FE1 exams worth it if not planning to be a solicitor?

Helloe · 17-10-2011 11:57AM #1

Ok so I have a BSc (Hons) in Quanity Surveying and I am currently in a graduate programme working as a QS in London. I have been here for one year now and I have one year left of my graduate training.

I have taken an interest in Law recently and not for any other reason than to add to my CV and give myself a challenge I have thought of doing my FE1 exams in March. I have researched it and I can study online through lectures posted online from Griffith College in Dublin while keeping my job here in London. (Apparently it works very well, course is from November to March and the success rate from Griffith is very high, although I realise it will be very hard work)

I think I need a change of direction in my career and until I finish my 2 year graduate programme with this company I don't want to move. I am not sure if I would like to become a solicitor but won't rule it out either. Would it be completely a waste of time to do the FE1 exams if I am not going to become a solicitor or would other non-lawyer companies be interested in that qualification?

I suppose I am wondering if the FE1s are worth anything without doing the training contract with a solicitor firm for two years and completely qualifying as a solicitor?

I hope some of you are able to shed some light on this subject for me,

Thanks

pow wow · 17-10-2011 06:29PM

Moved to Legal Discussion as you'll (hopefully) get more relevant advice there.

crystalmice · 17-10-2011 07:01PM

FE1s are entrance exams for the solicitor training course in Blackhall, nothing more. They are totally worthless if you have no intention of being a solicitor, as they are not any sort of qualification in themselves. Do a part time LLB or some other qualification instead. Pretty sure there are plenty of other threads on this here too if you search around.

NoQuarter · 17-10-2011 07:06PM

More useless than a condom with air holes...

Hogzy · 17-10-2011 07:13PM

So you want to pay a few thousand Euro for a preparation course and then another thousand on exam fees (assuming you pass them all first time around) just for the sake of it.
Are you all right in the head? Why would you do entrance exams with no intention to enter the profession?

FYI passing the exams mean nothing. Its not an official qualification that you passed all 8 exams. The qualification comes when you finish Blackhall Place.

Jev/N · 17-10-2011 08:26PM

No, definitely not.

Do a diploma, if anything

dats_right · 18-10-2011 09:41AM

I'd agree with everything that has been said by the other posters. If you want to get a law qualification you should consider doing a diploma or degree. Or better still, if you could afford it financially and time wise you should do the King's Inns and get the BL qualification.

brian__foley · 18-10-2011 12:45PM

Helloe wrote: »

Ok so I have a BSc (Hons) in Quanity Surveying and I am currently in a graduate programme working as a QS in London. I have been here for one year now and I have one year left of my graduate training.

I have taken an interest in Law recently and not for any other reason than to add to my CV and give myself a challenge I have thought of doing my FE1 exams in March. I have researched it and I can study online through lectures posted online from Griffith College in Dublin while keeping my job here in London. (Apparently it works very well, course is from November to March and the success rate from Griffith is very high, although I realise it will be very hard work)

I think I need a change of direction in my career and until I finish my 2 year graduate programme with this company I don't want to move. I am not sure if I would like to become a solicitor but won't rule it out either. Would it be completely a waste of time to do the FE1 exams if I am not going to become a solicitor or would other non-lawyer companies be interested in that qualification?

I suppose I am wondering if the FE1s are worth anything without doing the training contract with a solicitor firm for two years and completely qualifying as a solicitor?

I hope some of you are able to shed some light on this subject for me,

Thanks

Hi,

I'm the course director of that particular course, and whereas customers are always welcome, it would not be the best idea to undertake these courses if you have no intention of becoming a solicitor. The courses, of themselves, don't lead to an award. You would certainly learn something about law, but there is no qualification at all, associated with doing the FE1 exams. They are entrance exams for the Law Society's own courses, which do lead to qualification.

There are other courses out there, at GCD and elsewhere that would give you a non-degree based qualification in law, if that is what you wanted.

Regards

Brian

GCD

Chet Zar · 18-10-2011 02:01PM

Hey Brian

I watched an ~hour long lecture with you on contract law on the GCD site yesterday evening - you made it interesting have to say! I had come from reading a book on contract law - defo think it's really interesting stuff.

Anyway, quick question - I think I read somewhere that 90% of people who take the preparatory FE1 course at GCD pass the exams...is this correct? I presume it means 90% of any given class taking the exams at any one time...or somesuch.

Cheers!

NoQuarter · 18-10-2011 04:00PM

Let me be the first to call shenanigans on that figure!

brian__foley · 18-10-2011 04:51PM

Chet Zar wrote: »

Hey Brian

I watched an ~hour long lecture with you on contract law on the GCD site yesterday evening - you made it interesting have to say! I had come from reading a book on contract law - defo think it's really interesting stuff.

Anyway, quick question - I think I read somewhere that 90% of people who take the preparatory FE1 course at GCD pass the exams...is this correct? I presume it means 90% of any given class taking the exams at any one time...or somesuch.

Cheers!

That's not a statistic I have any basis to agree with. The exams are conducted by the Law Society and the only information we get on pass rates comes from students. A few years ago, to deal with questions like this, we tried to gather data. However, it became very clear, very quick that answers could not always be relied on. For example, a student who may have repeated their exams would have said on the phone "oh yes, I got them first time", which happened a few times rendering the whole data-set suspicious. I can't offer any stats like that, nor stand over any like that. The best I can say is that you can look around for narrative testimony as to what GCD and other institutions may offer in respect of assistance or make direct enquiries to such institution.

Chet Zar · 18-10-2011 06:34PM

brian__foley wrote: »

That's not a statistic I have any basis to agree with. The exams are conducted by the Law Society and the only information we get on pass rates comes from students. A few years ago, to deal with questions like this, we tried to gather data. However, it became very clear, very quick that answers could not always be relied on. For example, a student who may have repeated their exams would have said on the phone "oh yes, I got them first time", which happened a few times rendering the whole data-set suspicious. I can't offer any stats like that, nor stand over any like that. The best I can say is that you can look around for narrative testimony as to what GCD and other institutions may offer in respect of assistance or make direct enquiries to such institution.

No worries, not sure where I saw that figure. But as I was typing that out I was thinking it would be pretty hard to come up with reliable data on that. Same as with any institution really.

FE1 exams worth it if not planning to be a solicitor?

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