Did you get a copy of the Law Society handbook for trainees? it can be downloaded from the website. It has all the info you need. If you commence working for your master prior to PPC1 then the master either continues to pay you during the PPC1 or pays your course fees. The course fees are deductable at 20% as far as I know. You may be eligible for a grant?
Legal apprenticeship: any tips on trying to find a trainee solicitor job
- Thread starter Gabrielle
- Start date
That's great Trafford, hope it goes well for you!
Oilean Beag
Registered User
- Messages
- 221
Just got the offer I have been waiting nearly 3 years for, im so delighted. For those of you still waiting my advice is that if this is what you really want it , hold out for it & don't loose faith in yourself & your ability to get on
1. A good education , meaning good results & postgraduate studies , will go in your favour. This can be from any discipline , not just law. As mentioned above banking & finance are big areas for the top firms.
2. Practical experience in a legal environment whether it be private practice or in-house can really build your application & give you something different to talk about & therefore make you stand out at interviews.
3. Sell yourself and all the things that you do & enjoy. All extracurricular activities, particularly in college are looked favourably upon. These show that you are a rounded individual, capable in social situations & a good team player. Also shows strength of character .
4. If you get that interview, prepare, prepare,prepare. I was given a recommendation on this board for Carr Communications on Northumberland Road for mock interviews/ prep course. I found them excellent & I do think that they contributed to the offer I did get.
It can be a long haul for some, ( like me) but its worth it in the end. The feeling I have now is unreal and the good advice I got on this board helped me get here.
1. A good education , meaning good results & postgraduate studies , will go in your favour. This can be from any discipline , not just law. As mentioned above banking & finance are big areas for the top firms.
2. Practical experience in a legal environment whether it be private practice or in-house can really build your application & give you something different to talk about & therefore make you stand out at interviews.
3. Sell yourself and all the things that you do & enjoy. All extracurricular activities, particularly in college are looked favourably upon. These show that you are a rounded individual, capable in social situations & a good team player. Also shows strength of character .
4. If you get that interview, prepare, prepare,prepare. I was given a recommendation on this board for Carr Communications on Northumberland Road for mock interviews/ prep course. I found them excellent & I do think that they contributed to the offer I did get.
It can be a long haul for some, ( like me) but its worth it in the end. The feeling I have now is unreal and the good advice I got on this board helped me get here.
Pretty Penny
Registered User
- Messages
- 11
Hi Brenda24,
Just a quick Q..have you done all FE1s yet? If so, choose your Masters wisely as you may be highly bored if you choose the wrong one. I did FE1s alongside Masters and it was horrible, but looking back, I think I would have been bored silly if all i was doing was masters work. On the other hand, I think it did help me get a job.
Hi Pretty Penny
I have all the FE1s. I got a reply back from the course director of the LLM postgrad in Trinity and he told me that I have no chance of being accepted without a law degree. My degree is in Psychology. Really don't know what to do at this stage. I was considering a Masters in Criminology (which would tie in with my Psychology degree) but don't want to limit myself to Criminal Law either. I am currently looking for another job. I am working as a legal secretary at the moment but all this entails is audio typing which is very tedious. I need to get work experience that will enhance my CV.
Any advice on a good Masters to do?
I have all the FE1s. I got a reply back from the course director of the LLM postgrad in Trinity and he told me that I have no chance of being accepted without a law degree. My degree is in Psychology. Really don't know what to do at this stage. I was considering a Masters in Criminology (which would tie in with my Psychology degree) but don't want to limit myself to Criminal Law either. I am currently looking for another job. I am working as a legal secretary at the moment but all this entails is audio typing which is very tedious. I need to get work experience that will enhance my CV.
Any advice on a good Masters to do?
Hi Brenda,
I did a taught Masters in Criminology (though not in Ireland) and it doesn't really have very much to do with criminal law at all. It was really much more sociology based. So it wouldn't necessarily tie you down to criminal law all that much. I don't know whether it would be of help to you in future though - I felt it was more useful if you intended to go into e.g. government research into crime or stick with academia.
I did a taught Masters in Criminology (though not in Ireland) and it doesn't really have very much to do with criminal law at all. It was really much more sociology based. So it wouldn't necessarily tie you down to criminal law all that much. I don't know whether it would be of help to you in future though - I felt it was more useful if you intended to go into e.g. government research into crime or stick with academia.
C
Charlie_M
Guest
Just spent the last 2 hours reading in agony the last 8 pages. I feel really confused now. I am currently in my lat year of an LLB in Griffith College Dublin. I have just finished the first half of my finals and presently my results give me a 1.1. I know that I am capable enough of getting similar results in my May exams to give me the 1.1 degree.
I have heared mixed reports about the snobbery shown towards those who come from private colleges and I felt that in order ot avoid this I should take a masters. As things turn out, I am really interested in the Commercial Law masters on offer in UCD. The syllabus contains subjects I really enjoyed doing during my degree and are generally the ones I have performed best in. Therefore, I thought that it wouldn't be such a bad thing doing a masters to spruce up my Griffith degree, as I actually like the look of the programme.
