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

LS3 · 24-09-2020 4:42pm

channing90 wrote: »

50% my lowest and 65% my highest the rest 50 odd

same for me

Aoibhin511 · 24-09-2020 5:23pm

channing90 wrote: »

50% my lowest and 65% my highest the rest 50 odd

Roughlty the same for me, and I was always a high 2.1/first in college so I really don't think there's any comparison.

IgoPAP · 24-09-2020 8:03pm

Does anybody else think it's a good idea if I leave out Offences against the State, and Justice; and Public Order Offences, if I cover pretty much everything else on the Criminal syllabus?

Wonderstruck · 25-09-2020 10:05am

lawgirl23 wrote: »

Got an invite just now actually for a test next week.

Got a message saying stage one is prerecorded today, I'll have to see, judicial assistant has the advantage it wouldn't preclude me from a HEO job. I'll have to see, I'm supposed to be looking for training contracts not more CS jobs

lawgirl23 · 25-09-2020 10:42am

Wonderstruck wrote: »

Got a message saying stage one is prerecorded today, I'll have to see, judicial assistant has the advantage it wouldn't preclude me from a HEO job. I'll have to see, I'm supposed to be looking for training contracts not more CS jobs

I said I couldn’t do the test as it started at 5pm but it seems now they might push it back to 6pm instead.

I’m the same - a bit on the fence about it...

Lawofattracti · 25-09-2020 11:19am

lawgirl23 wrote: »

I said I couldn’t do the test as it started at 5pm but it seems now they might push it back to 6pm instead.

I’m the same - a bit on the fence about it...

I just got an email this morning saying:

'I wish to acknowledge receipt of your application for Legal Researcher. We are currently preparing for Stage 1 of the competition (Pre-recorded video interview) and will contact you shortly through your publicjobs message board with further information.'

Did you both receive this email first? Just wondering if my name is still in the hat!

nmurphy1441 · 25-09-2020 12:13pm

IgoPAP wrote: »

Does anybody else think it's a good idea if I leave out Offences against the State, and Justice; and Public Order Offences, if I cover pretty much everything else on the Criminal syllabus?

I wouldn’t leave them out at all! I think they came up on the last two sittings in a small way!

StabiloLaw · 25-09-2020 12:34pm

IgoPAP wrote: »

Does anybody else think it's a good idea if I leave out Offences against the State, and Justice; and Public Order Offences, if I cover pretty much everything else on the Criminal syllabus?

I left out Offences against the State and managed a good enough pass, but being honest it was literally the only thing I left out when studying.

Offences against Justice and Public Order often come up as part of a question, or in the dreaded 4 part questions which are often unavoidable if you're counting on the basics such as sexual offences, NFOATP or manslaughter.

In my experience, criminal is an easier one because its interesting and he's a really nice marker, but I feel you need to have a good understanding of all the topics. There's very little that doesn't come up every sitting and because of the way he mixes questions, it's not easy to predict.

Al1501 · 25-09-2020 12:39pm

Would it be mad to leave out practice and procedure? I know its's nearly a guaranteed question, but its a big area for just one question. If everything else was covered might it be okay to skip it?

user115 · 25-09-2020 1:40pm

Hi just a Q on training contracts, is it normal for the firm to discuss salaries during or after interview? Or how does it work?

IgoPAP · 25-09-2020 2:57pm

user115 wrote: »

Hi just a Q on training contracts, is it normal for the firm to discuss salaries during or after interview? Or how does it work?

Not for the TC interviews I had anyways. The trainee salaries at big 5 are around 40-48k anyways. Goes to about 65-70k on qualification.

The newer entrants into the market - DLA, Pinsent Masons - seem to pay the same if not better than the large domestic commercial firms.

Or are you speaking more generally about local/medium sized firms?

25-09-2020 5:24pm

In terms of training contracts CVs - any advice what would help stand out? Is there a format that should be followed for CV - eg putting a summary of yourself at the top? I don’t have that on my most up to date CV and will struggle to fit it in but the law society templates seem to recommend it?

