Resources
Final Examination - First Part
The examination consists of 8 papers: Company Law; Constitutional Law; The Law of Contract; Criminal Law; Equity; The Law of the European Union; The Law of Property; and The Law of Torts.
Applications to sit the FE-1 are completed online. In order to apply you must have an online application account on the Law Society website
- Register a new lawsociety.ie account (Please ensure that the information you enter on this form is accurate as it will be used for verification purposes)
- Log in to your existing lawsociety.ie account
Required documents and fees
The following documents must be submitted as part of your application:
- Official photo ID e.g. passport or driver's license, and
- Examination fee (€125 per subject), and
- One of the following proofs of eligibility:
| You are | Documents required |
| Graduate of an Irish or UK college/university (Level 7 min) | Degree certificate |
| Undergraduate at an Irish university/college (Level 7 min) | Final transcript from 1st (or subsequent) year of university/college course (Level 7 min) |
| Holder of Law Society or King’s Inns Diploma in Law | Law Society or King’s Inns Diploma |
| Qualified Accountant | Proof of current membership of one of the listed accountancy bodies |
| Foreign University Graduate/ Law Clerk or Legal Executive | Preliminary Examination Grant of Exemption |
| Non-Graduate | Preliminary Examination Results letter |
Refunds
Examination fees cannot be transferred to another FE-1 sitting. A refund of an examination fee will only be given to candidates who produce medical evidence (i.e. a medical certificate from a GP or consultant) for non-attendance. No refund will be given if a candidate is present for the examination/ logs on to the examination, regardless of whether any examination questions were attempted.
Requests for refunts, together with supporting medical documentation, must be received no later than one month from the date of the final examination.
The FE-1 is held twice each year in Spring and Autumn.
Applications for the Autumn 2025 sitting are now closed.
You can choose to sit your FE-1 in-person or online. You must indicate your choice on the application form.
In-person sittings
In-person sittings will be in at an examination centre in Dublin.
All in-person examinations run from 10am to 1.30pm
Online sittings
If you chose to sit the examination online you must ensure that you meet the technical requirements of the online examination system.
- Download information on technical requirements for online examinations.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate connectivity and internet speed.
All online examinations run from 10am to 1.30pm.
You must also comply with the rules designed to protect the integrity of the examination process.:
- External communication with anyone is not allowed during the examination.
- Do not leave your workspace during the examination.
- Your webcam and microphone must remain on during the examination.
- Please be available for up to 30 minutes before the scheduled examination start time.
At any point before or during the exam, your workspace must be ready for inspection and may only include:
- Photo ID (i.e. passport/driving licence)
- Permitted legislation
- Tissues, if required
- Clock/watch – smart watches are not permitted and/or
- Phone – turned off and face down(unless you encounter an issue during the exam and need to contact a member of the Law Society).
Applications for the October 2025 sitting are now closed.
Requests for refunds, together with supporting medical evidence must be received within 30 days of the examination taking place.
Requests for rechecks must be received within 14 days of the issue of the results.
Application fee: €125 per subject (paid online at time of application)
Examination Recheck fee is €150 per subject examination.
Syllabus
The FE-1 is consists of 8 papers: Company Law; Constitutional Law; The Law of Contract; Criminal Law; Equity; The Law of the European Union; The Law of Property; and The Law of Torts. A detailed syllabus and recommended reading for each examination subject is published in advance of each sitting.
The following legislation sources can be used during your FE-1 (either in person or online): FE-1 Permitted Legislative Sources
Order Past Examination Papers
Past examination papers and examiner’s reports are available to purchase: Order past papers
FE-1 Preparatory Courses
The Law Society has compiled a list of FE-1 preparatory courses and tuition. However, the Law Society has no control over and makes no input into any of these courses and give no warranty in respect of them. The Law Society does not authorise any of these courses and has not asked any of the course providers to establish them.
Shortly before results are issued you will receive an email with information on how to access your results via the Law Society website.
If you are taking the FE-1 as an undergraduate your results will remain provisional until you provide the Law Society with evidence of the award of your degree at Level 7 (or above) on the Irish NFQ.
Candidates can apply online for a recheck of any failed examination script within 14 days of the date on which results are released.
The recheck application fee is €150 per examination. If you pass an examination following a recheck, you will be refunded the recheck fee for that examination.
Overend Scholarship
The Overend Scholarship was established by Trevor T. L. Overend, Solicitor, President of the Law Society of Ireland (1894/95). It is awarded to the candidate who achieves the highest combined marks for the FE-1 subjects in a single calendar year and who has registered a training contract with the Law Society.
Prizes for Individual Subjects
The Law Society awards prizes to the best performers in each of the eight FE-1 subjects based on a first sitting in a calendar year.
The Law Society recognises and values difference and is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for the benefit of all and endorses the principles of inclusive teaching, learning, and assessment.
Reasonable and appropriate accommodations and other supports are determined on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the individual's certified disability/specific learning difficulty. It is important that a formal and timely application is made for such supports so that the appropriate supports can be identified and provided where necessary.
Depending on your circumstances you may be eligible for financial assistance for the FE-1.
For example, the Law Society Access Programme can assist with reduced/waived FE-1 fees and/or access to core texts related to the FE-1.
For further information see Funding your studies.
FE-1 Section
- Tel: 01 672 4802
- Email: FE1Section@LawSociety.ie
