Blackhall Place 2013 - PPCI

BeeK033

Hi
Anyone out there starting PPCI in Blackhall Place this coming September 2013 and interested in sharing their thoughts on the upcoming year?

Shiny87

Hi there!
I'm heading this September too, really excited about it - it is a long time coming!!:D
Just finished the application pack, there's a lot involved in it so people should really get cracking on it if they haven't already.
I found the €840.00 application fee a bit of a shock, really wasn't expecting it on top of the other €8,350

Jrad12

Hi
Yep getting prepared for college again after 6 years. Going to be tough getting back into it. Does anyone know where the best place for accommodation . Would it be recommended to go abit outside Dublin where it is cheaper.
Do you know when the timetable will be out for 2013

Sala

Me too! Finally :-) I'm determined to keep the head down, I have been hearing frightening thins about failure rates.

randomchild

Counting down the days for it. After all the hard work to get to this point and the massive fees I plan on working hard and socializing harder :P

Hunchback

Sala wrote: »

Me too! Finally :-) I'm determined to keep the head down, I have been hearing frightening thins about failure rates.

What are the failure rates?

Shiny87

randomchild wrote: »

Counting down the days for it. After all the hard work to get to this point and the massive fees I plan on working hard and socializing harder :P

I am ridiculously excited! 6 and a half weeks to go

I believe the exams are underestimated quite a lot, and that they are tough, but not FE1 tough. I heard once you get the head down from christmas onwards it should be fine.

Sala

CKonetheonlyone wrote: »

What are the failure rates?

I don't actually know, but reading here for the last few years it appears they are going up and the exams are getting harder.

Cody Pomeray

I think it's gone up near 50% (on first attempt, that's just from speaking to friends who did it. Obviously that comes down in re-sits.

Far cry from back a number of years ago. My eldest brother said when he did the PPC1 way during the boom when there was about a 10% failure rate.

drkpower

Yep, failure rates were very low back in the mid-noughties.

Mind you, PPC1 was a doss-fest from start to finish so probably should be a little tougher than it was then. Mind you if its true that failure rates are up towards 50% that is eh, a tad excessive when you consider the pretty resonable academic standard of those sitting it.

boomtown84

drkpower wrote: »

Yep, failure rates were very low back in the mid-noughties.

Mind you, PPC1 was a doss-fest from start to finish so probably should be a little tougher than it was then. Mind you if its true that failure rates are up towards 50% that is eh, a tad excessive when you consider the pretty resonable academic standard of those sitting it.

50% is a joke! How much are they charging for repeats? :rolleyes:

Sala

boomtown84 wrote: »

50% is a joke! How much are they charging for repeats? :rolleyes:

I think you've hit the nail on the head! If numbers are down hundreds they are losing millions in fees, what better way to recoup some money than make FE1 and PPC students repeat exams?

Everyone has at least an undergraduate degree and can pass the FE1s, and loads (like myself!) put in a lot of time and money getting experience and doing other things to try to secure a training contract. Some people will always not study / crumble under exam pressure / have a bad day, but not 50% of a group that already have dress, masters fe1s etc

tm48

Hey all,

Anyone any ideas where it might be best to live for Sept? Just starting to look for a place now. Any suggestions would be great!

Cody Pomeray

Apparently timetables are spread throughout the day, so it's best to live closeby - Smithfield and Stoneybatter are popular; North Wall/ IFSC and Islandbridge are further along the Luas tracks but are full of rental opportunities.

Shiny87

Around North Circular Road and Cabra are quite handy too, very walkable and lots of buses go right past Blackhall

tommy trash

Hi all,

Just seen this thread...Im moving down to Dublin for the first time to go to blackhall...scraped through the fe1s so really looking forward to going back to college after a few years out...does anyone know what the schedule is like? I'm not really preparing myself for study after the fe1s and had heard it was a doddle...when exactly are the tests?? and also whats the schedule like? i know ive heard 9-5 but it couldn't be that everyday??

tommy trash

tommy trash wrote: »

Hi all,

Just seen this thread...Im moving down to Dublin for the first time to go to blackhall...scraped through the fe1s so really looking forward to going back to college after a few years out...does anyone know what the schedule is like? I'm not really preparing myself for study after the fe1s and had heard it was a doddle...when exactly are the tests?? and also whats the schedule like? i know ive heard 9-5 but it couldn't be that everyday??

also im living with friends in sandymount..i know its quite a trek but its a little closer to my office...how would i even get in from there and how much would it cost?

