Law Firm Milkrounds 20/21

FE1Hopefully1

the baby bull elephant wrote: »

It was within a day or two of the application going up.

Hope your interview went well /goes well !!!

neon123

Are people expecting an increase in TC's being offered by small/medium firms over the next few months, especially Dublin? I can only remember one being advertised in Dublin in the last two months which is bleak. I get it's another strange year in terms of what's going on in the world and it's just not feasible to take people on if they can't bring them into the office.

Lallers96

neon123 wrote: »

Are people expecting an increase in TC's being offered by small/medium firms over the next few months, especially Dublin? I can only remember one being advertised in Dublin in the last two months which is bleak. I get it's another strange year in terms of what's going on in the world and it's just not feasible to take people on if they can't bring them into the office.

No idea, it's madness really. I'd say I've seen maybe 4 jobs posted on legal vacancies this year, and were almost halfway through the year

LawBoy2018

Lallers96 wrote: »

No idea, it's madness really. I'd say I've seen maybe 4 jobs posted on legal vacancies this year, and were almost halfway through the year

You should pitch the trainee grant scheme to your local solicitor's office, see if they'd maybe take a punt on you? You'd never know! They might not even be aware of the scheme.

Best of luck!

LegalEagle786

rightytighty wrote: »

Does anyone know the start date for PPC1?

I think the 6th of September (although I don't think it's been officially decided yet)

Lallers96

LawBoy2018 wrote: »

You should pitch the trainee grant scheme to your local solicitor's office, see if they'd maybe take a punt on you? You'd never know! They might not even be aware of the scheme.

Best of luck!

Yeah I've done that with one solicitor in my area and they will have to consult their accountant. I'm going to find time to ring around my area and pitch it to more solicitors to try to cast a wide net

CandyCane_81

If an advert for a training contract doesn’t explicitly say they pay for PPC I & II, is it safe to say they do not?

Lozg

Does anyone reckon it is still possible to get a paid traineeship for this September, if people drop out?

lsheehaneire

Hi All,

Apologies if my questions have been answered previously.

I passed all 8 last week and was intending to start to Hybrid in December 2021 but I was just wondering was standard PPC1 all done online last September?

Will it be all online again this September 2021.Surely 6 months online and not working is a better option than 9 months online and working part time? I appreciate your thoughts.

awsah

lsheehaneire wrote: »

Hi All,

Apologies if my questions have been answered previously.

I passed all 8 last week and was intending to start to Hybrid in December 2021 but I was just wondering was standard PPC1 all done online last September?

Will it be all online again this September 2021.Surely 6 months online and not working is a better option than 9 months online and working part time? I appreciate your thoughts.

From what I gather, you don't have to work during the hybrid - that you do not commence your training contract until after the first part is completed. If you are working with a solicitor you can claim 5 months towards your 24 months contract.

Essentially if you start working with your training solicitor say now and then you do hybrid and work while doing that you can count 9 months towards your 24 months training.

I think it is still faster to go the standard Blackhall Route but some people might find it easier to get a training contract when they won't be out of the office for months at a time.

Lozg

lsheehaneire wrote: »

Hi All,

Apologies if my questions have been answered previously.

I passed all 8 last week and was intending to start to Hybrid in December 2021 but I was just wondering was standard PPC1 all done online last September?

Will it be all online again this September 2021.Surely 6 months online and not working is a better option than 9 months online and working part time? I appreciate your thoughts.

I’ve emailed a few people in the law soc to ask if it will be online in September but haven’t received any responses

lsheehaneire

awsah wrote: »

From what I gather, you don't have to work during the hybrid - that you do not commence your training contract until after the first part is completed. If you are working with a solicitor you can claim 5 months towards your 24 months contract.

Essentially if you start working with your training solicitor say now and then you do hybrid and work while doing that you can count 9 months towards your 24 months training.

I think it is still faster to go the standard Blackhall Route but some people might find it easier to get a training contract when they won't be out of the office for months at a time.

Thanks for all the info. I am currently working in a Solicitors office and the traineeship is on the table I just want to be careful about how many days I can realistic work while doing the Hybrid. I imagine it’s a hefty workload !

awsah

lsheehaneire wrote: »

Thanks for all the info. I am currently working in a Solicitors office and the traineeship is on the table I just want to be careful about how many days I can realistic work while doing the Hybrid. I imagine it’s a hefty workload !

I think the LS ask the training firm to give the hybrid trainees every Friday off, but yes, Black hall f or 6 months without work sounds like it would be a lot easier. Is your issue that you would have to move to Dublin for Blackhall?

lsheehaneire

awsah wrote: »

I think the LS ask the training firm to give the hybrid trainees every Friday off, but yes, Black hall f or 6 months without work sounds like it would be a lot easier. Is your issue that you would have to move to Dublin for Blackhall?