25-09-2020 5:26pm

IgoPAP wrote: »

Not for the TC interviews I had anyways. The trainee salaries at big 5 are around 40-48k anyways. Goes to about 65-70k on qualification.

The newer entrants into the market - DLA, Pinsent Masons - seem to pay the same if not better than the large domestic commercial firms.

Or are you speaking more generally about local/medium sized firms?

Would you have any idea of salaries on medium firms/outside Dublin?

Fe1student1234 · 25-09-2020 5:38pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Would you have any idea of salaries on medium firms/outside Dublin?

Depends on the firm - smaller firms in Dublin and outside would pay around 24,000 - 29,000. But really depends on the firm

McCann is €35,000 I’ve been told

Fe1student1234 · 25-09-2020 5:41pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

In terms of training contracts CVs - any advice what would help stand out? Is there a format that should be followed for CV - eg putting a summary of yourself at the top? I don’t have that on my most up to date CV and will struggle to fit it in but the law society templates seem to recommend it?

I’ve been told not to put a summary on top. And also not to put references and just say references on request

rightytighty · 25-09-2020 5:43pm

Fe1student1234 wrote: »

Depends on the firm - smaller firms in Dublin and outside would pay around 24,000 - 29,000. But really depends on the firm

McCann is €35,000 I’ve been told

McCann is surely more than 35k

IgoPAP · 25-09-2020 5:43pm

Fe1student1234 wrote: »

Depends on the firm - smaller firms in Dublin and outside would pay around 24,000 - 29,000. But really depends on the firm

McCann is €35,000 I’ve been told

Ditto. Some small/medium firms would be willing to cover your fees at Blackhall and pay above minimum wage, others won't give you anything and you'll have to cover everything yourselves.

Fe1student1234 · 25-09-2020 5:43pm

rightytighty wrote: »

McCann is surely more than 35k

Nope I know a girl starting next year and hers is €35k

IgoPAP · 25-09-2020 5:44pm

Fe1student1234 wrote: »

Nope I know a girl starting next year and hers is €35k

I have an offer from MF and its not 35k

rightytighty · 25-09-2020 5:45pm

Yeah to my knowledge the top 5 are all ~42/3 rising to 45, pinsent masons is 45 rising to 47 I think? And then have heard that DLA and others are also high? Walkers is higher too

IgoPAP · 25-09-2020 5:46pm

rightytighty wrote: »

Yeah to my knowledge the top 5 are all ~42/3 rising to 45, pinsent masons is 45 rising to 47 I think? And then have heard that DLA and others are also high? Walkers is higher too

Pinsent is the only firm in Ireland that's open about their trainee salaries. But it's a good bellwether as it shows approximately how much you could expect from the other firms

Fe1student1234 · 25-09-2020 5:47pm

IgoPAP wrote: »

I have an offer from MF and its not 35k

Well that’s what she told me haha when talking about it she said it’s not that high and hers is around €35k

It depends on the year you’re offered it and taking it different years have different salaries I think

And long as I end up qualified I’ll be happy ðŸ˜‚

Lawofattracti · 25-09-2020 6:44pm

Fe1student1234 wrote: »

Well that’s what she told me haha when talking about it she said it’s not that high and hers is around €35k

It depends on the year you’re offered it and taking it different years have different salaries I think

And long as I end up qualified I’ll be happy ðŸ˜‚

I believe McCanns had a paycut due to COVID so it could be due to that

user115 · 25-09-2020 9:01pm

IgoPAP wrote: »

I have an offer from MF and its not 35k

Was that negotiation from your side or did they just make you a higher offer?

I was thinking in terms of prep for interviews. I was wondering if it is something I need to focus on and be able to make a good case for a higher offer or do you think they base it from your CV

Lawofattracti · 25-09-2020 9:47pm

user115 wrote: »

Was that negotiation from your side or did they just make you a higher offer?