Dandelion6

tommy trash wrote: »

I'm not really preparing myself for study after the fe1s and had heard it was a doddle...when exactly are the tests?? and also whats the schedule like? i know ive heard 9-5 but it couldn't be that everyday??

Not really a doddle, plenty of people do fail at least some of the exams (Conveyancing is always tough and a lot of people seem to have failed Probate and Tax this year). They're not as bad as the FE1s but you need to at least have good Tutorial notes and make sure all your notes are organised!!!

Schedule changes day to day and week to week, really there is no rhyme or reason to it.

tommy trash

Dandelion6 wrote: »

Not really a doddle, plenty of people do fail at least some of the exams (Conveyancing is always tough and a lot of people seem to have failed Probate and Tax this year). They're not as bad as the FE1s but you need to at least have good Tutorial notes and make sure all your notes are organised!!!

Schedule changes day to day and week to week, really there is no rhyme or reason to it.

Thanks very much for that also are the lectures recorded attendance? I know in QUB you could skip the lectures but tutorials could never be missed...wondering what about blackhall? also are exams at xmas or at end of ppc 1?

Dandelion6

tommy trash wrote: »

also are the lectures recorded attendance?

Not usually. There are a couple mandatory ones (usually for Skills) but they'll warn you in advance.

also are exams at xmas or at end of ppc 1?

End of.

Sala

Any idea when the timetable is out? I thought last year it was out at this stage. I presume it's useless anyway until we get our group / stream.

I have just got my fee receipt, will any more correspondence come or is that me registered?

tommy trash

im not sure, theres an old sample one online which im looking at to give me an idea but have not seen anything else


QUOTE=Sala;85969327]Any idea when the timetable is out? I thought last year it was out at this stage. I presume it's useless anyway until we get our group / stream.

I have just got my fee receipt, will any more correspondence come or is that me registered?[/QUOTE]

Sala

Timetable is up!! Doesn't mean much without stream numbers I think

valleyoftheunos

Sala wrote: »

Timetable is up!! Doesn't mean much without stream numbers I think

It is of questionable use even with your stream and Skills groups:P. you can expect it to change with no notice sometimes even on the day.

In truth the timetable will rapidly become a bible for you with most people clutching tattered, folded and highlighted pages from it at all times. the fact that some classes are mandatory attendance mean it is pretty essential that you know when they are on. The hierarchy is that skills sessions are sacrosanct, tutorials are essential and lectures are more of an a la carté affair.

Sala

valleyoftheunos wrote: »

It is of questionable use even with your stream and Skills groups:P. you can expect it to change with no notice sometimes even on the day.

In truth the timetable will rapidly become a bible for you with most people clutching tattered, folded and highlighted pages from it at all times. the fact that some classes are mandatory attendance mean it is pretty essential that you know when they are on. The hierarchy is that skills sessions are sacrosanct, tutorials are essential and lectures are more of an a la carté affair.

Thanks for that. What is all the red g-h (18-22) stuff? I presumed I'd get a number ie 12, and that is my tutorial group and then my lectures would be 12-22. Are the colours different groups?

valleyoftheunos

Sala wrote: »

Thanks for that. What is all the red g-h (18-22) stuff? I presumed I'd get a number ie 12, and that is my tutorial group and then my lectures would be 12-22. Are the colours different groups?

Colours and letters are skills groups, numbers are tutorial groups, the tutorial groups are not alphabetical so its not possible really to predict which one you will be in.

You'll be spending a lot of time with your tutorial group so a bit of group bonding is essential early on!

tommy trash

valleyoftheunos wrote: »

Colours and letters are skills groups, numbers are tutorial groups, the tutorial groups are not alphabetical so its not possible really to predict which one you will be in.

You'll be spending a lot of time with your tutorial group so a bit of group bonding is essential early on!

when do you find out more? anyone here's firm taking care of the application etc...wondering do we get info in post or is it all done on the 9th? is that when we pick up books etc?

Sala

tommy trash wrote: »

when do you find out more? anyone here's firm taking care of the application etc...wondering do we get info in post or is it all done on the 9th? is that when we pick up books etc?

What do you mean taking care of the application? You would have had to fill most of it out uourself. Has yours gone in yet? I have been accepted, paid fees etc but apart from the fee receipt I have heard no more. I presume the tutorial and skill group info will be emailed as the websit says it will be given a few days beforehand.

frustratedTC

tommy trash wrote: »

when do you find out more? anyone here's firm taking care of the application etc...wondering do we get info in post or is it all done on the 9th? is that when we pick up books etc?

