FE1 Exam Thread (Read 1st post!) NOTE: YOU MAY SWAP EXAM GRIDS

FE1new · 15-10-2020 10:07PM

Hi all

For Property is the following enough for the exams do you think?

Succession
Adverse Possession
Co ownership
Easements
Landlord Tenant
Family Property

I don't think I can add anything else at this stage

Debarramike137 · 15-10-2020 10:12PM

does anyone have recent criminal papers pleasee??

FE1new · 15-10-2020 10:13PM

Debarramike137 wrote: »

does anyone have recent criminal papers pleasee??

PM me your email and I can send it to you

15-10-2020 10:13PM

The idea of typed exams has me in an absolute panic now! I’ve never sat a typed exam and believe it’s so much easier to form answers when writing. This also might not be the case but I believe exam *bluff* will come across worse in a typed answer because it looks neater and you can’t tell the students panic to get everything written - that might be my panic speaking but anyway!

I also work ft and cannot take next Thursday off! With less than a week notice! I’m about to burst into tears the law society just DO NOT CARE about us.

Also I didn’t even receive the email! So am reading it all on boards at 10 o clock at night because a supposed professional body cannot compose a simple mailing list! Why am I surprised... they can’t even answer a simple email!!

This is beyond frustrating and completely unfair. They refused to give us any information for so long and all we could do was focus our study on the idea that the exam would be the same format as previous online FE1s and less than 3 weeks out they spring this on us!!!!

Disheartened doesn’t begin to cover it...

Aoibhin511 · 15-10-2020 10:14PM

FE1new wrote: »

Hi all

For Property is the following enough for the exams do you think?

Succession
Adverse Possession
Co ownership
Easements
Landlord Tenant
Family Property

I don't think I can add anything else at this stage

I'm doing basically that but with mortgages instead of landlord/tenant

FE1new · 15-10-2020 10:16PM

Aoibhin511 wrote: »

I'm doing basically that but with mortgages instead of landlord/tenant

I just can't get my head around mortgages.

APower79 · 15-10-2020 10:21PM

AnnabelleK wrote: »

Bit of topic but is anyone trying to do these exams with a baby? I'm really struggling to find the time to study. I have a 7 month old teething baby who barely sleeps at night and during the day wants my attention. I have no one that could mind her.
I signed up to do contract, criminal and equity. I'm not confident I will pass any. Any tips are welcome. Thank you

I know how you feel. I’m a stay at home mom with little kids, one who’s too young for Montessori so I always have 1 or more around me. I started getting up really early to study before they woke and then the youngest started waking early too! So now I do it after bedtime. I also try to do a bit here and there during the day if I can. Even if it’s 15 mins. It helps being a bit flexible that way. That would never have suited me in the past but I have no choice now. It’s hard! I’ve also given up stressing too much because then it effects my mood and how I am with my kids. I’ll do what I can do and that’s all I can hope for. Good luck!!

Aoibhin511 · 15-10-2020 10:21PM

FE1new wrote: »

I just can't get my head around mortgages.

Honestly me neither but its my worst-case scenario topic, I'm pretty confident I'll have 5/6 Qs in the others

lsheehaneire · 15-10-2020 10:25PM

Perhaps you have a point. Maybe they have strategically only emailed a certain proportion of candidates to gauge reaction to a typed exam...or maybe I am giving them far too much credit on that front. If the exams HAVE to be typed then it is only fair that we all get additional time to prepare for an entirely new format. Very disappointing, yet again.

sarahlawless · 15-10-2020 10:26PM

APower79 wrote: »

I know how you feel. I’m a stay at home mom with little kids, one who’s too young for Montessori so I always have 1 or more around me. I started getting up really early to study before they woke and then the youngest started waking early too! So now I do it after bedtime. I also try to do a bit here and there during the day if I can. Even if it’s 15 mins. It helps being a bit flexible that way. That would never have suited me in the past but I have no choice now. It’s hard! I’ve also given up stressing too much because then it effects my mood and how I am with my kids. I’ll do what I can do and that’s all I can hope for. Good luck!!

This gave me a lot of perspective right about now, thank you. I hope these exams go well for you, best of luck.

Hazel774 · 15-10-2020 10:28PM

Deleted User wrote: »

The idea of typed exams has me in an absolute panic now! I’ve never sat a typed exam and believe it’s so much easier to form answers when writing. This also might not be the case but I believe exam *bluff* will come across worse in a typed answer because it looks neater and you can’t tell the students panic to get everything written - that might be my panic speaking but anyway!

I also work ft and cannot take next Thursday off! With less than a week notice! I’m about to burst into tears the law society just DO NOT CARE about us.

Also I didn’t even receive the email! So am reading it all on boards at 10 o clock at night because a supposed professional body cannot compose a simple mailing list! Why am I surprised... they can’t even answer a simple email!!

This is beyond frustrating and completely unfair. They refused to give us any information for so long and all we could do was focus our study on the idea that the exam would be the same format as previous online FE1s and less than 3 weeks out they spring this on us!!!!

Disheartened doesn’t begin to cover it...

