CITY Colleges
Professional Education
The Professional Law School City College Dublin www.citycolleges.ie T: 1850 25 27 40
Preparatory Courses for the Law Society of Ireland’s Final Examination Part One (Entrance Examinations) in Dublin and Online 2011-2012 City Colleges, Dublin, Dame Street, Dublin 2 & Main Street, Templeogue, Dublin 6W.
Contents Welcome
3
Why City Colleges?
5
Student Testimonials
7
About our Lecturers
9
Qualification Information
10
How to enrol
13
Contact Us
14
“Having completed my FE1s with some of City College’s lecturers, I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone considering the preparatory course. A genuine desire to help students pass their exams was combined with an in-depth knowledge of their subjects and a willigness to go the extra mile for each student.” Carina Davidson
Thank you for considering City Colleges’ Law Society of Ireland Entrance Examination preparation course. I delivered my first FE1 course in 1997, and since then have had the pleasure of being involved in the exam preparation of the majority of Ireland’s trainee solicitors. This year marks the launch of City Colleges, and the coming together of a hugely experienced and enthusiastic team of law lecturers who will be relentlessly focused on ensuring your success in these most challenging and arduous exams. At City Colleges, we believe that the student experience is, in large part, determined by the quality of the tuition provided. For this reason, we have assembled a team of talented and inspiring lecturers who, between them, boast a remarkable 14 FE1 first place prizewinners. We offer students Individual attention with limited class sizes. Lectures are streamed live, as well as recorded and made available for review online. We offer around the clock support to all students, by phone and email. Study facilities are available from our locations in Dame Street, Dublin 2 and Templeogue. I sincerely hope we can be of assistance in your studies. Yours faithfully,
Philip Burke Head of Law School and Chief Executive Officer, City Colleges
www.citycolleges.ie
3
“I attended Brendan Foley’s lectures in Constitutional Law and found him to be one of the best lecturers I’ve ever come across. His lectures are engaging, interactive, extremely well informed and enjoyable. He demystified what is one of the most difficult subjects into one of the most enjoyable and accessible, and his understanding of the subject and the exams means any questions are answered clearly and simply – dispensing with the usual ‘unnecessarily academic’ answers in favour of simple, correct, exam focused, practical solutions.” Bryan Murtagh Why City Colleges?
Why City Colleges?
At City Colleges, we believe that the student experience is, in large part, determined by the quality of the tuition provided. For this reason, we have assembled a team of talented and inspiring lecturers who, between them, boast a remarkable 14 FE1 first place prizewinners.
•
Lectures are delivered by some of the most experienced and inspiring law lecturers in the country and are also streamed live as well as recorded and made available for review online.
•
•
• • • • • • • •
Ireland’s best, and most experienced FE1 law lecturers, including Brendan Foley, Philip Burke, Mark Cockerill and Trish Cronin The most up-to-date and comprehensive FE1 manuals in Ireland (commissioned and written in 2011) Live lectures which are also streamed live on Moodle, and are recorded for review Exam question and solution bank Dedicated exam review and preview classes End of course tutorials, as well as memory and study technique classes City centre location in Dame Street, convenient for bus, LUAS, DART, etc. Southside Dublin location in Templeogue Study rooms and library in our Dame Street and Templeogue locations Limited class size Weekday and weekend timetables
CITY Colleges
Professional Education
www.citycolleges.ie
5
Student Testimonials
Testimonials:
“Understanding precisely the requirements of the exams, practice questions are set with a view to developing the student’s knowledge as well as their question answering structure and focus, taking them from week-one novices to week-fourteen exam-passing students.” G. Murphy “I have dealt with Pamela & Philip in another institution where I found their undeniably student-focused approach both genuine and supportive. In approaching a course and examinations as demanding at the FE-1s, it’s very reassuring to know that your success is as important to them, and the lecturers whom they retain, as it is to you.” “Mark lectured in Company Law and I would suggest he is one of the principle reasons for my passing that exam! His lectures are enjoyable and he is eminently approachable. He simplified what is one of the broadest courses into something which is manageable, which, anyone who has studied this subject before will know is no mean feat!” L. Dempsey
