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

28-09-2020 6:54pm

Hi all - I’ve been looking at firms and the majority of them are not hiring for 2021! Does anyone know is this normal or because of Covid?

I planned to move abroad for a year or two but that got scrapped with Covid and now I’m afraid I won’t get a traineeship for years either and I’ll be really lost then

Fe1student1234 · 28-09-2020 6:58pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Hi all - I’ve been looking at firms and the majority of them are not hiring for 2021! Does anyone know is this normal or because of Covid?

I planned to move abroad for a year or two but that got scrapped with Covid and now I’m afraid I won’t get a traineeship for years either and I’ll have nothing to do for a couple years

Tbh I’ve seen a good few that are hiring so I wouldn’t really worry tbh, if you still want to go abroad next year I would(providing corona has calmed) there’s always the possibility of being a legal secretary or executive for a year

Plus a few firms don’t actually hire until you have the FE1s completely done (like lemans and Philip Lee)

Lawofattracti · 28-09-2020 7:18pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Hi all - I’ve been looking at firms and the majority of them are not hiring for 2021! Does anyone know is this normal or because of Covid?

I planned to move abroad for a year or two but that got scrapped with Covid and now I’m afraid I won’t get a traineeship for years either and I’ll be really lost then

I could be wrong but most of the big firms usually hire a few years in advance - for example in 2018 they were hiring for 2020/21, unless they happened to have a some spaces left in their 2019 intake. This is due to the fact that most of the top firms hire mostly from their internships now and since interns are usually in their 3rd year, they offer them a training contract to start 2/3 years later. So sometimes when you see that in 2020 a firm is hiring for their 2022/23 intake it's simply because they have filled up their 2021 intake already with internship offers.

I could be wrong on this! But this is just what I've heard and is only relevant to the big firms that hire from internships (there are plenty of smaller firms that won't even look at you until you have your FE1s completed so there are still ootions). Definitely still worth applying though as even if you're made an offer for let's say 2022/23, there's always a massive chance you'll be able to start earlier. Every year they have trainees due to start that don't for a multiplicity of reasons (failed FE1s, signed multiple TCs, decided not to pursue a career in law, decided to do a masters or take a year out etc.)

Aisbash · 28-09-2020 7:43pm

CoconutHeadMia wrote: »

Has anyone elses application still not been approved? I submitted mine close to two weeks ago.

I have an order confirmation for my application which I made before the exams were postponed. I dont see anything regarding getting it approved when I log in to the Law Society. Do I need to receive an approval email or something?

arubamuuu · 28-09-2020 9:24pm

Would anyone be willing to share their Criminal law notes on Recklessness and Strict Liability? The notes I have are a bit long winded so was hoping for something more condensed and exam focused

lawDani · 29-09-2020 12:04am

maggie95 wrote: »

I would also include:
- Institutions/General Principles (Almost always comes up - boring but easy)
- Mergers to go alongside competition law
- Direct Effect & Supremacy to go alongside MS liability and judicial review
- (If you have time) Citizenship & Equality (I think these are the easiest and most interesting chapters so are easy to cover kinda last minute)

Thanks for the reply and advice

I’ve been kind of beeezing through those along side other topics so I’ll give them more attention thank you !

29-09-2020 9:24am

Aisbash wrote: »

I have an order confirmation for my application which I made before the exams were postponed. I dont see anything regarding getting it approved when I log in to the Law Society. Do I need to receive an approval email or something?

I’m the same, my order went straight through. I think the approval might be for first time candidates? Could be mistaken though..

lawDani · 29-09-2020 9:57am

sorry guys I know this is probably on the fe1 rules but could any body be so kind as to list the legislation we may bring in for EU?

Fe1student1234 · 29-09-2020 10:02am

Aisbash wrote: »

I have an order confirmation for my application which I made before the exams were postponed. I dont see anything regarding getting it approved when I log in to the Law Society. Do I need to receive an approval email or something?

If you log in and go view my dashboard and then into my applications it should show you your application for the exams the date submitted and should say approved

29-09-2020 11:22am

lawDani wrote: »

sorry guys I know this is probably on the fe1 rules but could any body be so kind as to list the legislation we may bring in for EU?

