FE1 Exam Thread (Mod Warning: NO ADS)

johnfás

michellemhurchu wrote: »

Does anyone know if Blackstones 'EU Treaties and Legislation' by Nigel Foster will be accepted.
The law society website says that Blackstones 'EC Legislation' is permitted but Im not sure if they mean the same...

That is fine. It is the edition I and most others used in the last sitting.

DryBlanket

LLKOOLK wrote: »

Hi Folks,
I am thinking about taking the preliminary exam in march and then the fe-1's the following september.I have a number of q's after a bit of background info on myself if you could help me that would be very much appreciated.



I come from a construction background (Q.S) and would be interested in becoming a solicitor and specialising in property most likely.

1.Is the preliminary exam difficult as I am not degree qualified just diploma.
2.Is there any good courses to prepare for the preliminary exam.
3.Is it realistic to pass all 8 fe-1's at once.I can devote myself to full time study for 6 months beforehand and consider myself intelligent/logical/ etc.I dont have much law knowledge as we only touched on it in college.
4.which course would be the best to prepare for them.
5.Is it easy to get an apprenticeship with a solicitor firm nowadays.
6.Are the job prospects good on completion (now in the future I suppose nobody knows).

Thanks very much if anyone has any help.

Hi LLKOOLK,

I think its a great idea and well worth considering. I know there are some others who are currently having difficulty who will think you are mad but like any vocation there will be peaks and troughs and at this moment in time there is a trough. I guess nearly all forums regarding any job which got a similar question about entering a profession would get a negative response cos everyone is feeling the pinch but I would recommend you form your opinion more on what you really want to do with your life than the current state of the industry you are considering.

I didnt do the Preliminary exam as I have a (very old) degree. I think that without a good law degree behind you that attempting 8 exams is a definite no. I have an unrelated degree and sat four FE1's in each of two sittings and got through but I could not have worked any harder and a fifth subject in either sitting would have ensured all round failure each time.

I am loathe to overtly recommend a college on this forum (I am as against such opinions being aired as much as I dislike the dishonest manual blackmarket that people openly post about) but I would highly recommend one above all others. If you wanna know you'll have ask me personally. But without a degree a course is an absolute MUST!

Unfortunately time is not on your side with the current downturn. But if you were to sit the Preliminarys in March, then four FE1's in Oct then the other four the following March then it would be mid-2010 and the economic landscape could be quite different. Given that I suspect many budding Solrs who cant find an Apprenticeship at present are no doubt furthering their education I would expect the competition will be formidable but then if its what you want to do with the life you are blessed with then chase it. Just prepare yourself that you may have to spend some time after FE1's proving yourself further to get a start.

There are no guarantees in this industry nor in life at all. The real question is where do you want to be and how hard are you willing to work to get there.

good luck

DB

hada

DryBlanket wrote: »

Hi LLKOOLK,

I think its a great idea and well worth considering. I know there are some others who are currently having difficulty who will think you are mad but like any vocation there will be peaks and troughs and at this moment in time there is a trough. I guess nearly all forums regarding any job which got a similar question about entering a profession would get a negative response cos everyone is feeling the pinch but I would recommend you form your opinion more on what you really want to do with your life than the current state of the industry you are considering.

I didnt do the Preliminary exam as I have a (very old) degree. I think that without a good law degree behind you that attempting 8 exams is a definite no. I have an unrelated degree and sat four FE1's in each of two sittings and got through but I could not have worked any harder and a fifth subject in either sitting would have ensured all round failure each time.

I am loathe to overtly recommend a college on this forum (I am as against such opinions being aired as much as I dislike the dishonest manual blackmarket that people openly post about) but I would highly recommend one above all others. If you wanna know you'll have ask me personally. But without a degree a course is an absolute MUST!

Unfortunately time is not on your side with the current downturn. But if you were to sit the Preliminarys in March, then four FE1's in Oct then the other four the following March then it would be mid-2010 and the economic landscape could be quite different. Given that I suspect many budding Solrs who cant find an Apprenticeship at present are no doubt furthering their education I would expect the competition will be formidable but then if its what you want to do with the life you are blessed with then chase it. Just prepare yourself that you may have to spend some time after FE1's proving yourself further to get a start.

