Blackhall as a distance student

Lostudent

Hi all, apologies if this has been asked before but I haven't been able to find a recent thread on this - I'm living and working in a firm in Cork, and in the middle of doing my FE1s (hoping to do PPC1 September 2018). However, I don't actually know anyone else who lives outside of Dublin and plans on doing PPC1/2 and can share how they're dealing with the logistics. 6 months is just too short a period of time to properly move to Dublin, and due to family health issues I can’t move out of my current place in Cork anyway. I'm going to struggle to afford paying for accommodation in both Cork and Dublin, if I can manage it at all. Ideally, I want to stay in Cork and get through Blackhall as a remote student (maybe getting the bus up once or twice a week).
 

Has anyone done this? 

Robbo

If you do a search on either the FE-1 or Blackhall threads (1 and 2), you'll see some people who have come to novel solutions regarding accommodation and travel arrangements.

I think someone who was based in Limerick rented in Portlaoise (?) and commuted in from there daily. I'd also advice applying for a Student Travel Card as soon as you can, it'll make bus and train fares much cheaper.

Samuel T. Cogley

Blackhall is a stones throw from Heuston, it'll be a test of resolve commuting from Cork, but many parts of the country it's entirely doable; I used to go the other way, living near Heuston and working (temporarily) in Portlaoise.

A good set of headphones and timing the train in such away you can get a seat would yield some useful study time also.

Pat Mustard

Not a serious suggestion:

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/costs-force-student-solicitor-to-live-in-a-van-1.419375

dats_right

As a trainee on PPC1 you must attend compulsory tutorials daily (at least you did 10 years ago when I was a trainee). I do not believe this requirement has changed, so studying remotely and/or travelling up to Dublin once
or twice a week does not seem to me to be a realistic plan.

Many of my tutorial group colleagues from back in the day used to stay in digs for 4/5 nights a week or have arrangements with B&Bs. So some sort of accommodation in Dublin or within a reasonable
commuting distance is perhaps a more realistic a plan.

Chuckler

Lostudent wrote: »

Hi all, apologies if this has been asked before but I haven't been able to find a recent thread on this - I'm living and working in a firm in Cork, and in the middle of doing my FE1s (hoping to do PPC1 September 2018). However, I don't actually know anyone else who lives outside of Dublin and plans on doing PPC1/2 and can share how they're dealing with the logistics. 6 months is just too short a period of time to properly move to Dublin, and due to family health issues I can’t move out of my current place in Cork anyway. I'm going to struggle to afford paying for accommodation in both Cork and Dublin, if I can manage it at all. Ideally, I want to stay in Cork and get through Blackhall as a remote student (maybe getting the bus up once or twice a week).
 

Has anyone done this? 

Am in a similar position. Have a traineeship in Cork, young family - new arrival due soon. Looking at travelling to Dublin in September 2018! I know there is a late stream so looking at taking train up and down etc. Am applying now for student card for cheaper train travel

rbhtgh

Chuckler wrote: »

Am in a similar position. Have a traineeship in Cork, young family - new arrival due soon. Looking at travelling to Dublin in September 2018! I know there is a late stream so looking at taking train up and down etc. Am applying now for student card for cheaper train travel

Is there 2 streams now? I thought that ended years ago. Congrats on the new arrival if you've had it already!

randomrb

There are two streams this year and the numbers are set to be up again next year.

Commuting is possible but you need to be up and down at least 4 days a week and mostly 5 days a week. Tutorials are mandatory and you usually have at least one a day.

The law society deliberately do not make it easy to try and do the course from a distance however in saying that i commuting when i did it a few years ago and it was manageable but tough

rbhtgh

randomrb wrote: »

There are two streams this year and the numbers are set to be up again next year.

Commuting is possible but you need to be up and down at least 4 days a week and mostly 5 days a week. Tutorials are mandatory and you usually have at least one a day.

The law society deliberately do not make it easy to try and do the course from a distance however in saying that i commuting when i did it a few years ago and it was manageable but tough

Thanks for the reply. Do you know when each intake begins - September and another time?

randomrb

rbhtgh wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. Do you know when each intake begins - September and another time?

only one intake a year now

Redo91

Ya basically there are two streams (late and early) but the only difference is one generally starts an hour or two earlier than the other each day.

I’m commuting from Galway and staying up 1/2 days a week so it can be done. Haven’t missed a tutorial yet but you can miss 7 before they say anything to you. In saying that apparently there is some in A&L who has missed 19 already and has heard nothing.