The treaties! Usually all in the one book.. mine was blackstones

rightytighty · 29-09-2020 11:45am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Hi all - I’ve been looking at firms and the majority of them are not hiring for 2021! Does anyone know is this normal or because of Covid?

I planned to move abroad for a year or two but that got scrapped with Covid and now I’m afraid I won’t get a traineeship for years either and I’ll be really lost then

Dechert and Fieldfisher are two off the top of my head currently hiring for 2021

Healyjhow · 29-09-2020 1:56pm

Just wondering if anyone has any advice as to what topics are essential for equity? Struggling to condense it down at the moment

IgoPAP · 29-09-2020 2:28pm

rightytighty wrote: »

Dechert and Fieldfisher are two off the top of my head currently hiring for 2021

I've heard Dechert has the best trainee salary in the country! (should I say it with a French accent?)

Fe1student1234 · 29-09-2020 5:22pm

IgoPAP wrote: »

I've heard Dechert has the best trainee salary in the country! (should I say it with a French accent?)

They also only take on two a year so I’d say you’re worked to the bone for that money ðŸ˜‚ðŸ˜‚

rightytighty · 29-09-2020 5:46pm

IgoPAP wrote: »

I've heard Dechert has the best trainee salary in the country! (should I say it with a French accent?)

47.5 year 1, 50k year 2! Crazy really. 6 months in London during your TC too, and orientation at their global HQ in Philadelphia on qualification. Sounds pretty glam

FE1new · 29-09-2020 5:51pm

When should someone apply for a traineeship? I have just finished my degree and passed the EU FE1 in August but I'm lost as to when should you start applying. Any advice at all would be great!

rightytighty · 29-09-2020 5:53pm

FE1new wrote: »

When should someone apply for a traineeship? I have just finished my degree and passed the EU FE1 in August but I'm lost as to when should you start applying. Any advice at all would be great!

I’d suggest getting some work experience first for your applications, unless you have exceptional exam results.

Fe1student1234 · 29-09-2020 5:54pm

FE1new wrote: »

When should someone apply for a traineeship? I have just finished my degree and passed the EU FE1 in August but I'm lost as to when should you start applying. Any advice at all would be great!

Depends on the firm - bigger ones hire a year or two in advance so you can apply now

Others don’t look at you until you have your FE1s completed

FE1new · 29-09-2020 5:56pm

rightytighty wrote: »

I’d suggest getting some work experience first for your applications, unless you have exceptional exam results.

Thank you! I have work experience as a legal secretary for the last 3 years would that be okay experience?

rightytighty · 29-09-2020 6:18pm

FE1new wrote: »

Thank you! I have work experience as a legal secretary for the last 3 years would that be okay experience?

Definitely! Better than most you’ll come up against I would imagine!

IgoPAP · 29-09-2020 6:21pm

rightytighty wrote: »

47.5 year 1, 50k year 2! Crazy really. 6 months in London during your TC too, and orientation at their global HQ in Philadelphia on qualification. Sounds pretty glam

130k first year qualified in London! American firms always splashing out the big bucks.

Pengo11 · 29-09-2020 6:47pm

Does anybody have property past papers and examiner reports by any chance please?

IgoPAP · 30-09-2020 9:59am

Would I be correct in saying that the chances of in-person exams being held at the start of November in Dublin is approaching zero?

StabiloLaw · 30-09-2020 10:04am

IgoPAP wrote: »

Would I be correct in saying that the chances of being in-person exams being held at the start of November in Dublin is approaching zero?

I'm going to keep thinking that they will be and try my best to study but my main issue is, I don't know how comfortable I would feel doing them if they do go ahead in a months time.

I sat the online sitting in August so didn't see how safe it was in Dublin at that time, but it makes me extremely nervous.

Fe1student1234 · 30-09-2020 10:13am

StabiloLaw wrote: »

I'm going to keep thinking that they will be and try my best to study but my main issue is, I don't know how comfortable I would feel doing them if they do go ahead in a months time.

I sat the online sitting in August so didn't see how safe it was in Dublin at that time, but it makes me extremely nervous.

I sat them in the law society in August! You don’t really mix with anyone but you didn’t have to wear the mask during it because you weren’t moving.