I completely relate to this!!
Really shocked that they've changed it to typed with barely 2.5 weeks notice, even by the standards of the law society that is extremely poor form.
They've seriously messed us about since March, but this takes the cake as the worst thing they've done yet imo. I genuinely cannot believe the stress they put us through and the worst part is knowing that nothing will be done about it, I don't even know if it's worth trying to contact them at this stage because they just don't care.
This is my last exam so I'll have to try and find a way to make it work, but if it wasn't my last I would just give up at this point, the LS make these exams 1000x more difficult than they have to be

I also don't understand how so many of us didn't get the email, a child could set up a mailing list and hit send to all, it is just not a difficult thing to do! This is meant to be a professional body, their behaviour is actually outrageous. Can't believe I'm finding this out at at 10pm because I happened to check boards, how much notice were they planning on giving those of us who didn't get the email?

Fe1 2020 · 15-10-2020 10:38PM

Hi guys,

Would anyone have a grid for company they wouldn't mind sharing?

Sorry I can't offer anything in return, I just have someone's copy of older manuals. But feel free to ask for it if it's useful.

Thanks in advance.

Law20213 · 15-10-2020 10:40PM

Hazel774 wrote: »

Couldn't agree more, the worst part is there's genuinely nothing we can do about it and our complaints fall on deaf ears (or no ears at all, since they refuse to answer their phones!)

I'm not entirely sure if the LSRA have authority over the Law Society but they have done a few consultations/reports on the legal profession recently. They did a report earlier this year on the admission policies of the legal professions, called 'Pathways to the Professions' and it had strong criticisms of the FE1's from some of the big firms and the Law Departments of UCD, UL and DCU.
"The FE-1 system generated strong views from the law firms who made submissions, as well as the university law schools, the Higher Education Authority and Ibec. The criticism of the FE-1 system focused on several aspects, including duplication, delay and significant direct and indirect costs... In its consultation invitation, the LSRA did not invite the Law Society to comment directly on the FE-1 system which it operates. However, the Authority is aware of the Law Society’s position in this regard, based on its extensive engagement in relation to its ongoing work under section 34 of the Act."

"Several respondents proposed the abolition of entrance exams for admission to professional training for law graduates (the FE-1 for solicitors and the King’s Inns Entrance Exam for barristers)."

LSRA is made up of 11 ex employees of the society! Not surprising really very Irish! shouldn’t they be entirely separate or conflicts of interests

Samuma · 15-10-2020 10:41PM

Before I replied saying I was raging I said i'd give a typed exam a go and tried to type up an answer for constitutional interpretation, a topic I would consider I would be well able to write a good essay on.

I couldn't do it. I need a piece of paper to write down plans and then follow it, but go back to it mid paragraph if a new idea comes into my head.
Typing takes so much extra; concentrating on where letters are on the keyboard has me totally distracted that I can't recall any of the information to form a sentence.

I wasn't panicking earlier because I got myself used to the idea of sitting in front of the laptop but being able to write my answers. Like they did for the August sitting.

Now I am very stressed and it's 2.5 weeks out. Shame on them. Not everyone has proper laptops or even wifi. And no one has money to be throwing away on these exams when they don't show us the same level of respect. It shows them in very poor light really that they couldn't even organise this properly. They should have made the decision in August and stuck with it.
Did they think the pandemic was going to disappear overnight? Relying on Levels was totally ridiculous.

Lallers96 · 15-10-2020 10:51PM

FE1new wrote: »

I just can't get my head around mortgages.

Also found that topic oddly complicated.

FE1new · 15-10-2020 10:54PM

Lallers96 wrote: »

Also found that topic oddly complicated.

I'll try it mostly because its covered in the Land and Conveyancing Act 2009 which we can bring in but it's like double Dutch to me.

123456789j · 15-10-2020 10:55PM

Hi all,

Extremely pissed and disappointed with tonight’s update. Has anyone experience with doing exams of this scale online ? Do you notice the vigilators presence? Last thing I want is to be trying to think of a case name and be conscious of somebody watching me throughout.

123456789j · 15-10-2020 10:57PM

Would anyone have any recent equity or eu material perhaps? Running out of time to be writing notes still so anything that may help at all would be great. I can swap Tort and criminal !

IgoPAP · 15-10-2020 10:59PM

Am I the only one that's chuffed with the online format? I'm a fast typer and always struggle to get everything on the page - now time constraints are not an issue. I couldn't have hoped for better luck here.

keelfe1s · 15-10-2020 11:03PM

Hi guys could someone please tell me what came up last equity sitting??

Lallers96 · 15-10-2020 11:04PM

IgoPAP wrote: »

Am I the only one that's chuffed with the online format? I'm a fast typer and always struggle to get everything on the page - now time constraints are not an issue. I couldn't have hoped for better luck here.

I'm the same. I'm very, very fortunate that I am an extremely fast typer and can type without looking at the screen, I type all the time at work so I get practice all the time. I just purchased a brand new laptop just for this inevitability. I have fibre broadband that I pay for myself that is super fast. And I live in a quiet house where I can have a room to myself with no disturbances. However I know that I am part of a very lucky minority. A lot of people will not have the resources, and even those who do may struggle with the new format.

