Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Examination provides an avenue of entry to Becoming a Solicitor if you do not otherwise qualify for this training, i.e. you do not meet the requirements of the other categories, e.g. you do not hold a degree at level 7or a Diploma in Law from The Law Society of Ireland or King’s Inns, or you are not currently studying for a law degree, or you do not meet the criteria for a Legal Executive/Law Clerk.

The Preliminary Examination is held once each year. Candidates must be at least 21 years of age on or before the date of the first examination they apply to sit.

The Preliminary Examination consists of three separate papers:

  • English
  • Irish Government & Politics
  • General Knowledge

The pass mark for each paper is 50%.  Candidates must pass all three papers in one sitting in order to pass the examination. Candidates are allowed a maximum of three attempts (the original sitting and up to two repeat sittings).

The Preliminary Examination is held once each year. The next sitting will between 25th and 27th March 2025.

Applications will open in January 2025.

2025 Exam Timetable
Date Time Subject
25th March 2025 10:00 – 13:00 Use of English
26th March 2025 10:00 – 13:00 Irish Government & Politics
27th March 2025 10:00 – 11:30 General Knowledge

Requests for refunds, together with supporting medical evidence must be received within 30 days of the examination taking place.

An application to sit the Preliminary Examination requires the following:

  1. Completed application form (download application form)
  2. Photo ID – i.e. copy of passport or driving licence
  3. Examination fee of €450 to be paid by EFT:
    Bank of Ireland, College Green, Dublin 2
    Account name: The Law Society of Ireland
    Account number: 16304279
    Branch code: 90-00-17
    IBAN: IE09 BOFI 9000 1716 3042 79
    BIC: BOFIIE2D

These documents should be submitted by email to FE1Section@LawSociety.ie with subject title “Preliminary Examination” by the relevant deadline.

The fee of €450 is payable after your application has been reviewed. 

Please note that if you do apply to sit the Preliminary Examination but do not proceed with the sitting, the Examination fee cannot be transferred to another sitting of this examination.

Requests for refunds, together with support medical evidence must be received within 30 days of the examination taking place.

The Law Society offers various supports and reasonable accommodations to encourage sustainable growth and learning. A reasonable accommodation might be any action that helps alleviate a substantial disadvantage.

Reasonable and appropriate accommodations and other such 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.

For further information on the supports and reasonable accommodations available for candidates sitting examinations see Disability Supports & Adapted Arrangements.

Results will be sent to candidates by email approximately six weeks after the final examination.

Candidates may apply for a recheck of any failed paper. The recheck application form will be  emailed to candidates who have failed an examination.

The recheck application fee is €140 per examination. If a candidate passes an examination following recheck, a refund of the recheck fee for that examination will be issued. Please note that you must pass all three examinations in one sitting in order to pass the Preliminary Examination.

The closing date for receipt of a recheck application is 14 days from the date on which the results are issued.

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