Sounds like we are dealing with similar Firms! I filled out the application form after the Firm sent it to me and I received confirmation that consent was being issued shortly after, and the Firm then sent me another form to sign. I haven't heard much since, I think the Law Soc are going through the Firm. I feel a bit in the dark re the status of my application, since I haven't received fee receipts etc

Sala

frustratedTC wrote: »

Sounds like we are dealing with similar Firms! I filled out the application form after the Firm sent it to me and I received confirmation that consent was being issued shortly after, and the Firm then sent me another form to sign. I haven't heard much since, I think the Law Soc are going through the Firm. I feel a bit in the dark re the status of my application, since I haven't received fee receipts etc

Did you submit second form, I presume this was your indenture deed? I sent that with the fees and got a fee receipt but that is all. I'm in, but I'm not sure if I'm registered- is it like university where you have to register online? I have logged into the law society website but I have no more access than I did before

frustratedTC

I submitted the indenture deed to the firm who paid the fees, and I have heard nothing since, the Law Soc didn't send me a receipt probably because it is not me who is paying the fees. It would be nice to know though if I have been accepted, I presume that info was sent to the Firm, and that they would tell me otherwise.

Shiny87

frustratedTC wrote: »

I submitted the indenture deed to the firm who paid the fees, and I have heard nothing since, the Law Soc didn't send me a receipt probably because it is not me who is paying the fees. It would be nice to know though if I have been accepted, I presume that info was sent to the Firm, and that they would tell me otherwise.

I presume you wont get the receipt, but you should have gotten your indentures back. The Law Soc said it would take 5-6 weeks to register the indentures, but when I submitted mine I had them back in about 1 week.

Have many people got much office experience going into PPC1? I have been working in my office for about 18 months now, doing a lot of conveyancing, I wonder will it be of much help!

Sala

Shiny87 wrote: »

I presume you wont get the receipt, but you should have gotten your indentures back. The Law Soc said it would take 5-6 weeks to register the indentures, but when I submitted mine I had them back in about 1 week.

Have many people got much office experience going into PPC1? I have been working in my office for about 18 months now, doing a lot of conveyancing, I wonder will it be of much help!

I'll have nearly a year. No conveyancing really which is a bummer as its supposed to be really hard.

Looking at the time table that is up, say for example I'm in core group 22, on Friday 25th October I Would have lecture 8 from 2.15-3.15 and skills from 2.30-5.30. How is that supposed to work?? Am I completely misunderstanding this?

boomtown84

Sala wrote: »

I'll have nearly a year. No conveyancing really which is a bummer as its supposed to be really hard.

Looking at the time table that is up, say for example I'm in core group 22, on Friday 25th October I Would have lecture 8 from 2.15-3.15 and skills from 2.30-5.30. How is that supposed to work?? Am I completely misunderstanding this?

I'm sure it will all be made clear when we start the course.

premierloco

I'll have just over a year in office experience. I really think it will stand to us.

I've been doing mostly conveyancing, PI, and probate with a few unusual areas thrown in. I would like some more criminal experience though.

No accommodation sorted yet but looking forward to it.

frustratedTC

Have most people been working in the office prior to attending Blackhall?

boomtown84

frustratedTC wrote: »

Have most people been working in the office prior to attending Blackhall?

I doubt most people have. Do the big firms allow you start before you enter Blackhall?
I've been in the office about 9 months. Mostly conveyancing. A small bit of Family and an even smaller bit of P.I. I really want to get some proper litigation and commercial experience...maybe some criminal too so i'll be applying for Secondments all over the shop.
Can't wait to start now.

Shiny87

I think the big firms usually take people in for the 4 months before starting Blackhall, most people seem to have a bit of experience, but we'll all be in the same position in or around Christmas 2015!:eek:

I'm going on a mission to find a secondment as well, would love some commercial experience.

Sala

I'd say most do- maybe not in big forms but in small ones its fairly common to be a legal sec, legal assistant, or be hire as a trainee in the basis you work for a year prior to blackhall

frustratedTC

boomtown84 wrote: »

I doubt most people have. Do the big firms allow you start before you enter Blackhall?
I've been in the office about 9 months. Mostly conveyancing. A small bit of Family and an even smaller bit of P.I. I really want to get some proper litigation and commercial experience...maybe some criminal too so i'll be applying for Secondments all over the shop.
Can't wait to start now.

