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

lawgirl23

Hazel774 wrote: »

Well considering they said we’d get results this week and that we’d get an email a week in advance, I’m going to assume this is just more lies and bullsh*t they use to shut us up

(Thank you for sharing though lol)

Now that I think of it, I’m sure when we got the results for the August sitting, I literally got an email at about 3pm in the afternoon saying something along the lines of “the results are now available, click here”.

bluerthanu

Lovestolisten wrote: »

They didn’t even answer the phone to me , called 3 times.
I feel like calling Joe Duffy ��

Somehow I'm not sure if future solicitors are going to find the most sympathetic audience to our woes on Joe Duffy haha!

Lovestolisten

Lovestolisten wrote: »

They didn’t even answer the phone to me , called 3 times.
I feel like calling Joe Duffy 🙈

That’s feeling like one of our only options at this stage! I’ve emailed the law society raising plenty concerns previously and never even gotten a reply so I genuinely think they’d ignore us even if every single FE1 candidate complained.

Lallers96

Why am I not surprised by any of this? Shocking really.

We’re actually closer to the next sitting than the last
I’m just at a total loss as to what to do!

I can’t get into study without knowing how many exams I am sitting! I can’t even make a study plan!

rightytighty

lawgirl23 wrote: »

Now that I think of it, I’m sure when we got the results for the August sitting, I literally got an email at about 3pm in the afternoon saying something along the lines of “the results are now available, click here”.

This did happen in August for candidates waiting on their last results and eligible for Blackhall in September.

Fe7

Deleted User wrote: »

That’s feeling like one of our only options at this stage! I’ve emailed the law society raising plenty concerns previously and never even gotten a reply so I genuinely think they’d ignore us even if every single FE1 candidate complained.

Its terrible. We're always starting a petition it seems by the time results or exams roll around for one reason or another. We should just start one that highlights the amount of issues we have with them that do not follow their mission statement whatsoever.

Not me tho, I'm too busy but I'll sign and support haha.

Hazel774

lawgirl23 wrote: »

Now that I think of it, I’m sure when we got the results for the August sitting, I literally got an email at about 3pm in the afternoon saying something along the lines of “the results are now available, click here”.

I didn’t get any email at all for the August results, luckily someone posted here that they were out

Lallers96

Hazel774 wrote: »

I didn’t get any email at all for the August results, luckily someone posted here that they were out

Yeah they didn't send an email out, they just ghost released them and some poster here happened to check on the off chance and spread the word here.

AlexTG356

lawgirl23 wrote: »

Now that I think of it, I’m sure when we got the results for the August sitting, I literally got an email at about 3pm in the afternoon saying something along the lines of “the results are now available, click here”.

Yes, that’s true, but you would assume that if they planned on releasing the results today, they would let us know to that effect this morning. Although they could be working towards that and they’re not sure themselves regarding a release date/time. Hard to know really.

lawDani

FE1new wrote: »

I am actually bricking it this morning waiting on the results (that's if they are even are released).

There goes my concentration in work for the day!

Same! just been constantly checking, i kind of feel we would have received an email?

lawgirl23

rightytighty wrote: »

This did happen in August for candidates waiting on their last results and eligible for Blackhall in September.

I wasn’t waiting on last results and wasn’t eligible for Blackhall but definitely got an email. I just checked there - it was 4pm in the afternoon saying that results were available on their website. That was last September. I didn’t realise not everybody got an email! That’s crazy.

Still holding out hope that we might get them today...

Lovestolisten

bluerthanu wrote: »

Somehow I'm not sure if future solicitors are going to find the most sympathetic audience to our woes on Joe Duffy haha!

I’m not sitting these exams to be a solicitor. I’m a civil servant and it’s part of my job.
I have to be qualified but I won’t be practicing.

The profession is not the point,
The Law Society are an educational organisation, they have a duty to provide at least a minimum standard of care to those PAYING for this service.

We pay through the nose to sit these exams, have rechecks and resits.

If this was accountancy I would have competing organisations to take my business to.

I just sat and received results for Accounting Exams earlier this year.
Exams took place online as scheduled, with plenty of communication, Results in on time.

The problem is the monopoly.
I believe plenty of people would be sympathetic, not because some people are prospective legal practitioners, but because we are people paying for a service that hinges heavily on our future careers and being treated exactly like all the ordinary citizens of this country trying to access the legal system, like we are an inconvenience, being lied to and ignored.

FE1HOPEFUL

So disheartening, especially when the next set of exams are so close now.

The only thing that seems to elicit any sense of urgency in them is being called out more publicly – e.g. being tweeted at, or receiving calls/emails from firms/training solicitors on behalf of exam candidates etc. It's not fair that students are put in the position where this is their only option when they will be understandably reluctant to put their name out there publicly or kick up a fuss in complaint against the professional body they are hoping to be a part of for the rest of their careers.

