Preliminary Examination/FE1 Exemption - HELP NEEDED

another question

I have a Diploma with the Accounting Technician's of Ireland. The Law & Ethics subject was quite heavy and a good bit of Business Law was covered as well in the subject Business Management.

I'm looking for an exemption from the Preliminary Examination that allows you to sit the FE1's.

I have contacted The Law Society as on their website it states:

(4) Holders of other qualifications
Holders of other qualifications may apply to the Education Committee for exemption on the basis of such qualifications.


The Law Society replied to me to say I had to fill out a form, submit my CV and a covering letter and attach a payment of €75 and that the application will go to the board and they will give me a response within a couple of days of making their decision.

€75 is a lot of money which could end up being for nothing, so basically I am just wondering has anyone on here ever been granted an exemption from the preliminary examination by The Law Society on the basis of a diploma. All degree holders (law or otherwise) get automatic entitlement to the exemption.

I can't really understand why they can't just say whether they will accept my Diploma or not without me having to pay €75 for the privilege of an answer. They either do or they don't is how I feel about it.

Any advice is much appreciated.

another question

Bumped

chops018

Are you a qualified accountant? Or is it that you just have a Diploma?

It seems to me that they are looking for applicants who hold a level 8 honours degree who are exempt from the preliminary exam. I would say others who could be exempt are those with professional qualifications and not just college diploma's etc.

I don't know what kind of qualification you have so I can't really comment.. otherwise I think you may be stuck forking out the €75.00 euro.

234

another question wrote: »

I can't really understand why they can't just say whether they will accept my Diploma or not without me having to pay €75 for the privilege of an answer. They either do or they don't is how I feel about it.

Well the default position is no, they won't accept your diploma as it's not a level eight qualification. They fee is to cover the administrative costs of going through your CV and the content of your diploma to see if it measures up to what they require. Somebody who knows what they are looking for will have to sit down and spend an hour or two going through all of it and making a judgment call. They are entitled to charge for this use of time that falls outside of normal procedures.

Sala

another question wrote: »

I can't really understand why they can't just say whether they will accept my Diploma or not without me having to pay €75 for the privilege of an answer. They either do or they don't is how I feel about it.

Any advice is much appreciated.

I don't think "they do or they don't" would be better - it'd be worse if they said you need a level 8 straight out and you had to sit the preliminary exam. At least they are giving you the chance to show why your CV should exempt you from it. I didn't have to do it but it looks fairly heavy, I can't imagine doing general knowledge with not syllabus. If you could get away without it I'd say its 75 quid well spent. (And €75 is kind by Law Society standards!!)

another question

chops018 wrote: »

Are you a qualified accountant? Or is it that you just have a Diploma?

It seems to me that they are looking for applicants who hold a level 8 honours degree who are exempt from the preliminary exam. I would say others who could be exempt are those with professional qualifications and not just college diploma's etc.

I don't know what kind of qualification you have so I can't really comment.. otherwise I think you may be stuck forking out the €75.00 euro.

No, I'm not a qualified accountant, I have a 2 year diploma for Accounting Technician.

another question

Sala wrote: »

I don't think "they do or they don't" would be better - it'd be worse if they said you need a level 8 straight out and you had to sit the preliminary exam. At least they are giving you the chance to show why your CV should exempt you from it. I didn't have to do it but it looks fairly heavy, I can't imagine doing general knowledge with not syllabus. If you could get away without it I'd say its 75 quid well spent. (And €75 is kind by Law Society standards!!)

Thanks Sala, you're right, I suppose when I just rang to ask if they excepted it, I was just expecting them to say yes or no, I just got a bit of shock when I heard it was going to cost €75 for an answer.

How did you find the FE1's? Had you a previous law degree or what was your background before you were granted the exemption - if you don't mind me asking.