Blackhall 2017

qwerty1991

Hi all,

Anyone on here starting Blackhall in September? I think I finally have all the forms filled out, just waiting on my indentures to come back. The excitement is building!! ðŸ˜ðŸ˜

Samuel T. Cogley

The very best of luck qwerty.

Hunchback

I started this thread last year

kyliewyote7

I am too! Got the request for fees this week so it certainly is starting to feel real!

stall

Hi, I too got the fee info in the post this week. Excited to start, but know nobody else going so a bit nervous!

tarab

Hey, I got the info on the fees too this week. Just wondering where are people looking for accommodation and if anyone is looking for a housemate?! Easy going girl looking for a house sharing buddy!

Samuel T. Cogley

Remember Blackhall in on the LUAS and the LUAS is on the DART line when you folks are looking for rooms etc.

You could do worse than Stoneybatter though - very easily actually, just up the road is a lot worse :pac:

harleyheels

I'm starting too! Fees cheque sent off, getting excited/nervous now!

Hunchback

Don't underestimate the exams

tarab

Hi. I'm just wondering what sort of memory you need on the iPad for PPC1? The standard one is 9.7inch 32gb. Then there's the 9.7inch 128gb for €150. iPad Pro 10.5 inch 64gb €378 and iPad Pro 10.5 inch 256gb for €478. Just wondering does anyone know which one is best to get in terms of size and memory?

harleyheels

I've been told by trainees in work who have already completed PPC1 that 32GB is plenty of memory. They used to provide an iPad mini as the standard model but obviously that has been done away with now, so no need to upgrade at all really!

Redo91

Best of luck to everyone starting this September! I could be going yet myself but I'm in a bit of a quandary. I had an interview yesterday with small firm in Galway. It was very informal and more of a chat really. They said they would get back to me in a few days. They seemed impressed and I think there's a good chance that they will be offering me a traineeship. I've spoken to the Law Society and they said even though the deadline has passed they will still take applications up until the end of this month. I was informed during the interview that the firm won't be paying my fees which I expected as it's only a small firm. However, what concerned me was they said they would be paying me less than the Law Society minimum wage for trainees. I looked this up and this is actually the regular minimum wage of €9.15. Have many people heard of offices paying under the minimum wage to trainees? The solicitor I'm going doing an internship with at the moment was surprised to hear this. I won't be paid until I return to the firm in March after PPC-1 and even then I won't be getting minimum wage.

I've an interview scheduled with a much larger Galway firm for the first week in September. That would obviously be too late to start PPC-1 this year. However, I know the pay would be better and it is an excellent firm by all accounts. Also, it's my understanding that if you start working in your training firm before you attend Blackhall they are obliged to pay you during PPC-1. If I was to obtain a traineeship with this larger firm then I would be paid a better salary as well as being paid during PPC-1.

I'm just posting here as I want to ascertain whether it is common for firms to pay trainees below the minimum wage as while I am eager to begin my training ASAP I don't want to be taken complete advantage of whilst being paid a pittance.

Thanks in advance for any help.

law_student1

Does anyone know if PPC 1 students qualify for student bank accounts?

Hunchback

Call the bank and ask. We do qualify for student travel discounts though, I know that much. Get your student LEAP sorted when you get in there

graduate555

Redo91 wrote: »

Best of luck to everyone starting this September! I could be going yet myself but I'm in a bit of a quandary. I had an interview yesterday with small firm in Galway. It was very informal and more of a chat really. They said they would get back to me in a few days. They seemed impressed and I think there's a good chance that they will be offering me a traineeship. I've spoken to the Law Society and they said even though the deadline has passed they will still take applications up until the end of this month. I was informed during the interview that the firm won't be paying my fees which I expected as it's only a small firm. However, what concerned me was they said they would be paying me less than the Law Society minimum wage for trainees. I looked this up and this is actually the regular minimum wage of €9.15. Have many people heard of offices paying under the minimum wage to trainees? The solicitor I'm going doing an internship with at the moment was surprised to hear this. I won't be paid until I return to the firm in March after PPC-1 and even then I won't be getting minimum wage.

I've an interview scheduled with a much larger Galway firm for the first week in September. That would obviously be too late to start PPC-1 this year. However, I know the pay would be better and it is an excellent firm by all accounts. Also, it's my understanding that if you start working in your training firm before you attend Blackhall they are obliged to pay you during PPC-1. If I was to obtain a traineeship with this larger firm then I would be paid a better salary as well as being paid during PPC-1.

