PPC1 2014

hopefullegal

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone knows if we get a week off for Halloween as part of PPC1?

Thanks!

Valentine1

hopefullegal wrote: »

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone knows if we get a week off for Halloween as part of PPC1?

Thanks!

Nope! Two weeks at christmas though:)

hopefullegal

Pity, is it possible to take a week out? Sister's wedding in Australia. I know there are compulsory skills work shops etc.

Valentine1

hopefullegal wrote: »

Pity, is it possible to take a week out? Sister's wedding in Australia. I know there are compulsory skills work shops etc.

No they don't allow people to take breaks from the course for any reason because usually you won't have the opportunity to make up whatever you would miss. Its worth contacting them to see what they say though, you may get lucky with the timetable.

Dandelion6

If you don't have any compulsory workshops etc you can go, but you will have to submit evidence that you missed your tutorials for a good reason. I missed a few due to grandmother's funeral in the States and it wasn't a problem. I wasn't gone a whole week though.

You'll have a much bigger problem if there are compulsory workshops but flag that up to them at the start and see what they say.

rickety cricket

not related to the halloween break issue which started this but when can we enroll in the course. I have looked on the Law Society website and its all about 2013 so just wondering if anyone knows?

Valentine1

rickety cricket wrote: »

not related to the halloween break issue which started this but when can we enroll in the course. I have looked on the Law Society website and its all about 2013 so just wondering if anyone knows?

Just ring the law school.

--homeslice--

Has everyone finished filling in their PPC application packs? Sent off mine to my firm but still waiting on a copy of my results letter! Very excited to start in September!!

orl

hopefullegal wrote: »

Pity, is it possible to take a week out? Sister's wedding in Australia. I know there are compulsory skills work shops etc.

Your sister's wedding is more important. Have lived with a few different PPC1 people and it is possible to miss a few compulsories if you attend everything else.

A friend of mine's father died during it and she missed alot and they were ok about it. Admitedly she had to come back for a couple of repeats but it wasn't the end of the world.

As somebody else said, do the mature thing, say you are going to the wedding (rather than ask for permission) when you start in September. The real study doesn't start till after christmas anyway. from memory you get a couple of days off around halloween

a_star89

--homeslice-- wrote: »

Has everyone finished filling in their PPC application packs? Sent off mine to my firm but still waiting on a copy of my results letter! Very excited to start in September!!

Me too! Sent mine to firm too but haven't received any confirmation from law society. Very excited to start having eventually finished all FE-1s!

Right Turn Clyde

Quick question for everyone doing the PPCs: What type of funding/grant is available, if any? I've just finished my law degree and I'm toying with the idea of trying to qualify. But I'm not sure if I can afford it just yet.

Milkypops

we were on to letting agencies there and they said no point looking for accom till start of august! thoughts?

a_star89

You're prob right. Anything on daft at the moment is available right away so unless you want to pay for an extra month or two there isn't really much point.

On the other hand, sept is the busiest time to be looking...

Deme1989

I've been looking for the past week or so but as you just said everything is available for now. I've been looking at Smithfield and stoneybatter too. Has anyone any thoughts on what type of an area Cabra is?

Would love to get something lined up before the coa results come out, I'm afraid it would be manic trying to find something then!

a_star89

Deme1989 wrote: »

Would love to get something lined up before the coa results come out, I'm afraid it would be manic trying to find something then!

That's true although there are a lot of landlords who do not accept undergraduate students so we won't always be competing with them.

JCJCJC

Has anybody got back their consent to enter indentures yet? I sent in all my stuff on 15th June - 3 weeks ago, have heard nothing, cheque not cashed, they don't answer phones or emails! I want to get cracking on SUSI and accommodation etc...

JC

jojam1298

Yes I sent mine in 3 weeks ago and still haven't received anything back!

a_star89

Does anyone know whether we are officially students while in blackhall and if so, will we qualify for a student railcard?

JCJCJC

a_star89 wrote: »

Does anyone know whether we are officially students while in blackhall and if so, will we qualify for a student railcard?

Yes to both.

a_star89

JCJCJC wrote: »

Yes to both.

Great news!!

JCJCJC

a_star89 wrote: »

Great news!!

http://www.studenttravelcard.ie/GetTheCard/GetTheCard.aspx

Read all about it...

a_star89

Thanks JCJCJC, I wasn't sure as a lot of people will be on full time salaries from their firms while studying in BHP.

what areas have you been looking at to commute from?

JCJCJC

a_star89 wrote: »

Thanks JCJCJC, I wasn't sure as a lot of people will be on full time salaries from their firms while studying in BHP.

what areas have you been looking at to commute from?