I think it really depends on the firm's business needs. I did an internship in a small-medium Firm and the trainee was working before Blackhall and also while in Blackhall. I've heard of some of the big Firms taking in their trainee's prior to Blackhall, while others don't. Most small firms though seem to have their trainee's working before Blackhall, sometimes its just filing for a couple of months.

If your working before Blackhall and gain credits, does that allow you to qualify sooner? or do we all qualify together irrespective of when we started in the Office?

Sala

frustratedTC wrote: »

I think it really depends on the firm's business needs. I did an internship in a small-medium Firm and the trainee was working before Blackhall and also while in Blackhall. I've heard of some of the big Firms taking in their trainee's prior to Blackhall, while others don't. Most small firms though seem to have their trainee's working before Blackhall, sometimes its just filing for a couple of months.

If your working before Blackhall and gain credits, does that allow you to qualify sooner? or do we all qualify together irrespective of when we started in the Office?

You can claim 4 months credit once it is done in one block, in the 6 months prior to Blackhall (ie if you worked a few years ago it wont count). I can get a credit form filled in from my last firm which will give me the block of 4 months so hopefully should qualify Xmas 2015!! Which sound much better than 2016 :P

Dandelion6

Shiny87 wrote: »

I have been working in my office for about 18 months now, doing a lot of conveyancing, I wonder will it be of much help!

Conveyancing experience will be a huge benefit, it's one of the hardest subjects for people to get their heads around.

Dandelion6

Sala wrote: »

Looking at the time table that is up, say for example I'm in core group 22, on Friday 25th October I Would have lecture 8 from 2.15-3.15 and skills from 2.30-5.30. How is that supposed to work?? Am I completely misunderstanding this?

There shouldn't be any conflicts in your scheduling. I think that skills workshop is one where they allocate you a 15 minute time slot within that three hour period. You will not have to attend for the full three hours (you'll be glad to know!).

Dandelion6

Oh here is a word of advice, when they tell you that the schedule is subject to change and you must keep up with the changes, they mean it!! A couple students had trouble last year when they missed a mandatory skills session because they didn't notice the revised schedule.

Sala

Dandelion6 wrote: »

Oh here is a word of advice, when they tell you that the schedule is subject to change and you must keep up with the changes, they mean it!! A couple students had trouble last year when they missed a mandatory skills session because they didn't notice the revised schedule.

Thanks! I gathered that from reading on here. What are the skills classes if you only have a 15 min slot??

Dandelion6

Sala wrote: »

What are the skills classes if you only have a 15 min slot??

They aren't classes as such, they're usually things like presentations, one-on-one sessions with the tutor to go over your work etc.

Sala

Dandelion6 wrote: »

They aren't classes as such, they're usually things like presentations, one-on-one sessions with the tutor to go over your work etc.

I see. Thanks for all your help! I'm excited but nervous at same time- that it will be really hard, I'm nervous about advocacy, I haven't a law degree so things that are obvious to llbs I won't know!! Would you recommend reading beforehand?

Dandelion6

I don't have an LLB either and honestly, everyone was nervous about advocacy, nobody had a clue what they were supposed to be doing! I found the advocacy tutors to be among the most helpful - they're obviously used to how clueless we all were.

I think rather than reading anything you'd be better off actually going into the courts and watching how it's done, especially the Master's Court and also see if you can find any civil or criminal trials to observe.

Sala

Dandelion6 wrote: »

I don't have an LLB either and honestly, everyone was nervous about advocacy, nobody had a clue what they were supposed to be doing! I found the advocacy tutors to be among the most helpful - they're obviously used to how clueless we all were.

I think rather than reading anything you'd be better off actually going into the courts and watching how it's done, especially the Master's Court and also see if you can find any civil or criminal trials to observe.

Thanks I've been to court a fair but with the job, so I suppose that could help.

tommy trash

Sala wrote: »

Thanks I've been to court a fair but with the job, so I suppose that could help.

I have no in office experience prior...will be doing it all after...going into one of the big firms...does anyone know the story with lockers etc?

tommy trash

tommy trash wrote: »

I have no in office experience prior...will be doing it all after...going into one of the big firms...does anyone know the story with lockers etc?

also does anyone know when we can log into the law society online...been given my trainee number...can we get in with just that?