It depends on the Dublin lockdown situation - currently you’re allowed any gatherings so if that continues they won’t be in Dublin in November but if the lockdown is up and the gatherings go back to 50 indoors it will be
(My opinion)

IgoPAP · 30-09-2020 10:21am

StabiloLaw wrote: »

I'm going to keep thinking that they will be and try my best to study but my main issue is, I don't know how comfortable I would feel doing them if they do go ahead in a months time.

I sat the online sitting in August so didn't see how safe it was in Dublin at that time, but it makes me extremely nervous.

My view is - - and I think this is inevitably the most likely approach - - that exams will be held at the beginning of November, but virtually.

Lallers96 · 30-09-2020 10:30am

Motivation still at rock bottom here. In the last 3 weeks or so I've done tap all. My notes are finished for property and I'm about 70% through contract but in the last few weeks I've done feck all in comparison to before this delay. Its really messed up my flow and tbh Im nearly subconsciously expecting another one and haven't really done as much hours as I should per day. Don't know how to pull myself back up I'm quite sick of just endlessly studying in the hope the uncontrollable goes well.

I mean, they have to be held before the end of year so people can start the Hybrid in Dec/Jan (?) surely?

Fe1student1234 · 30-09-2020 10:48am

IgoPAP wrote: »

My view is - - and I think this is inevitably the most likely approach - - that exams will be held at the beginning of November, but virtually.

I don’t think they’ll be virtually - they said no company had the capability of holding our exams virtually due to the amount of students!

I think they should give the option of online v in person exams and then that would help them be able to have them online ( reduction in Numbers ) possibly

I for one would choose in person due to personal circumstances

Fe1student1234 · 30-09-2020 10:49am

Lallers96 wrote: »

Motivation still at rock bottom here. In the last 3 weeks or so I've done tap all. My notes are finished for property and I'm about 70% through contract but in the last few weeks I've done feck all in comparison to before this delay. Its really messed up my flow and tbh Im nearly subconsciously expecting another one and haven't really done as much hours as I should per day. Don't know how to pull myself back up I'm quite sick of just endlessly studying in the hope the uncontrollable goes well.

I mean, they have to be held before the end of year so people can start the Hybrid in Dec/Jan (?) surely?

Same my motivation is zero - can’t seem to bring myself to study properly

IgoPAP · 30-09-2020 10:53am

Fe1student1234 wrote: »

I don’t think they’ll be virtually - they said no company had the capability of holding our exams virtually due to the amount of students!

I think they should give the option of online v in person exams and then that would help them be able to have them online ( reduction in Numbers ) possibly

I for one would choose in person due to personal circumstances

I would imagine the Law Society would need to know a few weeks beforehand that exams can be held in person so they can get the go ahead and start planning. Which is to say they need to know in the next 2 weeks that Dublin will be reduced to Level 2. Considering the effects of the Level 3 restrictions are still not felt yet, and that cases per 100k in Dublin are still rising, the chances of in person exams being held at the start of November is close to nought I think.

Fe1student1234 · 30-09-2020 10:58am

IgoPAP wrote: »

I would imagine the Law Society would need to know a few weeks beforehand that exams can be held in person so they can get the go ahead and start planning. Which is to say they need to know in the next 2 weeks that Dublin will be reduced to Level 2. Considering the effects of the Level 3 restrictions are still not felt yet, and that cases per 100k in Dublin are still rising, the chances of in person exams being held at the start of November is close to nought I think.

I agree they probably won’t be in person in November but I don’t think they’ll be in November at all! Or at least they won’t be at the start of November

Just hoping cases everywhere start to come down - if other counties start going into level 3 idk how the law society will go about exams at all

Just sick of the endless studying at this stage and the not knowing

lsheehaneire · 30-09-2020 11:11am

Closing date is today for November sitting so at least they will have numbers to work with. Its extremely hard to study when there is no certainty that the exam will go ahead. Is it possible they would push out the dec hybrid start ? ...

michaelot97 · 30-09-2020 12:00pm

Does my October application carry on to November or do I need to apply again? Left it late to ask but had assumed it would carry over!

StabiloLaw · 30-09-2020 12:08pm

michaelot97 wrote: »

Does my October application carry on to November or do I need to apply again? Left it late to ask but had assumed it would carry over!

It's carried over, don't worry!

30-09-2020 12:51pm

IgoPAP wrote: »

Would I be correct in saying that the chances of in-person exams being held at the start of November in Dublin is approaching zero?