Congrats on your TC offer! I would first say that the LSI website states trainees must be paid at least minimum wage when they return from PPC1. So this first firm is breaking LSI regulations for paying less than minimum wage.

I'd also say there's no point rushing into PPC1 if the terms are not good. Starting this year means raising the €8,000 or so by yourself for PPC1 and paying at least €550 per month rent in Dublin for 6 months. Then, when you finally do start getting paid, you'll have to split your income between loan repayments for your PPC1 expenses PLUS raising €4,000 in fees for PPC2 on a less than minimum wage salary. LSI also doesn't allow part time work during Blackhalls. In the long run anyway, in your career you want somewhere that will treat and pay you fairly.

Also, if you start PPC1 next year, you can claim 4 months of pre-PPC1 work experience as 'credits' - so you knock it off the end of your in-office training. So you'd actually qualify only 8 months later than you would if you start training this year, plus being paid during blackhalls.

Hope this helps!

Redo91

graduate555 wrote: »

Congrats on your TC offer! I would first say that the LSI website states trainees must be paid at least minimum wage when they return from PPC1. So this first firm is breaking LSI regulations for paying less than minimum wage.

I'd also say there's no point rushing into PPC1 if the terms are not good. Starting this year means raising the €8,000 or so by yourself for PPC1 and paying at least €550 per month rent in Dublin for 6 months. Then, when you finally do start getting paid, you'll have to split your income between loan repayments for your PPC1 expenses PLUS raising €4,000 in fees for PPC2 on a less than minimum wage salary. LSI also doesn't allow part time work during Blackhalls. In the long run anyway, in your career you want somewhere that will treat and pay you fairly.

Also, if you start PPC1 next year, you can claim 4 months of pre-PPC1 work experience as 'credits' - so you knock it off the end of your in-office training. So you'd actually qualify only 8 months later than you would if you start training this year, plus being paid during blackhalls.

Hope this helps!

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply.

Since my post they came back with a firm offer of €200 p/w which is well below the Law Society minimum wage of €333. I have also managed to secure another interview (so I've two interviews coming up) so at least I have options. The solicitor I'm working with at the moment knows one these two solicitors well and he always pays at least the minimum so at least I know the terms would be much better there. I called back the firm who made the offer and told them that I have two more interviews coming up and I want to assess my options. In fairness to them they were very understanding.

Like you said there's no point rushing off to Blackhall until I'm comfortable financially. I left my job in retail last Christmas to focus on my last two FE1s so I haven't been earning since then. Hopefully this time next year I'll have more saved up and will have a better offer on the table. I was aware of the possibility of firms taking you on as a Trainee before Blackhall and that would obviously be fantastic if I was getting paid while in Blackhall which of course I wouldn't be if I took my initial offer.

Thanks again for your advice. I really appreciate it!

Hulgerx10

Reading through this thread and some others have made me feel a bit depressed

I'm about to start my Law degree at Trinity, but seeing how difficult it is to get a job as a solicitor, and how expensive it can be, perhaps I should have a picked a different course

Yoop_

Hulgerx10 wrote: »

Reading through this thread and some others have made me feel a bit depressed

I'm about to start my Law degree at Trinity, but seeing how difficult it is to get a job as a solicitor, and how expensive it can be, perhaps I should have a picked a different course

Please don't let worries about your potential job prospects affect your enjoyment of your course. There are numerous things you can do in college to boost your CV and your employability. Join some clubs or societies. Get involved in Moot or the Law Review. Do some internships in the summer. It is by no means impossible to get a training contract and there are more and more trainee positions all the time so just enjoy your degree (first year at least!) and worry about qualifying a bit later.

Also, there are so many other jobs you can do after your law degree. Only a small minority of my graduating class actually went the solicitor/barrister route. If you're interested in law then make the most of your degree, and don't think you've got to follow the traditional route to practise.

Hulgerx10

Yoop_ wrote: »

Please don't let worries about your potential job prospects affect your enjoyment of your course. There are numerous things you can do in college to boost your CV and your employability. Join some clubs or societies. Get involved in Moot or the Law Review. Do some internships in the summer. It is by no means impossible to get a training contract and there are more and more trainee positions all the time so just enjoy your degree (first year at least!) and worry about qualifying a bit later.

Also, there are so many other jobs you can do after your law degree. Only a small minority of my graduating class actually went the solicitor/barrister route. If you're interested in law then make the most of your degree, and don't think you've got to follow the traditional route to practise.