In continuing to provide such a poor service, the Law Society is taking advantage of this power imbalance and their monopoly in respect of FE1 students who pay them huge money to sit these exams, while at the same time the organisation posts frequently about mental health and supporting new entrants to the profession and younger colleagues.

It is so frustrating to not be able to plan for the next sitting. At the very least they MUST be able to confirm a release time and date at this stage to at least allow people to park it mentally until then, and if it comes earlier great.

Lovestolisten

If everyone on here that’s waiting for exams , calls and emails .. it might not make a different but it might make them consider the emotional state of the students they enjoy taking so much money from

Fe7

Lovestolisten wrote: »

If everyone on here that’s waiting for exams , calls and emails .. it might not make a different but it might make them consider the emotional state of the students they enjoy taking so much money from

OH they are fully prepared for the calls and emails, which is why the receptionist had a statement given to her as a buffer before putting through to the FE1 section.

I say we go public, and not with just the issue at hand today, but for the reasons other posters have put above. (Well put by the way)

bluerthanu

Lovestolisten wrote: »

I’m not sitting these exams to be a solicitor. I’m a civil servant and it’s part of my job.
I have to be qualified but I won’t be practicing.

The profession is not the point,
The Law Society are an educational organisation, they have a duty to provide at least a minimum standard of care to those PAYING for this service.

We pay through the nose to sit these exams, have rechecks and resits.

If this was accountancy I would have competing organisations to take my business to.

I just sat and received results for Accounting Exams earlier this year.
Exams took place online as scheduled, with plenty of communication, Results in on time.

The problem is the monopoly.
I believe plenty of people would be sympathetic, not because some people are prospective legal practitioners, but because we are people paying for a service that hinges heavily on our future careers and being treated exactly like all the ordinary citizens of this country trying to access the legal system, like we are an inconvenience, being lied to and ignored.

Oh I couldn't agree more with all that, my comment was more partially in jest (and partially that I doubt the LS would even notice). Letter to the IT and main broadsheets would be a good place to start perhaps, given the likely audience and how easy it is to coordinate a letter and send en masse (but I don't claim to have any insight on targeted communications).

EmmaO94

Realising I'm not going to get any meaningful study done today as I'm so distracted waiting on word from the Law Soc :-(
Not saying we're being treated with contempt but it sure feels like it

LS3

I messaged them and they replied in 10 mins with a copy and pasted script- they didnt even change the name and realised afterwards... someone please call Joe Duffy. our voices need to be heard.

tommytimber

Is there anything to be said for a twitter pile on?

Fe7

Petition, regardless of when the current results come out to get their act together. Have gathered anonymous opinions and hopefully more to come by signers.

http://chng.it/r5CbZFdzgx

Please share

vid36

Folks until the last sitting, FE1 exam results were always released on a Friday. No point ringing or emailing on Monday. If their email said the provisional release date was this week, well take that as Friday.

lawDani

vid36 wrote: »

Folks until the last sitting, FE1 exam results were always released on a Friday. No point ringing or emailing on Monday. If their email said the provisional release date was this week, well take that as Friday.

this is true. and is does state 'week of' the 11th... petition pending until Friday haha?

Fe7

vid36 wrote: »

Folks until the last sitting, FE1 exam results were always released on a Friday. No point ringing or emailing on Monday. If their email said the provisional release date was this week, well take that as Friday.

The issue is that we were to receive an update a week ago if the provisional week was as they said it would be. Secondly, their staff have replied to people saying results are released today. There is no coherence. I think everyone is entitled to feel how they do when they received explicit communication regarding it, rather than assessing what the norm pre-covid was.

AlexTG356

vid36 wrote: »

Folks until the last sitting, FE1 exam results were always released on a Friday. No point ringing or emailing on Monday. If their email said the provisional release date was this week, well take that as Friday.

Well they said in an email sent to a student that results would provisionally be published this Monday, so the frustration is understandable.

laworlawww

I think the problem is that they cannot be relied upon to follow the usual routine anymore, e.g. releasing on a certain day at a certain time and sending an email a week in advance.

Some people received responses that the provisional release date was today. I would understand if there is some factor affecting their ability to release the results, if there were some sort of explanation at least then we'd know, but the lack of any sort of communication is incredibly stressful.

lsheehaneire

Some of us awaiting on results for the Hybrid ( which they gave "provisional" access to some candidates and not others which is another issue !!) were told it would be today.

I was told by TWO different sections (FE1 and the Hybrid) that it would be today. ....the worrying thing is WHY the delay ? It is well over the standard time and presumably the actual exam was easier to correct with them being typed and the spellcheck option. Something is amiss!