There are no guarantees in this industry nor in life at all. The real question is where do you want to be and how hard are you willing to work to get there.

good luck

DB

absolutely fantastic post. a very true and fair assessment of the situation.

impr0v

LLKOOLK wrote: »

Hi Folks,
I am thinking about taking the preliminary exam in march and then the fe-1's the following september.I have a number of q's after a bit of background info on myself if you could help me that would be very much appreciated.



I come from a construction background (Q.S) and would be interested in becoming a solicitor and specialising in property most likely.

1.Is the preliminary exam difficult as I am not degree qualified just diploma.
2.Is there any good courses to prepare for the preliminary exam.
3.Is it realistic to pass all 8 fe-1's at once.I can devote myself to full time study for 6 months beforehand and consider myself intelligent/logical/ etc.I dont have much law knowledge as we only touched on it in college.
4.which course would be the best to prepare for them.
5.Is it easy to get an apprenticeship with a solicitor firm nowadays.
6.Are the job prospects good on completion (now in the future I suppose nobody knows).

Thanks very much if anyone has any help.

In your position I would do the bar instead - a two year part time diploma, followed by one year of full time study. Then I'd seek a position in a projects and construction team with one of the big (top 10) firms in this area (see legal500.com).

It's by no means guaranteed that you'd get a position, but these teams are increasingly rated on their technical as well as legal know-how. Bringing your QS experience to the table would be a big advantage. If you knew someone that would swing you an interview it would be a big help, as the recruitment agencies will tell you that you've no hope.

On the down side, you'd be immediately specialised and would have difficulty switching into property or any other area, and you're talking about fees of over 20k over the three years. Also, we could be an empty husk of a country by then, economically, with a non-existent legal services market and you'd have wasted a good deal of money and time on nothing.

On the up side, you could continue working while doing the two year diploma, and practice at the bar (in construction or other areas) remains an option. Worst case scenario you'll probably boost your asking salary on the QS side. There aren't any guarantees that the FE1 route will get you a job either, as evidenced by threads in this and other fora, and it will take you a lot longer to get there.

A town

Wanted FE1 2008 Griffith Constitutional Manual!!

Reply to post, thanks

legally_binding

Anybody got recent EU Manual for sale? Also need papers notes etc.
PM me, thanks.

A town

legally_binding wrote: »

Anybody got recent EU Manual for sale? Also need papers notes etc.
PM me, thanks.

I have an EU manual from Independent(its highlighted and marked slightly),past papers & some sample answers..you don't happen to have/know someone with a constitutional manual??

orangecake

Hey, if anybody is interested I have equity, contract and property manuals from Independent Colleges from the last sitting.

dedon

Got sorted with manuals

Fr.Frost

All 8 subjects Independent Manuals for sale!!!!!
Perfect condition
50 euro each or 4 for 175.
Dublin based sellar.

DryBlanket

Hello all,

There is a thread for selling manuals. Its at http://www-srv-3.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055100192.

Could all those who wish to take part in the horrible underhanded manual blackmarket please post there and leave this thread for what it was intended for?

thanks

DB.

Fr.Frost

WELL WHOS A MOANING MICHAEL THEN....HMM...HMM

NickDrake

I have a few questions about the exams. Hopefully people can help.

1. How long are the exams?
2. How many question does one have to do?
3. I am sitting the exams for the first time and I am doing 4. If I pass 3 do and fail 1 do - am I awarded a pass for all 4?
4. In University there is essential to use journals/articles etc in questions. I heard FE1 exam are all about the cases. Is this true? Should I use journals?

Thanks

McCrack

lawsociety.ie under Education my friend

johnfás

NickDrake wrote: »

I have a few questions about the exams. Hopefully people can help.

1. How long are the exams?
2. How many question does one have to do?
3. I am sitting the exams for the first time and I am doing 4. If I pass 3 do and fail 1 do - am I awarded a pass for all 4?
4. In University there is essential to use journals/articles etc in questions. I heard FE1 exam are all about the cases. Is this true? Should I use journals?