With other venue being Cork and it’s looking like we have a lockdown imminent too I’m feeling it’s very uncertain!

fe12020oct · 30-09-2020 1:17pm

Does anyone have the timetable for November exams ?

ruby1998 · 30-09-2020 1:36pm

Fe1student1234 wrote: »

Same my motivation is zero - can’t seem to bring myself to study properly

The relief that other people are feeling the same. I’ve done little to no study in the last 2 weeks and I just can’t bring myself to get back into it. Just feeling guilty 24/7 lol.

lawDani · 30-09-2020 1:44pm

Fe1student1234 wrote: »

I agree they probably won’t be in person in November but I don’t think they’ll be in November at all! Or at least they won’t be at the start of November

Just hoping cases everywhere start to come down - if other counties start going into level 3 idk how the law society will go about exams at all

Just sick of the endless studying at this stage and the not knowing

at least you're doing the endless studying! lol im finding it difficult to study with no definite finish line..

APower79 · 30-09-2020 1:44pm

ruby1998 wrote: »

The relief that other people are feeling the same. I’ve done little to no study in the last 2 weeks and I just can’t bring myself to get back into it. Just feeling guilty 24/7 lol.

I’m the same. Zero motivation yet I’m constantly thinking about it!

lawDani · 30-09-2020 1:45pm

fe12020oct wrote: »

Does anyone have the timetable for November exams ?

is there one issued? I was off the understanding that we only know that it's the first week of November?

Fe1student1234 · 30-09-2020 1:47pm

lawDani wrote: »

at least you're doing the endless studying! lol im finding it difficult to study with no definite finish line..

Endless study aka sitting in my study with thre book open that’s about as far as I got - can’t bring myself to do it but also feel guilty doing anything else

andrcamp · 30-09-2020 2:07pm

Generally speaking, how long does it take to get results of a recheck? Thanks

Twinings2016 · 30-09-2020 2:45pm

andrcamp wrote: »

Generally speaking, how long does it take to get results of a recheck? Thanks

They say six weeks, but was chatting to a lady on the phone today from the LS and she said they will aim to get back to ppl asap, as potentially we will be sitting exams the first week of November and would make no sense to sit an exam, that you have in fact passed (after a re-check).

So.… who knows!!

Jenosul · 30-09-2020 3:57pm

APower79 wrote: »

I’m the same. Zero motivation yet I’m constantly thinking about it!

Lads so glad to hear I am not alone in this. I now know how the leaving certs must have felt! Hopefully the plan is to make a time table. I hear testing yourself is the best way to retain information so thinking of brain storming as a test for each topic. Any study tips welcome in hopes to motivate each other. Also if anyone has any links. I did find some good youtubes on EU law topics such as direct effect just to help recap and a different way to study if you are not feeling like the books and to change it up a little. I also have a poster in my room with lists of cases in black marker I make a habit of reading. Hope this may help. As I said please feel free to share any tips which would be most welcomed.

lawDani · 30-09-2020 4:12pm

Jenosul wrote: »

Lads so glad to hear I am not alone in this. I now know how the leaving certs must have felt! Hopefully the plan is to make a time table. I hear testing yourself is the best way to retain information so thinking of brain storming as a test for each topic. Any study tips welcome in hopes to motivate each other. Also if anyone has any links. I did find some good youtubes on EU law topics such as direct effect just to help recap and a different way to study if you are not feeling like the books and to change it up a little. I also have a poster in my room with lists of cases in black marker I make a habit of reading. Hope this may help. As I said please feel free to share any tips which would be most welcomed.

love this! i find YouTube a help for EU too, any ones you know of for Contract?

i am finding it difficult to focus too but i find for me, re-reading, re-reading sample answers and saying them out loud to myself over and over is a big help - sometimes i may even sing them.. lol! anything to keep the sanity and retain the info...

Iso_123 · 30-09-2020 4:38pm

Jenosul wrote: »

Lads so glad to hear I am not alone in this. I now know how the leaving certs must have felt! Hopefully the plan is to make a time table. I hear testing yourself is the best way to retain information so thinking of brain storming as a test for each topic. Any study tips welcome in hopes to motivate each other. Also if anyone has any links. I did find some good youtubes on EU law topics such as direct effect just to help recap and a different way to study if you are not feeling like the books and to change it up a little. I also have a poster in my room with lists of cases in black marker I make a habit of reading. Hope this may help. As I said please feel free to share any tips which would be most welcomed.