ALK2!

For anyone interested- I submitted a complaint to the ombudsman re: the Law Societies actions since September 2020 to date through the Ombudsman (.ie) website.

Any unanswered emails/ complaints to LS can be used as evidence.

It's probably unlikely they will or can do anything to resolve our issues but if enough people submit a complaint about the same thing, it may bring attention to the incompetence and inefficiencies displayed by the Law Society year on year.

In the complaint I mentioned- 1. LS confirming date of November exams only weeks before we were due to sit them, 2. logged out of two exams on multiple occasions, provided no extra time for the second exam and no response to emails regarding the difficulty for over 6 weeks, 2. unanswered queries through call and email, 3. delayed exam results leaving limited time to study for March, 4. misleading information concerning result dates, 5. continued avoidance of students who have paid for their service on the day they had outlined results would be released.

Fe7

Kudos to everyone that kicks up a fuss about this, instead of the "it'll be grand" approach. I'm so glad to be surrounded (albeit anonymously) by individuals with that kind of drive in the future. It's those kind of people that help society progress and become better. I couldn't think of a better career path for those of you.

Hazel774

vid36 wrote: »

Folks until the last sitting, FE1 exam results were always released on a Friday. No point ringing or emailing on Monday. If their email said the provisional release date was this week, well take that as Friday.

To be fair, they were always released within 6 weeks though. We are now in week 9 so the traditional release schedule has gone out the window.

Also just to note, I did receive an email from them on Friday saying results would be released today.

BoyLaw937

Slightly off topic but can anyone tell me what the process is once you complete all 8 FE-1's.

ie. When your finished all 8 you apply to Blackhall to begin PPC1 - is there a backlog for this or would you just get accepted into whatever the next semester is. If I completed all 8 would I be expecting a position immediately in Blackhall or two years down the road?

Do most people begin looking for training contracts mid way through the FE-1's or do they wait until the end?

Do I need to be on a training contract to begin in blackhall - I assume you do.

Mc96

ALK2! wrote: »

For anyone interested- I submitted a complaint to the ombudsman re: the Law Societies actions since September 2020 to date through the Ombudsman (.ie) website.

Any unanswered emails/ complaints to LS can be used as evidence.

It's probably unlikely they will or can do anything to resolve our issues but if enough people submit a complaint about the same thing, it may bring attention to the incompetence and inefficiencies displayed by the Law Society year on year.

In the complaint I mentioned- 1. LS confirming date of November exams only weeks before we were due to sit them, 2. logged out of two exams on multiple occasions, provided no extra time for the second exam and no response to emails regarding the difficulty for over 6 weeks, 2. unanswered queries through call and email, 3. delayed exam results leaving limited time to study for March, 4. misleading information concerning result dates, 5. continued avoidance of students who have paid for their service on the day they had outlined results would be released.

Hadn't even thought about the Ombudsman, I will follow suit in making a similar complaint - thanks!

lawd20

ALK2! wrote: »

For anyone interested- I submitted a complaint to the ombudsman re: the Law Societies actions since September 2020 to date through the Ombudsman (.ie) website.

100% the correct thing to do but I think you might have more luck complaining to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority! But fair play!!

michaelot97

Is there anything to be said for saying another mass?

DavidX90

Enough is enough.

I have now contacted Joe Duffy's Liveline to explain the ridiculousness of this (recurring) situation. Hopefully they will let me speak on the show!

In the meantime, I'll be replying to every one of their social media posts, and sharing the story with journalists and local politicians.

Can we please stick together on this. Thousands of us are affected. Strength in numbers and all that...

lsheehaneire

The LSRA deals with "legal services" so I dont think complaints we make will be under their remit either....they really do have a monopoly over the legal sector which explains their incompetence. They are not accountable to anybody.

Lovestolisten

Petition signed ...

https://www.change.org/p/the-law-society-of-ireland-holding-the-law-society-accountable-regarding-fe1-candidates?redirect=false

All the small pushing culminated hopefully forces their hand to admit how badly they have handled the entire episode.

They should be made accountable publicly for how ordinary people are treated.

The Law Society behave as if they are the law, above the ordinary man , dictating the future of an entire industry.

Have they ever revealed any marking scheme?
Have they ever produced full consistent sample answers?
For anyone who has sat repeats I’m sure you’ll agree there’s no system , rhyme or reason to marking.

I can’t wait until I’m done with having anything to do with them. I’m sorry I didn’t become a Pilates Instructor

CoconutHeadMia

michaelot97 wrote: »

Is there anything to be said for saying another mass?

Ah go on

Fe7

DavidX90 wrote: »

Enough is enough.

I have now contacted Joe Duffy's Liveline to explain the ridiculousness of this (recurring) situation. Hopefully they will let me speak on the show!

