Law training contract

Superdude1234

Hi Everyone,

I am final year student doing a business degree specializing in accounting and since completing two corporate law modules I have developed an interest in pursuing a career in law. I have an offer from an accounting firm but I was wondering would a law graduate program be better and more interesting?

I would really appreciate if you could share your experience of your graduate program and what a law graduate trainee-ship actually entails?

Thanks in advance!

chops018

There is already a lot of threads on this, but anyway here goes:


Your own position - from my own reading:

You sound like you have a good degree behind you, and if you get a high 2.1 or 1.1, have a good LC to boot and good commercial awareness then you'd be very attractive to the top 10 firms.

What you'll need to do is get applying to them - their applications should be open around now for traineeships.

A lot of them will offer you a pre-trainee contract. This means that you will be given a training contract on the condition that you pass the FE1's in a certain time.


The FE1's and Blackhall Place:

The FE1's in short are the entrance exams to Blackhall Place (The Law Society of Ireland) where you go to attend the Professional Practice Course for 8 months. When this is finished you do your in office training for 11 months, you then do another PPC course for 3 months in Blackhall Place and then do your final bout of in office training (9 or 10 months I think). So you're looking at 2 and a half to 3 years of training.

To sit the FE1's all you need is a level 8 degree in any discipline. Obviously those with law degrees have an advantage. But don't let that deter you, there are plenty of prep course out there, although they are quite costly.

Be wary though. These exams are not easy. It took me 4 sittings to pass all 8 and I have a Degree and a Masters in Law. In fact they are horribly hard exams and you have to know most of the syllabus to pass.


Training Contracts

The good points about getting a training contract with one of the top firms - they will pay you very well, between 26-38k depending on the firm, you'll be working very long hours most of the time though, I know trainees in the top firms who are in until at least 7pm every evening and they say it looks bad if they leave earlier than that. The top firms will also pay the fees for the Blackhall courses which in total are over €12,000.

Of course, you could just start tackling the FE1's yourself from second hand notes and manuals that you can purchase, try get a training contract in a small or medium firm. Good points - you might be only in until 6 or 6.30pm in a medium firm, a small firm you'd be out a 5pm. Bad points - you would have to pay for Blackhall yourself, and you might not get a salary while on the courses and if you do it will only be minimum wage, of course during your training in the office they have to pay you, but again, it will be minimum wage.


The Barrister Route:

The other route you could go is to qualify as a Barrister. This route requires a recognised Law Degree in order to sit the entrance exams for Kings Inn. If you do not have one, then you have to do the Kings Inn diploma and then you can sit the entrance exams. If you do that then you go to Kings Inn for a year, do a year deviling (where you will work for free under another Barrister called your Master), but this deviling period usually is 1-3 years. Then once that's done and you were successful and made contacts you might make 15-30k if you're lucky. If not I suppose you have a fairly prestigious profession being a non practising Barrister that you paid circa €12,000 in fees for and working for at least a year unpaid.


In Short:

1. Get a training contract with a big firm
2. Sit FE1's and pass (study yourself or do a prep course)
3. Start training contract:
- a. possibly a few months work in the firm before starting Blackhall Place
- b. start PPC1 in Blackhall Place
- c. do your 11 months in office training
- d. complete PPC2 in Blackhall Place
- e. finish your remaining in office experience, 9-10 months
- f. qualified
4. Other route - qualify as a Barrister: see short summary on same above.

I should note here that you do not need a training contract to sit the FE1's - you can sit them all first then go hunting for a training contract if you wish. Most small and medium firms will require most or all of them passed before applying to them, however the big firms will not mind if you apply to them without any FE1's passed.


My Experience:

I graduated in 2009 with a Degree in Law, then graduated in 2011 with a Masters in Law. This was the height of the recession and unless your academics, extra circulars, work experience where possible, were impeccable then you were not breaking into the industry. Mine were just above average and zero experience. I worked in retail until I got the first 4 FE1's (October 2012) under my belt. I then started doing unpaid work experience in a firm close to home, did another couple of FE1's (March 2013) and then started an internship with a small law firm. Got another FE1 (October 2013) and then in March/April 2014 got my final FE1. Gave up my retail job in June 2014, I worked there at the weekends as the pay for an intern was awful, so basically I had 2 jobs and still a couple of FE1's to do. The firm I was interning in weren't in a position to offer me a training contract - the recession was still there. So I left and after a couple of months trying to find a training contract (I'll never forget the amount of interviews I did in August/September 2014) and being unsuccessful I took up a position in a financial institution in their legal department on good money, started saving should a training contract arise, and I applied all year (big firms included, but I'd imagine every application was sent to the shredder), and finally got offered a training contract last May and started Blackhall this year. It's been one long road but finally on the way. A lot of questioning my career path believe me, and still sometimes do, but I am hoping it pays off. Also most of the trainees in my year seem a similar age to me so obviously I wasn't the only person the recession affected.

We had it very hard with the recession, I suppose one good thing about when I did college was the fees were so cheap. €800 a year I think it was. But for the graduates now there does seem to be a lot more opportunity, which is great don't get me wrong, Dublin is starting to pick up again, but I can't help but be a little bit jealous and begrudging seeing most 'average' graduates come out now and straight into jobs whereas the average grads from my era could barely even get a job in Tesco, even some of the grads with great results and experience.


That's what it's like I suppose, I hope it has given you insight into what you're looking at. While your journey certainly might not be as hard as mine was employment wise as the economy is picking up (and evidently so as you have an accounting position secured, congrats btw) it would still be a very hard journey. Don't go into it half arsed, if you're sure you want it then go for it.

chops018

It's brilliant when you spend time and consideration putting up an essay style reply and the OP doesn't even thank your post yet they've been online several times since.

Would make you not bother replying to threads.

Clearlier

chops018 wrote: »

It's brilliant when you spend time and consideration putting up an essay style reply and the OP doesn't even thank your post yet they've been online several times since.

Would make you not bother replying to threads.

Only 32 posts and has never thanked a single post. I'd guess you're looking at a very light user who possibly doesn't even know where the thanks button is. I mean that in the literal sense. They could well be grateful for your post but be unaware of the protocol for indicating that in boards.

FWIW I thought that it was an excellent post

chops018

Thanks.

I suppose I shouldn't give out too much - this site was very helpful to me during the FE1's and gaining other info.

Leave your man/woman off if they're not bothered.

Scarymary13

Hi guys, just saw this post. I love your story. So honest and realistic. Congratulations on your apprenticeship! I am awaiting the results next week and I have to admit it put a hold on my career goals as it is a difficult path. I just want some time for myself now and see how I feel about re-sitting in March.

A long but hopefully rewarding journey!

chops018

Scarymary13 wrote: »

Hi guys, just saw this post. I love your story. So honest and realistic. Congratulations on your apprenticeship! I am awaiting the results next week and I have to admit it put a hold on my career goals as it is a difficult path. I just want some time for myself now and see how I feel about re-sitting in March.

A long but hopefully rewarding journey!

Good luck with the results!

Scarymary13

Thanks Chops018