Thanks for the advice! One step at a time I suppose. Hopefully decent grades from Trinity and some experience will set me on a good path!

Bayb12

graduate555 wrote: »

Congrats on your TC offer! I would first say that the LSI website states trainees must be paid at least minimum wage when they return from PPC1. So this first firm is breaking LSI regulations for paying less than minimum wage.

I'd also say there's no point rushing into PPC1 if the terms are not good. Starting this year means raising the €8,000 or so by yourself for PPC1 and paying at least €550 per month rent in Dublin for 6 months. Then, when you finally do start getting paid, you'll have to split your income between loan repayments for your PPC1 expenses PLUS raising €4,000 in fees for PPC2 on a less than minimum wage salary. LSI also doesn't allow part time work during Blackhalls. In the long run anyway, in your career you want somewhere that will treat and pay you fairly.

Also, if you start PPC1 next year, you can claim 4 months of pre-PPC1 work experience as 'credits' - so you knock it off the end of your in-office training. So you'd actually qualify only 8 months later than you would if you start training this year, plus being paid during blackhalls.

Hope this helps!

Just a quick question re the credits - what is the latest you can start with a training firm and still accrue the 4 months if I am to attend PPC1 this September? Tried emailing the law school, but no reply!

graduate555

Bayb12 wrote: »

Just a quick question re the credits - what is the latest I can start with a training firm and still accrue the 4 months if I am to attend PPC1 this September? Tried emailing the law school, but not reply!

Any experience in the 6 months before beginning PPC1 as far as I know, so any time you've spent training between March & September - it's all on their website:
www.lawsociety.ie/Trainees/In-office-Training/Credit-Applications/

Bayb12

graduate555 wrote: »

Any experience in the 6 months before beginning PPC1 as far as I know, so any time you've spent training between March & September - it's all on their website:
www.lawsociety.ie/Trainees/In-office-Training/Credit-Applications/

So could you join a firm in May and still accrue 4 months credits?

Redo91

I know we are able to get a student travel card but do you receive a student card that is widely accepted when it comes to concessions?

davidind8

Hey! I have a PPC 2018 query and would appreciate any pointers the 2017 heads can give.

I have the potential for an traineeship coming up but they've made it clear they wont pay for blackhall or pay me while Im there, I was expecting the fees but the lack of wages was a bit of a kicker. Especially as Im changing career so my 2017 salary brings me above the SUSI grants threshold.

Anyone have a view here regarding working at night while studying for the PPC1? Is it possible?

Failing that anyone got a hookup in the organs for cash trade ?

Any advice much appreciated

Bayb12

davidind8 wrote: »

Hey! I have a PPC 2018 query and would appreciate any pointers the 2017 heads can give.

I have the potential for an traineeship coming up but they've made it clear they wont pay for blackhall or pay me while Im there, I was expecting the fees but the lack of wages was a bit of a kicker. Especially as Im changing career so my 2017 salary brings me above the SUSI grants threshold.

Anyone have a view here regarding working at night while studying for the PPC1? Is it possible?

Failing that anyone got a hookup in the organs for cash trade ?

Any advice much appreciated

It is illegal for them not to pay you on the course and Blackhall are clamping down on it.

davidind8

Bayb12 wrote: »

It is illegal for them not to pay you on the course and Blackhall are clamping down on it.

I checked, unfortunately as they don't take you into the office until after the PPC 1 is completed they're in line with the Law Society and the minimum wage act.

https://www.lawsociety.ie/globalassets/documents/education/trainees/mintraineesalaries.pdf

TBH They seem like a nice crowd just that this looks to be the norm in their part of the country, I imagine sooner or later that'll change but until then

Redo91

Bayb12 wrote: »

It is illegal for them not to pay you on the course and Blackhall are clamping down on it.

Ya as already said they are only obliged to pay you if you begin your in-office training before PPC1.

Believe it our not I was in a similar situation last year and not only were fees not being paid/no wage when in PPC1 but they were paying well below the minimum wage for a trainee.

Needless to say I turned it down and have now secured a traineeship that while only paying minimum will at least pay me while I'm up there as I'll have begun my training before PPC1.

Redo91

I’m just in the middle of completing my application form for Blackhall and have a query for those who have done this previosuly.