My firm won't be paying ;-(

I'm actually looking at Portlaoise because it splits the distance from home, and it's an hour on the train with wifi etc so I'd hope to get some study done there. The way I look at it, if I were on the outer edge of Dublin I'd be an hour commuting in easily so it's a reasonable compromise. I'll try it for a while and see how it goes anyway.

a_star89

JCJCJC wrote: »

My firm won't be paying ;-(

I'm actually looking at Portlaoise because it splits the distance from home, and it's an hour on the train with wifi etc so I'd hope to get some study done there. The way I look at it, if I were on the outer edge of Dublin I'd be an hour commuting in easily so it's a reasonable compromise. I'll try it for a while and see how it goes anyway.

I was thinking of commuting from a bit out too but I know BHP is very social and it would be a nightmare for nights out after trains have finished.

JCJCJC

a_star89 wrote: »

I was thinking of commuting from a bit out too but I know BHP is very social and it would be a nightmare for nights out after trains have finished.

I'm so anti-social you could give me an ASBO ;-) I'm a 'mature student' (beats the antithesis) so I won't be socialising by and large...my missus wouldn't like it... an occasional pint in Portlaoise will do me ;-)

a_star89

JCJCJC wrote: »

I'm so anti-social you could give me an ASBO ;-) I'm a 'mature student' (beats the antithesis) so I won't be socialising by and large...my missus wouldn't like it... an occasional pint in Portlaoise will do me ;-)

Sounds perfect for you in that case!! Rent in Portlaoise is so cheap too and with Blackhall times you will not be always at rush hour...

JCJCJC

a_star89 wrote: »

Sounds perfect for you in that case!! Rent in Portlaoise is so cheap too and with Blackhall times you will not be always at rush hour...

There's something I want to know - how long is the day in BHP? I know of a lady in Limerick, believe it or not, she took the train home every day at mid-day and collected her kids from school at the usual time - in Limerick! She's practising now.

a_star89

I think it massively varies... could be 2 hour day but starts/finishes at different times. you could finish at 10am some days and 6pm others. Also the timetable changes last minute a lot so need to be fairly flexible I think.

JCJCJC

a_star89 wrote: »

I think it massively varies... could be 2 hour day but starts/finishes at different times. you could finish at 10am some days and 6pm others. Also the timetable changes last minute a lot so need to be fairly flexible I think.

A 10 am finish on a Friday would be great...

I wish the sods would process the applications and get on with it!!!

a_star89

Looking at last years timetable, there seems to be a few Fridays that are study days. Very hard to make sense of the timetable without understanding how the tutorials/groups work though.

Milkypops

you can fill in your SUSI application even if your place hasnt been confirmed yet!

Tea-a-Maria

Is anyone here looking for accomodation? I'm in Dublin at the moment, but am looking to move around September.Please PM if you know anyone looking for a housemate!

Valentine1

Just a note on the timetable. It can be an utter pain, no two days or weeks are the same and getting into a routine is difficult. Somedays you can be in class non stop from 9:30 to 5 and others you can have 4 or 5 hours to kill between classes. Its awkward and I know made commuting and planning around significant others/families very difficult for some.

Also it is subject to change without notification at little or no notice but that doesn't cause all that much trouble usually.

Also there is no such thing as Friday study days, they are long weekends:cool:

Dandelion6

Valentine1 wrote: »

Also it is subject to change without notification at little or no notice but that doesn't cause all that much trouble usually.

There aren't that many genuinely last minute changes and the Law Society will usually send you a text to let you know about them. But do keep your eye out for updates to the timetable. When I was on PPC1 a couple years ago the time changed for a mandatory skills workshop, with enough notice that people should have copped it but a few didn't and I understand they had a bit of hassle trying to sort things out afterward.

a_star89

Valentine1 wrote: »

Just a note on the timetable. It can be an utter pain, no two days or weeks are the same and getting into a routine is difficult. Somedays you can be in class non stop from 9:30 to 5 and others you can have 4 or 5 hours to kill between classes. Its awkward and I know made commuting and planning around significant others/families very difficult for some.

Also it is subject to change without notification at little or no notice but that doesn't cause all that much trouble usually.

Also there is no such thing as Friday study days, they are long weekends:cool:

Did you complete PPC1 last year Valentine1? Timetable has 13th & 27nd Sept, 22nd november and 29th November, 7th Feb etc (al Fridays) marked as study days.

JCJCJC

a_star89 wrote: »

..Timetable has 13th & 27nd Sept, 22nd november and 29th November, 7th Feb etc (al Fridays) marked as study days.

Have you a 2014 timetable, or are you referring to last year's?

a_star89

Oh no that's last years. They don't release until last minute so we can only go off last years.

Milkypops

what kinda work are people doing on their traineeship??

JCJCJC

Milkypops wrote: »

what kinda work are people doing on their traineeship??

Co Registrar's Court, med neg, personal injuries, bits of conveyancing, general litigation, practise admin, correspondence, drafting pleadings, motions, preparing booklets for High Court etc. On my first day in the Co Reg's Court on my own, I had BLs against me in two matters ;-) It concentrates the mind wonderfully, I can tell you.