I have 3 kids so it’s not an option.

awsah

lsheehaneire wrote: »

I have 3 kids so it’s not an option.

oh yes well that makes sense. The question you should ask the law society is, if Blackhall is online in sept will PPC2 also be online as that is where you might have difficulty.

baloo21

Lozg wrote: »

I’ve emailed a few people in the law soc to ask if it will be online in September but haven’t received any responses

I had a call with the firm that I'm joining this yr (big 5) and the coordinator told us it will likely be online in September. She said this may change as time goes on, but that we should assume online learning for PPC1.

WesternC123

I was hoping that because the Law Society plans to hold exams in person that they also believe they will be in a position to hold PPC1 in person too.

Lallers96

If the standard PPC course goes online this year it seems redundant to do the Hybrid doesn't it? You'd have a shorter length of time studying and you'd be qualified faster and also be able to train simultaneously

NewFe1

Anybody know roughly how many hours a week the workload is for PPC1? I'm not really looking for what they recommend as that's generally way more than what's needed but does anyone who's done it or knows people who have know roughly how much work you'd do a week?

CMUL

lsheehaneire wrote: »

I have 3 kids so it’s not an option.

I am in the exact same boat as you. I was planning on doing hybrid but if online in September then I would prefer that. I emailed LS about just applying as time limit is quite tight and then just transfer to hybrid if September is in person but got no reply. Apparently universities are planning for online in September my sister works in UL and there is no plan for large lectures starting then. I was hoping training section would be more efficient then fe1 sec
tion for replying to emails!

lsheehaneire

CMUL wrote: »

I am in the exact same boat as you. I was planning on doing hybrid but if online in September then I would prefer that. I emailed LS about just applying as time limit is quite tight and then just transfer to hybrid if September is in person but got no reply. Apparently universities are planning for online in September my sister works in UL and there is no plan for large lectures starting then. I was hoping training section would be more efficient then fe1 sec
tion for replying to emails![/quote

I got the bellow response.

“We do not have any further information on the delivery of the full-time PPCI. We will be adhering to Government guidelines with regards on-site learning”

None the wiser !

Jeremiah25

Would paying for your own blackhall fees be common?

I'm a bit behind in the pecking order in my firm in terms of who is to attend Blackhall this coming year. What I was considering is offering to cover the cost myself as opposed to waiting another year in the hope that they may agree to send me.

Madness??

Lozg

Jeremiah25 wrote: »

Would paying for your own blackhall fees be common?

I'm a bit behind in the pecking order in my firm in terms of who is to attend Blackhall this coming year. What I was considering is offering to cover the cost myself as opposed to waiting another year in the hope that they may agree to send me.

Madness??

I am paying my own fees, but I too was wondering recently if many do, or if the majority get their fees covered

awsah

Jeremiah25 wrote: »

Would paying for your own blackhall fees be common?

I'm a bit behind in the pecking order in my firm in terms of who is to attend Blackhall this coming year. What I was considering is offering to cover the cost myself as opposed to waiting another year in the hope that they may agree to send me.

Madness??

i have to pay my own but I am applying for access program and susi grant and there is a possibility of receiving bursary when you begin PPC1 - all means dependent of course so not available to everyone

it's not complete madness, I would want to get started with my training as soon as possible!

rickmatt

Anyone here back from MacGinley Quinn (Dundalk based firm) ?

Interviewed there last Monday week.

Just haven’t heard anything since.

the baby bull elephant

rickmatt wrote: »

Anyone here back from MacGinley Quinn (Dundalk based firm) ?

Interviewed there last Monday week.

Just haven’t heard anything since.

I interviewed last week as well and they had said it would be late this week at the earliest, probably next week before they start getting back to people.

channing90

the baby bull elephant wrote: »

I interviewed last week as well and they had said it would be late this week at the earliest, probably next week before they start getting back to people.

I didn't hear back but I am down in cork so wondering if ye are closer and they ruled me out because of distance?

Jeremiah25

If the September intake is to be online would we have the option to work alongside this similar to the Hybrid course or would the law society be against this I wonder?

awsah

Jeremiah25 wrote: »

If the September intake is to be online would we have the option to work alongside this similar to the Hybrid course or would the law society be against this I wonder?

