FE1 - What books to buy?

tomhenryford

Hi everyone,

I know this has probably been asked more than a dozen times before but as new versions of books come out nearly every year I'm looking for the most up to date versions of what I should be reading.

I don't have a law degree. I will be sitting the FE1's with no previous law experience/study so I'm very nervous and don't know where to start.

I intend to buy the Griffith/City Colleges manuals from sellers on adverts etc.

I have read through The Law Society's recommended reading list but there are so many books on it and they are so expensive plus I don't think I'd be able to get through them all.

I really don't know where to start. I can't even decide on which 4 exams to sit first.

Somebody mentioned Nutshells to me and said that they were all I needed but that sounds a bit too good to be true, especially for someone like me with no previous law knowledge.

Or does anyone think it's at all possible to pass the exams with The Law Society manuals alone?

Any help would be so much appreciated.

hullaballoo

Legal texts, in all reality, are for reference purposes for practising lawyers and not really directed at students. It's no harm to read passages from them to make something easier to understand if you're struggling with a concept, but it's a total waste of time to try and memorise them. They're far too detailed for any law exams.

Use the manuals from courses, attend lectures and gain an understanding of the law. Once you have done that, you can use nutshells as no more than a memory aid. Nutshells are revision guides and are written to aid the students who have already covered the material.

If you have access to a library containing legal texts, refer to them only if you are struggling to grasp a concept and you think a bit more background/detail might help your understanding. Don't waste your money on expensive books that will be outdated within years if you can access them by alternative means as and when the need arises.

A side issue: it is preferable to keep all FE1-related discussion to the FE1 megathread.

tomhenryford

hullaballoo wrote: »

Legal texts, in all reality, are for reference purposes for practising lawyers and not really directed at students. It's no harm to read passages from them to make something easier to understand if you're struggling with a concept, but it's a total waste of time to try and memorise them. They're far too detailed for any law exams.

Use the manuals from courses, attend lectures and gain an understanding of the law. Once you have done that, you can use nutshells as no more than a memory aid. Nutshells are revision guides and are written to aid the students who have already covered the material.

If you have access to a library containing legal texts, refer to them only if you are struggling to grasp a concept and you think a bit more background/detail might help your understanding. Don't waste your money on expensive books that will be outdated within years if you can access them by alternative means as and when the need arises.

A side issue: it is preferable to keep all FE1-related discussion to the FE1 megathread.

Thanks for your answer. I thought the FE1 megathread was a discussion specifically for those doing the exams and not stupid questions like mine but I clicked in and see that it covers everything. Thanks.

I can't attend lectures as no law courses are covered in Sligo. I'll probably end up paying to do a Prep course online with Griffith as I think I'm sunk otherwise.