I would still like to be able to print off the paper for scribbles and rough work sheets also.

Aoibhin511 · 15-10-2020 11:04PM

IgoPAP wrote: »

Am I the only one that's chuffed with the online format? I'm a fast typer and always struggle to get everything on the page - now time constraints are not an issue. I couldn't have hoped for better luck here.

I surprisingly don't have feelings on way or the other tbh.
I took all my notes throughout college with pen and paper, but still struggle with neatness in exam situation (though as someone said above I think that sometimes works to my advantage because it looks like I really am trying to get everything down very quickly and panickedly, so they might pity me) I just did a typing speed test and got 30wpm so I have to weeks to improve that.
On a whole though I'm just glad we have some sort of answer, there'll be no night before cancellation like in March and no will they won't they uncertainty like in August. It's definitely going ahead now, and I just can't wait for it to be over.

JayFE1 · 15-10-2020 11:13PM

FE1new wrote: »

Hi all

For Property is the following enough for the exams do you think?

Succession
Adverse Possession
Co ownership
Easements
Landlord Tenant
Family Property

I don't think I can add anything else at this stage

Succession is two guaranteed questions so if you’ve done extrinsic evidence, formal requirements, the spouse / children and intestacy then that’s two down. You’ve probably done enough to cover yourself for the remaining questions but I suppose the one that sticks out is finding? Very straightforward, easy to identify and frequently examined. There’s also a question on the influence of equity on land law. You could pick say the doctrine of notice or the Statute of Uses. IMO, a cracking little question. It’s so broad, you could really rack up some good marks! Mortgages is another one - it’s actually not that bad once you get into it. We’ll all probably have one so interesting to know what a bank legally can and can not do.

shaunadennyham · 15-10-2020 11:15PM

IgoPAP wrote: »

I was just kidding! But it isn't so much that the exams will be marked harder as the fact that you're going to get higher quality answers I think with typed exams.

Please stop why would you get higher quality answers just because they’re typed

shaunadennyham · 15-10-2020 11:16PM

IgoPAP wrote: »

Am I the only one that's chuffed with the online format? I'm a fast typer and always struggle to get everything on the page - now time constraints are not an issue. I couldn't have hoped for better luck here.

Congratulations

FE1new · 15-10-2020 11:17PM

keelfe1s wrote: »

Hi guys could someone please tell me what came up last equity sitting??

Pm me and I can send you the paper

Samuma · 15-10-2020 11:21PM

Lallers96 wrote: »

I'm the same. I'm very, very fortunate that I am an extremely fast typer and can type without looking at the screen, I type all the time at work so I get practice all the time. I just purchased a brand new laptop just for this inevitability. I have fibre broadband that I pay for myself that is super fast. And I live in a quiet house where I can have a room to myself with no disturbances. However I know that I am part of a very lucky minority. A lot of people will not have the resources, and even those who do may struggle with the new format.

I would still like to be able to print off the paper for scribbles and rough work sheets also.

I am a very fast typer also and like everyone these days, email is the main mode of communication. Replying to an email versus typing out 5 separate exam answers for 3 hours are very different beasts.

Has anyone here ever had to type up an answer for an exam in their lives?
Primary school, Secondary, Junior and Leaving Cert, Undergraduate, Master's etc...they have all been written exams. It's what we are accustomed to.

This is a total format change and 2 weeks out. It's incredibly unfair.

Hazel774 · 15-10-2020 11:25PM

JayFE1 wrote: »

Succession is two guaranteed questions so if you’ve done extrinsic evidence, formal requirements, the spouse / children and intestacy then that’s two down. You’ve probably done enough to cover yourself for the remaining questions but I suppose the one that sticks out is finding? Very straightforward, easy to identify and frequently examined. There’s also a question on the influence of equity on land law. You could pick say the doctrine of notice or the Statute of Uses. IMO, a cracking little question. It’s so broad, you could really rack up some good marks! Mortgages is another one - it’s actually not that bad once you get into it. We’ll all probably have one so interesting to know what a bank legally can and can not do.

Yes, finding is a good one to add in, and just add to what's said here, if you look at the examiners reports for the finding question they copy and paste the exact same paragraph into the reports every single time finding comes up and its actually a pretty detailed answer plan! Lists all the cases you'll need... so I would definitely look through the reports on finding and you'll put together a sample answer quite quickly.
I believe adverse possession is on practically every paper too, so between succession and adverse possession you should have 3 questions covered already!

BugsySiegel · 15-10-2020 11:29PM

Aoibhin511 wrote: »

Honestly me neither but its my worst-case scenario topic, I'm pretty confident I'll have 5/6 Qs in the others

Was having the same problem until I had a look at sample answers. Helped a lot. Seems like theres a lot in the Griffith College manual that can be left out for that topic.

neon123 · 15-10-2020 11:32PM

What do people think the mock exam is about? Will it essentially be an opportunity to login to get familiar with the format and will it be optional? I’m working full time so definitely don’t have time to be hanging around for three hours!

FE1 Exam Thread (Read 1st post!) NOTE: YOU MAY SWAP EXAM GRIDS

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