A trainee in our firm did the online PPC1 last September. we are a small firm so he decided he would do some hours in the office, but in no way would he have been able to work full time. he had classes during the day and tutorials and group presentations etc. The Hybrid is set up for people who are working full time but PPC1 is not

baloo21

Just reading through the application forms for PPC1 and the following is included in Annex to Form 1 (for the 2020 intake):

[N.N.B. The 2019 amending regulations were introduced following a thorough consultation process with
training firms, training solicitors and trainee solicitors. The solicitors’ profession as a whole was strongly in
favour of the proposed change that would allow for trainees serving an unbroken two year period of in-office
training in place of that two year period being interrupted mid-way by the requirement that trainees return to
the Society’s Law School to attend the PPCII (extending over some twelve weeks) before then returning to their
offices to complete the unserved part of that period. The Society is delaying the implementation of the revised
Professional Practice Course by one year to allow a thorough consultation process with the solicitors’
profession be completed in respect of the content of the revised Professional Practice Course. The Society is
also aware that some firms are concerned with the timing of the introduction of the new structures and are
faced with short term administrative difficulties where their current trainees are in various stages of their inoffice training with their internal placements and rotations having been scheduled years in advance factoring in
the said PPCII interruption. Based on the foregoing in order to allow the consultation process be competed and
in order to mitigate the aforementioned administrative difficulties, the participants who enter on the next PPCI
commencing in Autumn 2020 should proceed to the PPCII in April 2022 after serving 11 months of their period
of in-office training during the April 2021/March 2022 period. The Society, in implementing this one year
postponement of the new PPC, is particularly minded to ensure that the numbers of trainees being inducted into
firms should not be reduced or delayed in any way. It is desirable that proposed trainee solicitors be so made
aware of the reasons for this one year postponement of the move to the new single PPC structure to be followed
by an uninterrupted two year period of in-office training (including participation in and completing four
Advanced Electives).]

Has anyone had any confirmation from LS or firms that the new form of PPC1 and PPC2 will be in place for the 2021 intake?

FE1Hopefully1

baloo21 wrote: »

Just reading through the application forms for PPC1 and the following is included in Annex to Form 1 (for the 2020 intake):

[N.N.B. The 2019 amending regulations were introduced following a thorough consultation process with
training firms, training solicitors and trainee solicitors. The solicitors’ profession as a whole was strongly in
favour of the proposed change that would allow for trainees serving an unbroken two year period of in-office
training in place of that two year period being interrupted mid-way by the requirement that trainees return to
the Society’s Law School to attend the PPCII (extending over some twelve weeks) before then returning to their
offices to complete the unserved part of that period. The Society is delaying the implementation of the revised
Professional Practice Course by one year to allow a thorough consultation process with the solicitors’
profession be completed in respect of the content of the revised Professional Practice Course. The Society is
also aware that some firms are concerned with the timing of the introduction of the new structures and are
faced with short term administrative difficulties where their current trainees are in various stages of their inoffice training with their internal placements and rotations having been scheduled years in advance factoring in
the said PPCII interruption. Based on the foregoing in order to allow the consultation process be competed and
in order to mitigate the aforementioned administrative difficulties, the participants who enter on the next PPCI
commencing in Autumn 2020 should proceed to the PPCII in April 2022 after serving 11 months of their period
of in-office training during the April 2021/March 2022 period. The Society, in implementing this one year
postponement of the new PPC, is particularly minded to ensure that the numbers of trainees being inducted into
firms should not be reduced or delayed in any way. It is desirable that proposed trainee solicitors be so made
aware of the reasons for this one year postponement of the move to the new single PPC structure to be followed
by an uninterrupted two year period of in-office training (including participation in and completing four
Advanced Electives).]

Has anyone had any confirmation from LS or firms that the new form of PPC1 and PPC2 will be in place for the 2021 intake?

https://www.lawsociety.ie/globalassets/documents/education/ppc-application/ppc1-application-pack-2021.pdf

This may help

baloo21

FE1Hopefully1 wrote: »

https://www.lawsociety.ie/globalassets/documents/education/ppc-application/ppc1-application-pack-2021.pdf

This may help

Thank you!

Yes, so that doc indicates that it won't be integrated, but there is no mention of the reform. It seems weird that they wouldn't address it at all.

Lozg

FE1Hopefully1 wrote: »

https://www.lawsociety.ie/globalassets/documents/education/ppc-application/ppc1-application-pack-2021.pdf

This may help

I see that it says that trainees who have worked in his/her training solicitor’s office prior to PPC1 is entitled to be paid €306 per week while at PPC1, I was unaware of this

Lallers96

Well I got a TC finally!! Came out of absolutely nowhere

Lallers96

Is there a thread for PPC and a thread for trainee solicitors?

lawgrad15

Lallers96 wrote: »

Well I got a TC finally!! Came out of absolutely nowhere

Massive congrats to you! What size of firm are you going to train with?

neon123

Lallers96 wrote: »

Well I got a TC finally!! Came out of absolutely nowhere

Brilliant, glad to see some good news on this front! I've all 8 FE-1s officially done since last Friday so hoping I'm not hanging around for ages looking for one myself! Did you end up finding one locally?

LawNerd2020

Congratulations Lallers96. Well done!! Lovely to see some good news here. I have all 8 FE-1's since last Friday and finding the TC hunt quite disheartening TBH. Will you be starting PPC1 this year?