I find testing yourself is really helpful and its how I do my revision instead of just re-reading notes. I try to pick 1/2 topics every morning (Eg this morning for constitutional I did freedom of expression) to just test my knowledge on. So i'll usually just have the notes covered and write out all the cases and statute etc on the topic that I can remember and any cases etc that I couldn't remember I just go back over those.

That being said, I am definitely getting fed up with studying at this stage. Can feel the motivation waning but hoping I can just push through it...

rickmatt · 30-09-2020 7:07pm

Hey guys,

Agree with everyone on the no motivation side!!!

Sitting my last two in November (hopefully) Company and Constitutional.

I am so lost with Constitutional and would really appreciate a guide as to what to study, grid pattern etc.

Thanks in advance and hope lockdown isn't too hard on everyone.

IgoPAP · 30-09-2020 7:19pm

NPHET have pretty much admitted today that they're going to recommend an extension of Level 3 in Dublin. So that's another 3 weeks from 9th October. So to at least the beginning of November. I can't see the exams taking place at start of November in person

I wonder what they'll do now.

Hamerzan Sickles · 30-09-2020 7:55pm

IgoPAP wrote: »

NPHET have pretty much admitted today that they're going to recommend an extension of Level 3 in Dublin. So that's another 3 weeks from 9th October. So to at least the beginning of November. I can't see the exams taking place at start of November in person

I wonder what they'll do now.

It could go online, it could be deferred again and we will be forced to study indefinitely in some limbo like ether. Maybe they'll give us some sort of force majeure collective passes as a token of good will.

I know everyone is stressed (not just from reading the last few posts, but as someone who has posted in this thread for a long time and lurked it even longer, I think it's fair to say most of the regulars fall into the Type-A personality category). But try not to compound the stress of Covid, the uncertainty, the fact that it feels like our lives are being temporarily deferred, etc by speculating needlessly about what will happen with the next sitting. There's simply no way for us to know, and none of us know any better than the rest. Come what may, we'll sit it when the time comes. And these exams have a tendency to come together towards the very end anyway so try not to bother yourself too much about the difficulty of studying for exams without a set date.

The world is in a difficult enough state as it is and we're all experiencing it to some degree on a micro level. Try to keep in mind, regardless of what you think you might have at stake in relation to these exams, at the end of the day, they are just exams, and you will get through them when the time comes.

Jenosul · 30-09-2020 9:27pm

lawDani wrote: »

love this! i find YouTube a help for EU too, any ones you know of for Contract?

i am finding it difficult to focus too but i find for me, re-reading, re-reading sample answers and saying them out loud to myself over and over is a big help - sometimes i may even sing them.. lol! anything to keep the sanity and retain the info...

So this is the guy I listen to for EU his name is marcuscleaver. Link to his video on direct effect. I find just listening refreshes my memory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuHCchLGWx0

The same guy does Contract law videos on topics like Offer etc but he is in the UK so obviously take that into account but great for getting the concepts explained.

I have also real mad ways of studying such as drawing picture of something eg a pic of a match stick man of seamus heaney holding a poetry book with a pic of Ireland eg: Heaney v Ireland being the case. I then put in other things around it to indicate the "story" and cases thereafter on right to silence for instance. I tell it like a story to remember. I am not sure if this would help anyone or not but I use it for some topics and just think of the picture in the exam and it flows from there.

Anyone any tips on retaining new information. This is an area I find difficult!! I get overwhelmed and look at the Griffith notes and think I will never be able to grasp. How do people approach this? Do you pick your cases an stick to them.

Thank you in advance.

It is normal we are finding this hard and a bit stressy due to all the uncertainty. We are all doing great considering! My plan is to be relaxed and not put pressure on myself but give some time to do little test for myself and then take a break from it all and do something nice like go for a hike with my dog or something. I think finding balance is key. Health and mental health is far more important and we are all going to eventually pass these one way or the other.

I am all about the mindfulness and self-care especially when sitting high pressured exams under uncertain conditions (like going for a nice coffee for a study break) and listen to online meditations which I recommend also!

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

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