Thanks

1. The exams are each 3 hours in duration.
2. There are 8 questions in each paper, you must answer 5. Some questions may be split into parts.
3. No. If you sit 4 and pass 3 you will only get merit for the 3 which you pass. You must then sit the remaining 5 at a later date. If you were to pass only 2 you get no merit at all and must resit all exams.
4. Journals are irrelevant in the FE1 exam. Cases are important but the most important aspect is knowing the core aspects of the issues. Unlike a College exam you will be answering 5 questions, in most College exams you answer 4. The obvious result is your answers will be shorter and thus not in quite the same amount of depth. That is not to say that you do not require depth.

NickDrake

Thanks

legally_binding

A town wrote: »

I have an EU manual from Independent(its highlighted and marked slightly),past papers & some sample answers..you don't happen to have/know someone with a constitutional manual??

Hi a town- got sorted with eu, thanks. Sorry can't help you re constitutional. Am looking for criminal though if any one has it?

brunettechick

so how is everyones study going at this stage??? still working full time for another few weeks anyway! tipping away, nothing hectic yet!!! wait til around 1st week in march when the major panic sets in AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHHH :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Fr.Frost

TORT CONTRACT EQUITY PROPERTY

Independent Colleges Manuals + Exam papers

50 Euro each or 175 for the lot!:)

limlaw

Hello all!!

Gonna start study for constitutional Company and Eu soon. Wondering does anyone have (or know of) any Independent colleges manuals not being used???

I also Have up to date (as of last sitting) totally unmarked manuals in Criminal, Contract, Property and Equity for sale!!

Any interested parties please let me know! Email at limlaw@live.ie.

Thanks.

Fr.Frost

aa

AKK

Hey guys - just wondering if anyone can recommend a good text book for Company and EU Fe1s?

I know the Griffith/Indep College manuals are concise but I'd rather something a little more in-depth. I have Courtney and Keane for Company law but I find that Courtney has too much information while Keane hasn't enough for me!! Anyone know of a happy medium?

In terms of EU law, the only text book I have is good ole Craig & De Burca which again is a little too much for me.

(Just to be clear - I've already passed several of the exams so I know what's involved - I also know the manuals (which I have) are the mainstay of FE1 study - but simply as a personal preference, I'd rather a text book. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be obliged!)

sid4lev

Hi guys, i need an honest opinion as hearing mixed reports. Is knowing just the griffith manuals inside out, alone, sufficient to pass these exams?

CavanGal

Hey all hope study is going well!

Can anyone recommend reading on the Insanity Act 2006 as my own book (Hanly) is out of date?

Thanks.

dats_right

sid4lev wrote: »

Hi guys, i need an honest opinion as hearing mixed reports. Is knowing just the griffith manuals inside out, alone, sufficient to pass these exams?

The short answer is yes. But simply learning off the law is unlikely to be sufficient, as this is where most people who fail fall down and have difficulty. Really what the FE-1's are all about is having the ability to state but far more importantly is the ability to apply the law correctly.

limlaw

Hello,

I have a totally unmarked Property Manual for sale, from last sitting (independent College). Also give papers etc. Drop me e-mail at limlaw@live.ie. Cheers.

Wanisha

Does anyone know if the Examiners report for Company and Equity are out yet?

limlaw

Hello,

I have a Contract Manual (Independent College) from last sitting for sale. Totally unmarked, complete with papers, notes and suggested solutions. If interested let me know at limlaw@live.ie.

Cheers!

Cindy2106

hidy,

I'm in final BCL at the mo, and am doing an LLM next year(as in Sept) and want to do the FE1's. Just wondering how long people leave to do the study for the exams? I'd love to do as many as I can at once, but is it feasible? I'm intending on working part time for the Summer, is 3 months enough? Another q is that if I do lets say 5 exams, can I defer the remaining 3 untill the following Sept/Oct or do you have to do them all in the same year?

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!:)

Aprilsunshine

You can do all 8 imo with a law degree behind you - I did it in October and stressful as it was it was worth it. I didn't work for the summer and I started serious panic studying in mid/late August although I was looking at the material at intervals during the Summer.

You could do 6 and 2 though - easier to manage and no need to do them all in same calendar year.