“Philip clearly has a passion for Equity and the Law of Trusts, and it’s difficult to ignore the contagious nature of that passion and enthusiasm. The course is broken into the sort of digestible, logical content and lectures that only comes with great knowledge and experience of teaching at the FE-1 level. “ T. Murray “Trish lectured in Property Law. She transformed what is one of the least popular subjects into an enjoyable, exam-focused course which was understandable and informed. By minimising time spent on less-examinable topics the course was covered in a relaxed manner which focused on those topics that consistently arise.” A. Kelly “Mark Cockerill was my FE1 company law teacher, and I found him to be an excellent, humorous and approachable teacher. His enthusiasm for the subject is infectious, even at 9am on a Saturday morning, so it came as no surprise to me to learn that he had won first place in the company law exam in the FE1s”. C Moran
“I constantly found that there is never anything which is too much to ask of Pamela and Philip; if it will be of assistance to you in passing your exams, it will be a priority for them.” B Murtagh
www.citycolleges.ie
7
About our Lecturers
Philip Burke, LL.B, BL
Patricia Cronin, ILEX Dip, Solicitor
Philip is a graduate of the University of London and the Honorable Society of King’s Inns. He was called to the Bar in 1998 and established Griffith College’s Professional Law School the same year. He was Head of the Professional Law School at Griffith College for nine years, and Joint Head of its Undergraduate Law School. He was also a member of its board of directors. Philip founded Independent Colleges in 2007, and served as its Chief Operating Officer and Joint Head of Law. This year he established City Colleges (incorporating Ashfield College), a professional education provider specialising in Law, Accountancy, Business & Computing, Childcare and Psychology. He has also cowritten a text on Irish Tort Law for Thomson Roundhall, and is the co-founder of Clarus Press Limited, a legal publishing house.
Patricia qualified as a solicitor in 2005, having previously worked as a Legal Executive. During her studies with the Law Society she was awarded the Law Society Business Law Prize in 2003. She specialises in Criminal and Property law and lectures the Property law module on the FE1 course.
Mark Cockerill, LL.B, LL.M Mark completed the LLB degree from Nottingham Trent University in 2003 and an LLM from Trinity College Dublin in 2004. He completed the FE1 examinations in 2004 and was awarded 1st place overall in Company law. He was also awarded 1st place in the Law Society of Ireland’s Debating & Negotiating Competition. He is a practicing solicitor. Mark lectures in Company, Contract and Criminal law on City College’s FE1 programme.
Brendan Foley, BA, BL Brendan graduated with a degree in English Literature from Trinity College in 1996. He was called to the Irish Bar in 2005, and has been in practice at the Bar and lecturing on professional courses since 2006. He was awarded the Antonia O’Callaghan prize for Constitutional Law in 2004. Brendan has lectured in Constitutional Law, Equity and the Law of Trusts, Company Law and European Law for FE-1 candidates since 2008. He has also lectured on the Kings Inns Entrance Examination course in Constitutional law since 2008.
Pamela Morton, Faculty Manager Pamela Morton has worked in professional legal education since 2003. She was Course Administrator for Griffith College’s Professional Law School from 2003 to 2007, and Faculty Manager for the Law School at Independent Colleges from 2007 until this year. She has a wealth of experience in meeting and exceeding the expectations of students attempting professional law examinations.
Our FE1 programme is offered as a taught course from our Dame Street, Dublin 2 and Templeogue premises, as well as online throughout the country. Lectures are streamed live as well as recorded and made available for review online. We also offer a homework correction facility. Students can submit homework by email, post or in person, and it will be corrected and returned within 4 days. Our team of lecturers and tutors are available to help students with any queries and can be contacted by email, phone or a private tutorial can be arranged. www.citycolleges.ie
9
Qualification Information FE-1 Exam The Final Examination - First Part (FE-1) is the entrance examination to the Law Society of Ireland. Only those who have passed or gained exemption from the Preliminary Examination can sit this examination. It is held twice a year, normally in Spring and Autumn. It consists of the following eight papers, Company Law, Constitutional Law, Law of Contract, Criminal Law, European Union Law, Equity, Real Property, and the Law of Torts. Students must complete all the examinations before proceeding to the training programme. On your first sitting you must attempt a minimum of four examinations and pass three of those to continue.