SKLaw

Lallers96 wrote: »

Well I got a TC finally!! Came out of absolutely nowhere

Absolutely delighted for you! Well done!

Lallers96

LawNerd2020 wrote: »

Congratulations Lallers96. Well done!! Lovely to see some good news here. I have all 8 FE-1's since last Friday and finding the TC hunt quite disheartening TBH. Will you be starting PPC1 this year?

Yes I'll be starting this year but I would prefer the Hybrid as I live (and will continue to work) in Mayo/Galway. So I would avoid paying Dublin rent and I would also be able to continue my training without interruption!

Lallers96

lawgrad15 wrote: »

Massive congrats to you! What size of firm are you going to train with?

A small firm, it's a busy firm however. I'll be the 5th solicitor there and they have one office in Mayo and one in Galway

Lallers96

I'm no expert but basically I got this TC from an application email to a local firm (a stab in the dark). This was back when I emailed loads of firms in Galway if you'll remember and I had a out 9/41 reply with a no. This firm was one of the ones that didn't reply and an opening came up and I got a call very randomly on Tuesday basically asking when can I start. My "interview" was yesterday but to be honest I didn't have to impress or anything, I was just told what I'd be doing and see you next week basically. I couldn't believe my luck.

Again I'm no expert but my advice is literally to just keep plucking away at it. If I can get a TC then there's hope for everyone as I felt uterrly hopeless as recent as Monday!

awsah

Lallers96 wrote: »

I'm no expert but basically I got this TC from an application email to a local firm (a stab in the dark). This was back when I emailed loads of firms in Galway if you'll remember and I had a out 9/41 reply with a no. This firm was one of the ones that didn't reply and an opening came up and I got a call very randomly on Tuesday basically asking when can I start. My "interview" was yesterday but to be honest I didn't have to impress or anything, I was just told what I'd be doing and see you next week basically. I couldn't believe my luck.

Again I'm no expert but my advice is literally to just keep plucking away at it. If I can get a TC then there's hope for everyone as I felt uterrly hopeless as recent as Monday!

Congratulations! The hard work paid off in the end!

Lallers96

awsah wrote: »

Congratulations! The hard work paid off in the end!

Just pure perseverance haha. I'm starting June 1st and I know you can accrue up to 5 months in office training before PPC Hybrid, so I'll be working 6 months and 5 of those will count towards my in office training, that's right isn't it?

awsah

Lallers96 wrote: »

Just pure perseverance haha. I'm starting June 1st and I know you can accrue up to 5 months in office training before PPC Hybrid, so I'll be working 6 months and 5 of those will count towards my in office training, that's right isn't it?

Sp you can work up to 4 months before hybrid starts in January and then 5 months if working with your training solicitor between Jan and October - technically you don't start training until you finish ppc in October so technically you could be working retial durong that time.

Basically of you start working now you will have 9 months built up for your training once you start you 24month period in November. - this is my understanding I am absolutely open to correction

FE1_2020_

awsah wrote: »

Sp you can work up to 4 months before hybrid starts in January and then 5 months if working with your training solicitor between Jan and October - technically you don't start training until you finish ppc in October so technically you could be working retial durong that time.

Basically of you start working now you will have 9 months built up for your training once you start you 24month period in November. - this is my understanding I am absolutely open to correction

But will that 9 months be offset against the training or is it still just the maximum of 4 months they permit in total ? I was under the impression 4 months in total was the maximum that could be permissible. Curious to know because I'm hoping to be in a position of commencing the next round of the hybrid on condition I get my last FE1 in Oct and bag a TC in the mean time.

awsah

FE1_2020_ wrote: »

But will that 9 months be offset against the training or is it still just the maximum of 4 months they permit in total ? I was under the impression 4 months in total was the maximum that could be permissible. Curious to know because I'm hoping to be in a position of commencing the next round of the hybrid on condition I get my last FE1 in Oct and bag a TC in the mean time.

Well im hoping someone from hybrid might jump in to confirm but as far as I know

Anyone can gain 4 months prior to entering ppc1 whether blackhall or hybrid

If you are I hybrid and working with your training solicitor or another solicitors office during ppc1 hybrid then you can gain an additional 5 months. This is not open to blackhall students as they are not working durong ppc1

Lallers96

Yeah I was under the impression that a maximum of 5 months prior to PPC is offset against the 24 months required.

awsah

Lallers96 wrote: »

Yeah I was under the impression that a maximum of 5 months prior to PPC is offset against the 24 months required.

Ok well it might be worth sending an email to law society as my understanding is 4 months prior to ppc1 and 5 months during

Lallers96

awsah wrote: »

Ok well it might be worth sending an email to law society as my understanding is 4 months prior to ppc1 and 5 months during

Oh right that makes sense now I wasn't sure when you said 9 months. I must ask so!