Where they refer to the First Irish Examination is this the FE-1s? I know the Final examination is prior to the FE-1s and anybody with a third level degree is exempt from that. I’m just curious as to what the First Irish Examination is as it asks me did I enjoy any exemptions from this.

Thanks in advance for any help.

mcee8913

Hello all. I stumbled upon this thread while looking up trainee salaries online and I just want to post about my situation to see if anyone can give me some advice.

Similar to one of the others in the replies above, my firm will not be paying my fees or a salary during my PPCI and I am looking for advice in relation to this. I only became aware a few weeks ago when I received my forms and Indenture from the Law Society that if a trainee has worked in their training office pre-PPCI that they are entitled to a salary under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000.

The principal of my firm had told me when offered the traineeship that my fees would not be paid and I understood that not all firms are in a position to do that but also that I would not be paid during the course. I was foolish and too excited to have taken that part about not being paid seriously before accepting the offer as it has been a very tough grind to find a training contract.

I spoke to one of other solicitors who trained there as well and they were also not paid and that they worked during PPCI, but that was almost two years ago, so I am sure the situation has changed, and I want to focus on studying in Blackhall after the long journey to get there.

I do not wish to cause trouble in my office but I am aware of my employment rights and I do have savings if I am badly stuck. I am also within walking distance of Blackhall so I am saving on public transport, but I would still like to at least try and negotiate some kind of salary deal rather than just rolling over and accepting it. My training solicitor seems a reasonable man but the principal can be quite difficult to deal with. I am one of two trainees in my office, so perhaps if we both raised the issue, something may be done, but I would rather solve this problem on my own first rather than dragging someone else into my situation.

If anyone has any advice about what I should do, I'd be extremely grateful. Thank you all and the best of luck to anyone coming into Blackhall this September!

Redo91

mcee8913 wrote: »

Hello all. I stumbled upon this thread while looking up trainee salaries online and I just want to post about my situation to see if anyone can give me some advice.

Similar to one of the others in the replies above, my firm will not be paying my fees or a salary during my PPCI and I am looking for advice in relation to this. I only became aware a few weeks ago when I received my forms and Indenture from the Law Society that if a trainee has worked in their training office pre-PPCI that they are entitled to a salary under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000.

The principal of my firm had told me when offered the traineeship that my fees would not be paid and I understood that not all firms are in a position to do that but also that I would not be paid during the course. I was foolish and too excited to have taken that part about not being paid seriously before accepting the offer as it has been a very tough grind to find a training contract.

I spoke to one of other solicitors who trained there as well and they were also not paid and that they worked during PPCI, but that was almost two years ago, so I am sure the situation has changed, and I want to focus on studying in Blackhall after the long journey to get there.

I do not wish to cause trouble in my office but I am aware of my employment rights and I do have savings if I am badly stuck. I am also within walking distance of Blackhall so I am saving on public transport, but I would still like to at least try and negotiate some kind of salary deal rather than just rolling over and accepting it. My training solicitor seems a reasonable man but the principal can be quite difficult to deal with. I am one of two trainees in my office, so perhaps if we both raised the issue, something may be done, but I would rather solve this problem on my own first rather than dragging someone else into my situation.

If anyone has any advice about what I should do, I'd be extremely grateful. Thank you all and the best of luck to anyone coming into Blackhall this September!

Sorry for the delay in replying. I only came on here to ask a question of my own so didn’t see your post til then.

Like you alluded to it’s my understanding that they are obliged to pay you if you were working in the office prior to PPC-1. I did have a similar situation with an offer I received last year (and turned down) where they told me in advance that they would not be paying me the minimum wage. Maybe there is an attitude amongst Solicitors that when they are not complying with the rules that they will give you prior notice so you can’t complain down the line. I know I’m basically repeating what you already know but I hope it’s better than nothing and you can resolve the issue.

I also have two questions of my own that hopefully someone can help me with:

1) In relation to the iPads what sort of memory do you need? Is the minimum sufficient? I’m planning on upgrading to the Pro as it’s compatible with the keyboard but not sure how much memory I will need. I do plan on using the iPad outside of my studies so would like a decent bit of spare storage.

2) Are Friday’s busy in general? I’m asking from the point of view of accommodation and how many days I will need to stay up there. I know the timetable may differ from last year but even if you finish early on Fridays that would be great. Is there any compulsory modules on fridays? Not that I plan on missing many.

Thanks in advance for any help

nuac

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Closed this thread to avoid confusion with thread Blackhall PPC 1 20I8[/B]