Milkypops

JCJCJC wrote: »

Co Registrar's Court, med neg, personal injuries, bits of conveyancing, general litigation, practise admin, correspondence, drafting pleadings, motions, preparing booklets for High Court etc. On my first day in the Co Reg's Court on my own, I had BLs against me in two matters ;-) It concentrates the mind wonderfully, I can tell you.

have you started blackhall yet? i still havent braved court yet! had to attend the garda station to give a client advice though cos all the other solicitors were out...that was scary but great at the same time haha!

JCJCJC

Milkypops wrote: »

have you started blackhall yet? i still havent braved court yet! had to attend the garda station to give a client advice though cos all the other solicitors were out...that was scary but great at the same time haha!

No - going in Sept. The office I'm in doesn't do criminal law by and large, unless it's an existing client, so I've done none of that. I forgot insolvency/bankruptcy, we do a lot of that too. It's mostly PI and litigation I've been at.

Milkypops

JCJCJC wrote: »

No - going in Sept. The office I'm in doesn't do criminal law by and large, unless it's an existing client, so I've done none of that. I forgot insolvency/bankruptcy, we do a lot of that too. It's mostly PI and litigation I've been at.

ya me too to be honest...its definitely the most interesting my opinion...we dont really do commercial law but im not too pushed!

JCJCJC

Milkypops wrote: »

ya me too to be honest...its definitely the most interesting my opinion...we dont really do commercial law but im not too pushed!

Civil Procedure drives me spare...all the different periods for all the various stages. This office whacks out the motions the minute the warning period expires, no fools' pardons, it can be high pressure.
We do agency work for other firms too in the local court so interesting bits and pieces can turn up there, the boss lets trainees look after everything in the CO Reg court for the experience, and attending on BLs also.

Milkypops

JCJCJC wrote: »

Civil Procedure drives me spare...all the different periods for all the various stages. This office whacks out the motions the minute the warning period expires, no fools' pardons, it can be high pressure.
We do agency work for other firms too in the local court so interesting bits and pieces can turn up there, the boss lets trainees look after everything in the CO Reg court for the experience, and attending on BLs also.

That is great experience! The new District Court rules are a nightmare infairness..Iv been working in the office im in with 3 years so having to start from scratch with those after being familiar with the old ones was very annoying! Ya get what your saying about the motions aswell and there a pain to draft!

JCJCJC

Milkypops wrote: »

That is great experience! The new District Court rules are a nightmare infairness..Iv been working in the office im in with 3 years so having to start from scratch with those after being familiar with the old ones was very annoying! Ya get what your saying about the motions aswell and there a pain to draft!

We're very posh, we don't do District Court work ;-) Our system is automated, paperless office - so all our pleadings, motions etc are automated and generated automatically by the system so the drafting isn't a big issue, we send out briefs electronically, use email wherever possible and all that so it flies along, but that creates its own pressures. I've been here since last Sept, the boss thinks every trainee needs a year at a minimum pre-Blackhall and I think he's right, I have learnt so much in the past year and I'm still often lost.

a_star89

Woah that sounds like you have gained a lot of experience in the last year!! Are those of us who have not worked at all in our firms before BHP screwed?!

JCJCJC

a_star89 wrote: »

Woah that sounds like you have gained a lot of experience in the last year!! Are those of us who have not worked at all in our firms before BHP screwed?!

Not at all - you're lucky to be going straight in, wish I could have done that! You have all the time in the world to learn, my training master just has a particular view and that's it - it's not a bad view.

a_star89

I'm sure it will really help. I heard before that the BHP conveyancing exam is very difficult and anyone who has conveyancing experience has a much better chance of passing...

Dandelion6

a_star89 wrote: »

I heard before that the BHP conveyancing exam is very difficult and anyone who has conveyancing experience has a much better chance of passing...

The exam is difficult and for the past couple years it has involved drafting a deed which is so obscure that even people with years of conveyancing experience have got it wrong. On the plus side it's not marked terribly harshly. I drafted the wrong deed for my exam and still managed to pass with a 70.

Best advice for this and all other exams is stick rigidly to time for each question. Nearly everyone I spoke to who failed this exam said they went overtime on the conveyancing questions and didn't have enough left to properly answer the L&T part.

JCJCJC

Dandelion6 wrote: »

The exam is difficult and for the past couple years it has involved drafting a deed which is so obscure that even people with years of conveyancing experience have got it wrong. On the plus side it's not marked terribly harshly. I drafted the wrong deed for my exam and still managed to pass with a 70.

Best advice for this and all other exams is stick rigidly to time for each question. Nearly everyone I spoke to who failed this exam said they went overtime on the conveyancing questions and didn't have enough left to properly answer the L&T part.

Interesting - what sort of deed did they ask for?

Dandelion6

JCJCJC wrote: »

Interesting - what sort of deed did they ask for?

IIRC it involved a merger, a vesting certificate and at least one other relatively unusual element which I have forgotten at this point. Someone I spoke to who's done conveyancing in the office for years said she'd never come across a deed like it in practice.