms for quite a number of years before entering PPC which was a great benefit.

I do think the LSI should have a minimum requirement of say 6 months of having worked in an office before entering Blackhall.

James_sb

Sorry for dragging this thread back, but quick question about missing lectures in PPC I.

In the timetable for PPC I, is this the Irish class that you're told you really can't miss, or you'll fail and have to repeat?

PPC1-LPI
LPI Pronunciation Wk/Shop (Compulsory Sign-in)
Maura Butler
Language Lab
Red K-L (12-17)



Thanks!

shaneybaby

James_sb wrote: »

Sorry for dragging this thread back, but quick question about missing lectures in PPC I.

In the timetable for PPC I, is this the Irish class that you're told you really can't miss, or you'll fail and have to repeat?

PPC1-LPI
LPI Pronunciation Wk/Shop (Compulsory Sign-in)
Maura Butler
Language Lab
Red K-L (12-17)



Thanks!

LPI is the irish class. miss it and you'll be back in next year to attend class (honestly it's cringe because some people have cupla focail while others are fluent and you're all in the same class. made me feel very dumb but just attend, it's only for an hour or so.

littlemac1980

James_sb wrote: »

Sorry for dragging this thread back, but quick question about missing lectures in PPC I.

In the timetable for PPC I, is this the Irish class that you're told you really can't miss, or you'll fail and have to repeat?

PPC1-LPI
LPI Pronunciation Wk/Shop (Compulsory Sign-in)
Maura Butler
Language Lab
Red K-L (12-17)



Thanks!

There's that class, and a few other compulsory ones that they'll tell you about. They'll give you plenty of notice of the ones you can't miss - that doesn't mean you'll remember to go to them though, but thankfully everyone generally pulls through via collective recollection.

Whatever about the workshops - their relatively easy to remember to go to, because you're paired up with another trainee, so one of you'll usually remember - its the online material that'll catch you out - there are strict deadlines for completing very straight forward online quizzes. If you miss one, its fixable, but its a headache.

The Irish can be a bit of a drag if you let it bother you. My partner was good crack, so we just had a bit of a laugh once a week. Enjoy!

James_sb

Cheers! That's helpful. Looking forward to it!