In the meantime, I'll be replying to every one of their social media posts, and sharing the story with journalists and local politicians.

Can we please stick together on this. Thousands of us are affected. Strength in numbers and all that...

Well done. Just a reminder I started a petition a few pages back

http://chng.it/r5CbZFdzgx

Lovestolisten

DavidX90 wrote: »

Enough is enough.

I have now contacted Joe Duffy's Liveline to explain the ridiculousness of this (recurring) situation. Hopefully they will let me speak on the show!

In the meantime, I'll be replying to every one of their social media posts, and sharing the story with journalists and local politicians.

Can we please stick together on this. Thousands of us are affected. Strength in numbers and all that...

I’ll be tuned in !! That’s brilliant

It’s a disgrace that we are driven to spend our limited (precious) study time trying to start petitions and contact the media because a professional body to which we pay THOUSANDS refuses to treat us with respect and transparency.

Before the November sitting many people stated that the dealings with the law society are more stressful than the actual exams and these recent events just makes that ten times more true!

LawStudent999

I understand that the release of the results was provisionally this week and that the argument could be made that, until Friday, that statement is not yet untrue.

However, there are a plethora of other reasons as to why this petition and complaints to the ombudsman are suitable now, and not a moment later. The LS, as many have stated, are at the forefront of the monopoly within the legal sector. In their mission statement they hold themselves out to be things they are not, and those things are considerate, decisive, and effective communicators. This is just to name a few. Ultimately, they hold themselves out to be something which they are not, and this comes at the suffering of the candidates. We are coming up to a March sitting which will mark 1 year since this country started dealing with COVID. In that time, the law society has made several postponements. They have changed from a standpoint of “absolutely no online exams” to now hosting online, which for many, proved largely problematic. In the lead up to exams, candidates have received little to no information. Some going directly to the LS for info, which they do not make readily available, despite consistent dates given, which are then passed by with no further updates.

For any who do not know, this boards forum is monitored by the LS, and they have posted here, following weeks of silence, when contacting mainstream media has been mentioned. Please sign the petition above and hopefully we will see some accountability.

I have posted here before and always I go back to my core argument. I have no problem putting in the work, and I wouldn’t be here if I did. However, given the circumstances we find ourselves in, and given the importance of peoples mental health, the archaic system needs changing. Every other institution has been bent around COVID. Even the Leaving Cert which I though would never change in a million years was abandoned. How are we still facing the same scenario despite all that’s going against us?

Please sign the petition so that we may have some accountability.

IgoPAP

BoyLaw937 wrote: »

Do most people begin looking for training contracts mid way through the FE-1's or do they wait until the end?

Do I need to be on a training contract to begin in blackhall - I assume you do.

To give yourself the best chance, you should be looking at Training Contracts as early as possible. Plenty of people accept TC's before they've even started the Fe1s

DavidX90

Please take a look at @LawSocIreland most recent Tweet.

They actually have the cheek to post about mental health when many of us are struggling to cope with this whole situation!!!

EmmaO94

DavidX90 wrote: »

Please take a look at @LawSocIreland most recent Tweet.

They actually have the cheek to post about mental health when many of us are struggling to cope with this whole situation!!!

Ya couldn't make it up.

I've passed 4 fe1s and sat 2 in November so hoping I only have 2 left for March, but that ofc hinges on these results. Urgently need to know if I'll be sitting 2, 3 or 4 exams in March, as that will of course totally alter my study schedule. Every day that ticks on makes me more stressy, I hate this.

rightytighty

DavidX90 wrote: »

Please take a look at @LawSocIreland most recent Tweet.

They actually have the cheek to post about mental health when many of us are struggling to cope with this whole situation!!!

Any luck with liveline?

BoyLaw937

IgoPAP wrote: »

To give yourself the best chance, you should be looking at Training Contracts as early as possible. Plenty of people accept TC's before they've even started the Fe1s

Oh cool, thanks you for your help.

ScatmanWhack

LSI took in just shy of €1 million in exam fees in 2019.

Must be setting fire to the cash because it certainly isn't being spent on providing a decent service for candidates.

https://annualreport.lawsociety.ie/media/1828/ar2020-financeconsolidated.pdf

caius97

BoyLaw937 wrote: »

Oh cool, thanks you for your help.

If you're looking for TCs now, I know the following firms are still hiring:
A&L Goodbody
Philip Lee
Matheson

Hope this helps and good luck!

IgoPAP

It sounds so bloody obvious, but surely the LS could deal with the delay issue by hiring more examiners? Why on earth is there 2 people correcting the hundreds of exams for each subject? There's plenty of legal academics with the qualifications and training, that would be happy to correct for a few extra quid, so why does everyone have to wait weeks and weeks for the results?