I was thinking in terms of prep for interviews. I was wondering if it is something I need to focus on and be able to make a good case for a higher offer or do you think they base it from your CV

All trainees get the same salary. It's nothing to do with negotiation. They decide on a set salary and that's what you get

Wonderstruck · 26-09-2020 9:10am

Lawofattracti wrote: »

I just got an email this morning saying:

'I wish to acknowledge receipt of your application for Legal Researcher. We are currently preparing for Stage 1 of the competition (Pre-recorded video interview) and will contact you shortly through your publicjobs message board with further information.'

Did you both receive this email first? Just wondering if my name is still in the hat!

I just got that one, I was a bit unclear there.

I'm normally the expert on CS stuff like still but everything is very different this year obviously so I can't be of any assistance to you.

If you havent been told you're out you're not out. Also the minimum requirement for many years was a master's or be professionally qualified so I couldnt apply before so not sure what the stages are and I havent met many legal researchers in my time, mainly just regular AO's who were doing legal research but on permanent contracts.

ArthurDayne · 26-09-2020 1:50pm

Lawofattracti wrote: »

I believe McCanns had a paycut due to COVID so it could be due to that

A lot of the big firms have cut trainee salaries — or rather cut all salaries above a certain amount (which included the trainees who would all be on the low to mid €40s. McCann’s and William Fry certainly cut salaries, and I understand A&L did too. Matheson did not cut salaries, but have frozen pay rises like the others. Not sure what the story in Cox’s is.

There is an upside to all of this, however bleak it all is. Despite lower trainee salaries for the near future, a lot of firms have ramped up their digital office capability meaning that it is hopeful that you will have better flexibility in terms of finding an affordable place to rent (i.e. less concern over finding places close to the offices). You may not even have to move to Dublin at all, with some of the big firms having really embraced remote working.

IgoPAP · 26-09-2020 2:12pm

ArthurDayne wrote: »

A lot of the big firms have cut trainee salaries — or rather cut all salaries above a certain amount (which included the trainees who would all be on the low to mid €40s. McCann’s and William Fry certainly cut salaries, and I understand A&L did too. Matheson did not cut salaries, but have frozen pay rises like the others. Not sure what the story in Cox’s is.

There is an upside to all of this, however bleak it all is. Despite lower trainee salaries for the near future, a lot of firms have ramped up their digital office capability meaning that it is hopeful that you will have better flexibility in terms of finding an affordable place to rent (i.e. less concern over finding places close to the offices). You may not even have to move to Dublin at all, with some of the big firms having really embraced remote working.

I'm not convinced at all that training can be effectively done fully remotely.

legallyginger · 26-09-2020 6:38pm

Has anybody any tips for complete brain overload at this point? Notes done, doing endless sample qs and examiners report but just feel not one ounce of information is being retained especially caselaw

IgoPAP · 26-09-2020 7:32pm

legallyginger wrote: »

Has anybody any tips for complete brain overload at this point? Notes done, doing endless sample qs and examiners report but just feel not one ounce of information is being retained especially caselaw

There's about 5 weeks left till the exam so I would recommend taking a break from the studying if you've got the revision done. I'm taking a week long break as I've got everything covered. You don't want to burn yourself out.

LS3 · 27-09-2020 1:27pm

IgoPAP wrote: »

There's about 5 weeks left till the exam so I would recommend taking a break from the studying if you've got the revision done. I'm taking a week long break as I've got everything covered. You don't want to burn yourself out.

agreed! I find white boards help me to retain information too

LS3 · 27-09-2020 1:38pm

does anyone have a recent griffith college constitutional manual they could swap with me for any other griffith manual they want?

ScatmanWhack · 27-09-2020 8:20pm

Wondering if anybody can help me with a contract exam question.

The exam grid I have says that Intention, Certainty, and Formal & Evidentiary Requirements don't come up very often. Would it be a bad idea to leave these out? So far I've done

offer/acceptance
consideration
remedies
consumer protection
discharge
capacity

and am planning on doing mistake, misrepresentation, estoppel, contractual terms and exemption clauses.

Twinings2016 · 28-09-2020 10:08am

Anyone have any predictions for Constitutional or Equity???

lawDani · 28-09-2020 10:25am

ScatmanWhack wrote: »

Wondering if anybody can help me with a contract exam question.