CITY Colleges
Professional Education
Criminal Law and Procedure, Employment Law, European Union Law, Family Law, Intellectual Property Law, Pensions Law, Planning and Environmental Law, Revenue and Taxation Law, Other specialised area(s) or legal practice [of/or?] Apply for Training Consent Before being eligible to start the training programme, applicants must apply to the Law Society for consent to start training. Evidence must be provided of good character, and any criminal convictions must be disclosed. The Law Society may interview applicants.
Training Contract Applicants must secure a training contract before they can apply for a place on the PPC I. The Training Contract is 24 months in duration and commences 14 days after the final examination on the Professional Practice Course I (PPC I). Breakdown of 24-month Training Contract In office training post-PPC I
11 months
Attendance on PPC II
3 months
In-office training post-PPC II
10 months
OR
Training Programme The in-office training period is the core of the training programme. Training solicitors are required to provide the trainee solicitor with reasonable and appropriate instruction and experience in the are or legal practice set out, respectively, in Block 1 and Block 2 (below) AND in two of the remaining three Blocks (3, 4 and/or 5): Christmas, Easter and Summer. Block 1 Conveyancing and Landlord and Tenant Law Block 2 Litigation Block 3 Wills, Probate and Administration of Estates Block 4 Commercial Law, Corporate Law, Insolvency Law Block 5
10
In-office training pre-PPC I
4 months (max)
In-office training post-PPC I
11 months
Attendance on PPC II
3 months
In-office training post-PPC II
6 months
Pre-PPC I Credit A trainee may apply for credit (up to a maximum of four months) for work done pre-PPC I in the office of a training solicitor or other practising solicitor within the jurisdiction of the State. It must be completed in one block within the six months immediately preceding attendance on the PPC I. In-office training pre-PPC I is optional.
Secondments A trainee, with the prior consent of the Education Committee and their training solicitor, may spend up to a maximum of 8 months of the in-office training period working in employment elsewhere other than in the training solicitor’s office. Under the current Education and Training Regulations, trainees are allowed engage in work (in Ireland or abroad) provided it “....would be advantageous to such a trainee in the furtherance of his/her education or training (or both) and his preparation for admission to the solicitor’s profession”. The application to the Education Committee should include: • a letter from the training solicitor, • a letter from the trainee, and • a letter from the prospective employer. PPC Courses The Law School runs two full-time courses in Dublin for trainees - the Professional Practice Course I and the Professional Practice Course II (PPC I & PPC II). The full-time courses are practice-oriented and instruction is given mainly by practising solicitors and Law Society staff. The courses are assessed through continuous assessment and end of course examinations.
Training Programme The Training Contract proper commences fourteen days after the final examination on the PPC I. Professional Practice Course II (PPC II) 11 months into the 24-month training period, the trainee returns to the Law School to attend the PPC II. This course is 12 weeks in duration and is counted as part of the 24-month training period. Having completed the PPC II, the trainee must return to the office of the training solicitor and complete the outstanding period of time - ten months if the trainee has not gained credit for work done prior to PPC I, or six months if credit has been obtained. The PPC II usually commences in April each year and runs for 11 weeks, inclusive of examinations. The subjects covered on the PPC II are Professional Practice, Conduct and Management (compulsory) and a range of elective choices under the three headings of Business, Practice & Procedure, and Private Client. A full list of electives is available from the Law Society’s Law School.
