how to become an Irish solicitor

sapulid

Hi everyone,
I am a foreigner 48 years old and I need a piece of advice.
You know, I came here without any English so I had to learn English from the scratch. I had done English FETAC level 5 at Adult Education and then continued my study at further education college.I applied last month for my diploma recognition and I received a responce with the recognition of my diploma in law at level 8. It was very exciting but I do not know what do I have to do then. I read whole information on the Law Society site but there are a lot of gaps I cannot understand.
Firstly, is there any gap between Preliminary Examination and FE-1 ?
Secondary, how can I apply for the exeption of the exam?
Thirdly, there are a lot of preparatory courses for FE-1 and they cost some money. Which one can I use to obtain a grant from SUSI and which onece of them are more effitient?
Fourthly, I have a family; therefore I cannot stay without any payment during my study. Where may I apply for my everyday life?
Fifthly, my English is not good for the ligal study so I have to improve it at any courses. What courses can I undertake so that it will be covered by SUSI or any other grants ?
Thank you for any resonable responces.

chops018

A Preliminary Note:

You need a level 8 "HONOURS DEGREE" from any discipline to be exempt from the preliminary exam.

Double check to make sure you have this, I'm not sure if the Law Society will accept a Diploma, even if it is a level 8. Ring them to make sure.

1. The FE1's:

Once you do have the above, you apply to sit the FE1's, these are the entrance exams for Blackhall Place, in which you are trained as a Solicitor. Once all 8 FE1's are passed and you have obtained an apprenticeship from a Law Firm you may enter Blackhall Place.

The 2 year apprenticeship consists of 8 months in Blackhall Place on PPC1 and 11 months training in a frim, you then go back for PPC2 and further placement with the firm - I cannot think off hand of the duration of PPC2 though.

Back to the FE1's and your original inquiries. There are 8 exams, they are usually on every March/April and then again in September/October, you do not have to sit all 8 at once. However it is important to note that your first time sitting them you will have to sit AT LEAST 4 exams and PASS at least 3 to carry on, if you sit 4 and fail 2 then you have to repeat all 4 exams again. However if you sit 4 and pass 3 or indeed the whole 4, then you may do your final 4 exams 1 by 1 if you wish. Many people split them up into doing 4 in one sitting and then doing the final 4 in the next sitting. It is entirely up to yourself, you can do all 8 in one sitting if you want, and if you say passed 5 then you can do the 3 you failed in the next sitting.

2. Applying for the Exemption of The Preliminary Exam:

Ring up the Law Society, make sure your degree is ok and approved with them, and then just apply for the FE1's and follow the instructions.

3. Grants for the Preparatory Courses for the FE1's:

These exams are professional exams, and so any course preparing you for them will have no educational merit as such, they are purely preparatory and so you will not be entitled to any grants whatsoever (I think, I will stand corrected on that point if someone else comes in and proves me wrong).

4. Applying for Money (I am Assuming) for Everyday Life While Studying:

Studying for the FE1's is considered studying in your own time, you will not be able to apply anywhere for any money for your everyday life. You will either have to stay working if you already are and study at night and weekends, which will be very tough, or else get an apprenticeship before embarking on the FE1's with one of the top 10 firms by which they will pay you a decent salary, and usually give you decent time off coming up to the exams. It is extremely difficult to get an apprenticeship with one of the top 5-10 law firms in Dublin by the way. Again, plenty of study after work and the weekends will have to be done.

5. Grants for English Courses:

With regard grants for courses improving your English, I have no knowledge on anything like that so I cannot help you there.




As a side note: do you have a foreign legal qualification? If you do it might be worth ringing the Law Society to see if this will exempt you from anything. Just for clarification I am talking about a professional qualification, not just a legal diploma or a degree.

sapulid

Thanks a lot. You are very polite.
I have got a honour degree in law.
You know, I asked about the gap between the Preliminary Ex. and FE-1. It means that anybody have or not have any period between Pr.Ex and FE-1 so that have a period of time to take a preparatory course.
Sorry for my unclear inquery.
If you aderstand me properly, I wrote about any support for the preparatory FE-1 courses. You know, I was a Russian barrister for more than 20 years and I know RUSSIAN legislations but I have not any amagination about Irish legal sistem; therefore I NEED to have some courses. I think, every states have an interest to adopt foreigner specialists. I cannot efford to pay for the courses but I need them; therefore I have to find a source for my study.
The main issue of my inquiry is to obtain some information how to have any support in order to become an Irish solicitor. Anything you know in your country is very hard to me.
I think, I could not explain you properly. I made a mistake and I can recognise my fault.
Anyway, thank you a lot.

chops018

sapulid wrote: »

I was a Russian barrister for more than 20 years and I know RUSSIAN legislations but I have not any amagination about Irish legal sistem; therefore I NEED to have some courses.

Maybe it's the Kings Inns you should be contacting so.... I am not sure if there is any exemptions for foreign Barristers/Legal Professionals, the best thing to do would be to email or phone them.

http://www.kingsinns.ie/website/index.htm

They are the body that looks after Barristers in Ireland. Unless it is a Solicitor you want to become?

nuac

Is this an April fool?

Anyhow good reply Chops

sapulid

chops018 wrote: »

Maybe it's the Kings Inns you should be contacting so.... I am not sure if there is any exemptions for foreign Barristers/Legal Professionals, the best thing to do would be to email or phone them.

http://www.kingsinns.ie/website/index.htm

They are the body that looks after Barristers in Ireland. Unless it is a Solicitor you want to become?

Not yet. Sorry, what could I do with the qualification without any necassery contacts? In my opinion, a barrister could take any cases from solicitors. If he/she has not the necessary onece what will be with the barrister?
I am owfully sorry, I do not want to be starving..