However, I would need to take out a loan to do my masters. I thought though that this might not be a huge problem as by doing a masters in Commercial Law, along with a 1.1 degree, I would stand a good chance of getting a traineeship in a one of the bigger commercial firms who discharge your Blackhall fees. This is really the crux of my problems. Having to pay Balckhal fees on top of my masters would set me back a few years.
After reading everybody's posts though I now feel quite unsure about this. My questions are then, firstly, does my plan seem risky and naive, and secondly, would I stand a good chance of getting an interview(s) with the big firms if I have a 1.1 Griffith degree and a Masters in Commercial Law from UCD?(assuming that I have minimal experience working in a law firm, btw I am only 20)
Sorry for the ramble, and thanks in advance for any advice given.
I have heared mixed reports about the snobbery shown towards those who come from private colleges and I felt that in order ot avoid this I should take a masters. As things turn out, I am really interested in the Commercial Law masters on offer in UCD. The syllabus contains subjects I really enjoyed doing during my degree and are generally the ones I have performed best in. Therefore, I thought that it wouldn't be such a bad thing doing a masters to spruce up my Griffith degree, as I actually like the look of the programme.
However, I would need to take out a loan to do my masters. I thought though that this might not be a huge problem as by doing a masters in Commercial Law, along with a 1.1 degree, I would stand a good chance of getting a traineeship in a one of the bigger commercial firms who discharge your Blackhall fees. This is really the crux of my problems. Having to pay Balckhal fees on top of my masters would set me back a few years.
After reading everybody's posts though I now feel quite unsure about this. My questions are then, firstly, does my plan seem risky and naive, and secondly, would I stand a good chance of getting an interview(s) with the big firms if I have a 1.1 Griffith degree and a Masters in Commercial Law from UCD?(assuming that I have minimal experience working in a law firm, btw I am only 20)
Sorry for the ramble, and thanks in advance for any advice given.
G
gcg
Guest
I have been trying since before Christmas to get an Apprenticeship in the West. I have my FE-1 s done and did my Irish in January. All I have got so far is the " keep you on file " scenario, its heartbreaking stuff but you have to keep on trooping I know...I have basic Computer skills and all the previous work experience I have ,that got me through College, is in the Retail and Construction areas..is everyone finding it as difficult as me? Does anyone have any tips?...it would be much apprerciated.
It is soul destroying. I thought I had found the holy grail at last, but then the position fell through, so I'm back to the drawing board now. I am in a good legal job at the moment though which takes the pressure off, but at this stage after all the exams etc. I just want to get on with it. Where in the West are you looking? I might be able to give you a contact.
G
gcg
Guest
Im in Galway Trafford, we thought we had the hard work over us with the FE-1s, there seems to be obstacles eveywhere though, Linford Christie would be doing well to get past them,
G
gcg
Guest
Any contacts are much appreciated Trafford, How is the Legal work going for you, were you given much slack at the start or thrown straight in the deep end
Can i ask have many of you worked full time, or has most of it been study and part time work?
I did BBLS in UCD, worked in finance now for 4 years, sat 4 FE-1s last April and passed 2 got sort if disheartened, but have realised through talking to others that they are difficult enough to pass (im studying at home with text books) and im thinking about sitting them again in Oct.
Im lucky enough to have make a lot of contacts in my years in finance which should help me when it comes to securing an apprenticeship.
Anybody else have this long a break b/w finishing college and doing the FE-1s?
I did BBLS in UCD, worked in finance now for 4 years, sat 4 FE-1s last April and passed 2 got sort if disheartened, but have realised through talking to others that they are difficult enough to pass (im studying at home with text books) and im thinking about sitting them again in Oct.
Im lucky enough to have make a lot of contacts in my years in finance which should help me when it comes to securing an apprenticeship.
Anybody else have this long a break b/w finishing college and doing the FE-1s?
G
gcg
Guest
hello Thrifty, my work so far has been part time and full time retail and construction work that got me through College, I have no real office experience however I have had important responsibilities all the same, I finished my fe-1s last April, I am trying since October 4 my Apprenticeship so there is a gap now emerging on my c.v. One thing I have learned though is that its more who ya know and not what you know that matters. Keep in touch with your contacts, best of luck with the study,
Now, aint that the truth! And as far as I can see, it is family businesses that are specialists at getting the mediocre relative in before the bright newcomer. Having said that, I would be slow to work in a family law practice myself. If there was ever a difficulty in which you were even remotely involved, you could be an easy target to blame.
Back on topic, I think you need a lot of drive and some luck to get in the door of a practice. One guy I know kept literally walking into practices brandishing his CV. Eventually he got lucky. He was in the right place at the right time when a small firm were dithering about taking on an apprentice.
Thanks for the reply, i was naive a few years ago thought my Mam was cycnical when she said its not what you know its who you know, now i see she is right its all about contacts.
Ill keep them up and hopefully will be in a position to use them in a couple of years.
GCG did you study "on your own" or do the Griffith course?
Ill keep them up and hopefully will be in a position to use them in a couple of years.
GCG did you study "on your own" or do the Griffith course?