The exam grid I have says that Intention, Certainty, and Formal & Evidentiary Requirements don't come up very often. Would it be a bad idea to leave these out? So far I've done

offer/acceptance
consideration
remedies
consumer protection
discharge
capacity

and am planning on doing mistake, misrepresentation, estoppel, contractual terms and exemption clauses.

Capacity rarely comes up but i wouldn't be eliminating it nor spending too much time on it.... its my third time sitting contract next month

you have most the course there with the above - im doing those and adding mistake and misrep..

ScatmanWhack · 28-09-2020 10:59am

lawDani wrote: »

Capacity rarely comes up but i wouldn't be eliminating it nor spending too much time on it.... its my third time sitting contract next month
you have most the course there with the above - im doing those and adding mistake and misrep..

Best of luck with it next month! There's a lot of time left so I'm sure you'll get through it this time

I figured the only part of capacity that might come up is to do with minors and my notes for that are just 1 page, so would be an easy enough question.

lawDani · 28-09-2020 12:28pm

ScatmanWhack wrote: »

Best of luck with it next month! There's a lot of time left so I'm sure you'll get through it this time

I figured the only part of capacity that might come up is to do with minors and my notes for that are just 1 page, so would be an easy enough question.

regarding capacity , i literally only have minors and contractual obligations covered.
ha thank you i appreciate the well wishes, i am working full time so its a battle but that's life!
i have sample answers up to 2018 if you want to DM me your email..

lawDani · 28-09-2020 12:55pm

hi All,

First time sitting EU in November (hopefully anyway) and would appreciate some light shed on if the topics below are enough tor scrap the pass;

FM of Workers
FM of Goods
FM Services / establish.
Competition Law
Member State Liability / Judicial Review

CoconutHeadMia · 28-09-2020 1:25pm

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

APower79 · 28-09-2020 1:30pm

CoconutHeadMia wrote: »

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

I’m the same. Says application under review

lawgrad15 · 28-09-2020 2:08pm

Did anybody here do the judicial assistant interview? How did it go and what topics came up? Cheers

maggie95 · 28-09-2020 2:12pm

lawDani wrote: »

hi All,

First time sitting EU in November (hopefully anyway) and would appreciate some light shed on if the topics below are enough tor scrap the pass;

FM of Workers
FM of Goods
FM Services / establish.
Competition Law
Member State Liability / Judicial Review

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)

michaelot97 · 28-09-2020 2:40pm

lawDani wrote: »

hi All,

First time sitting EU in November (hopefully anyway) and would appreciate some light shed on if the topics below are enough tor scrap the pass;

FM of Workers
FM of Goods
FM Services / establish.
Competition Law
Member State Liability / Judicial Review

Tbh I think no. I passed EU in August. You should cover Direct Effect with Member State Liability as they often come up in the same question. I wouldn't bother with FM Services/establishments and would do the general principles instead, a question on that comes up most years. FM of Workers generally gets tied in a question with citizenship so would cover that also.

HU123 · 28-09-2020 3:53pm

Would it be safe to leave competition law out for EU?

lawgrad2020 · 28-09-2020 4:13pm

Does anyone have recent property law answers, particularly on co-ownership? Finding it hard to understand in some areas

Lawgrad101 · 28-09-2020 4:18pm

HU123 wrote: »

Would it be safe to leave competition law out for EU?

Yes once you’re well covered with the rest of the course, I left it out and I was fine!

Lawgrad101 · 28-09-2020 4:19pm

Anyone else still waiting to get their scripts back?

HU123 · 28-09-2020 5:21pm

APower79 wrote: »

I’m the same. Says application under review

Same for me it has been almost three weeks since I applied.

Fe1student1234 · 28-09-2020 5:39pm

Lawgrad101 wrote: »

Anyone else still waiting to get their scripts back?

From March or from August ?

I’m waiting from August but it’s only been a week so I’m not expecting anything yet

nmurphy1441 · 28-09-2020 5:43pm

Lawgrad101 wrote: »

Anyone else still waiting to get their scripts back?

I am too! They got onto me today to say my application has been processed! Just hope they get them to me before the 6th!

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

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