blog
Olga Molloy
PPC1 Course - Blackhall Place
September: the end of the summer, when holidays are over and tans are fading. Not usually ranked as anyone's favourite time of the year. Anyone, that is, except the five hundred odd trainee solicitors enrolling in the Law Society's PPC1 course in Blackhall Place. For us, September 2007 has been a very exciting and thoroughly enjoyable month filled with new faces and opportunities.
Our introductory week was hectic to say the least, involving an orientation program geared mainly towards meeting fellow students and getting to grips with college requirements and facilities. Aside from the compulsory lectures and tutorials, there are a plethora of other courses and activities available, from research-based legal aid volunteering to helping out in local primary schools with homework clubs and shared- reading for the pupils.
There are also different competitions run by the Law Society specifically for PPC students including European and Environmental Moot Courts, and Client Counselling competitions. Participants in these events can expect to travel all over the world representing the Law Society in various countries from the USA to India. Additional diploma courses are also available for those who have a specific interest in certain areas such as employment law, family law or finance. The extent to which each student partakes in extra-curricular activities is entirely up to each individual, but it goes without saying that the more you put in to your time in Blackhall, the more enjoyable your overall experience will be. With this in mind we have already elected Social and Education Reps to help co-ordinate and develop the programme and ensure that students benefit both from an academic and social perspective. Needless to say, the latter concern has taken priority for the initial week or two, and time has been mainly spent socialising and attempting to put names to faces over a pint (or two) at the very reasonably priced student bar rather than actually learning any sustainable legal skills. all in due course.
One thing we have learned so far is the importance of teamwork and co-operation, especially within each tutorial group. For the purpose of focused learning, we've been divided up into groups of about fifteen and this little troop are practically your family for the next six months as we meet in our tutorial groups almost every day to discuss topics covered more broadly in the lectures. You are expected to have done the assigned reading in advance and come to your tutorial prepared to discuss and work together as a team. This has already proven quite an effective way of learning on the basis of each bringing a little knowledge in, and no-one taking much away. so effectively the knowledge accumulates!
Personally speaking, I am enjoying tremendously my time in Blackhall. To date, college-life has been varied and interesting: we've had a taster of everything from will- drafting and advising to advocacy and public speaking skills. With slots of learning interspersed with table quizzes, comedy nights and mid-week impromptu parties, the legal profession has never seemed more inviting!