The Professional Practice Course I (PPC I) Eligible applicants for the PPC I must have: • Passed, or gained exemption from the Preliminary Examination • Passed the Final Examination - First Part • Found a suitable (practising) solicitor to act as a training solicitor The PPC I takes place annually, usually commencing in September, running through until April (inclusive of examinations). PPC I Course PPC I 2012 Dublin - Tuesday 11th September 2012 - Friday 29th March 2013 The following are the subjects covered on the PPC I: • Foundation Course • Applied Land Law • Probate & Tax • Business Law • Litigation (Civil & Criminal) • Skills - Civil & Criminal Advocacy, Interviewing & Advising, Legal Research, Legal Presentation Skills, Legal Writing & Drafting, Negotiation & Professional Development.
www.citycolleges.ie
11
How to enrol
How to enrol: You can apply online at www.citycolleges.ie or you can complete the application form availble on the website and return to the Admissions Office. You can request an application form by contacting the Professional Law School on 1850 252740 or info@citycolleges.ie. Course Admissions Professional Law School City College Dublin 33-34 Dame Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 1850 25 27 40 Email: info@citycolleges.ie Course material will be available at registration, which takes place during the first week of lectures.
City Colleges also delivers professional programmes in the following discipline areas from our City Centre campus, our campus in Templeogue, Dublin 6W, and throughout Ireland online: SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANCY • ACCA Certified Accounting Technician • ACCA Courses for Papers F1 to F9 and P1 to P7 • Certified Accounting Technician Courses
SCHOOL OF CHILDCARE • Certificate in Childcare (Major Award) • Advanced Certificate in Supervision in Childcare (Major Award) • Advanced Certificate in Montessori Education
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND COMPUTING • ICM Diploma in Business • Certificate in Business and Administration • Advanced Certificate in Business Management • Advanced Certificate in Supervisory Management Skills • Certificate in News Journalism • Certificate in Safety and Health at Work • Advanced Certificate in Sales Negotiation • Advanced Certificate in Project Management • Advanced Certificate in Event Management • Advanced Certificate in Train the Trainer • Advanced Certificate in Coaching • Advanced Certificate in Monitoring Quality Assurance • EDI Teachers’ Diploma in Information Technology • Certificate in Web Authoring • Advanced Certificate in Web Authoring • Certificate in Payroll - Manual & Computerised • Certificate in Accounts [Including SAGE] • European Computer Driving Licence [ECDL] • Advanced ECDL • A+ CompTIA • N+ CompTIA • Basic Computer Skills
SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY • Diploma in Psychology • Diploma in Forensic Psychology
www.citycolleges.ie
13
Contact Us
Main Street, Templeogue, Dublin 6W, Ireland.
Dame Street Dublin 2, Ireland.
T: 1850 25 27 40 E: info@citycolleges.ie www.citycolleges.ie
How to find us: City College Dublin’s Law Society Entrance Exam programme is delivered from Dame Street in Dublin 2, and Main Street, Templeogue, Dublin 6W.
ue
Rd
ple
og
ville
Tem
Dodder Valley Park
Te m
Cypress Grove N
Cypress Grove Rd
ple
Rd
Bushy Park Tem
ple
Cy
ville
pr
Dr
es ar sP k
el
d
Sp
As
hfi
Springfield Ave
ogue
d eR gu eo pl Te m
Butterfi
Rd Bu
tte
rfie
eld Ave
ve ld A
Old Bridge Rd
Butterfield Ave
R108
gs S
tN
t
Kin
Dame Street Stre
et
N11 E1
Trinity College Dublin
N81
R110
t
High
N4
tree
t Stree
Inns Quay E1
re S
as
R106
t
Thom
Quay
Kild a
N4
Eden
N1
n Stree
Quay
E1
Smithfield
Dawso
Inns
Church Stree
ve S
Cypress Grove Rd
Cypress Gro
le Temp
rin
St Stephen’s Green
N11 Merrion Sq Park
gfi
eld
e Av
City College Dublin also offers programmes in Accountancy, Business & Computing, Childcare and Psychology For information contact: e: info@citycolleges.ie t: 1850 25 27 40 www.citycolleges.ie
Main Street, Templeogue,
Dame Street,
T: 1850 25 27 40
Dublin 6W, Ireland.
Dublin 2, Ireland.
E: info@citycolleges.ie
www.citycolleges.ie