• Applying for the PPC

Key Dates

Course Duration: September 2025 – June 2026 (3 semesters)  

• Semester 1: 02 September 2025 – 16 December 2025 (including exams)

• Semester 2: 05 January 2026 – 13 April 2026 (including exams)

• Semester 3: 27 April 2026 – 30 June 2026 (Advanced Electives)

For additional details, please download the course academic calendar. 

01: Course Overview

• Core Curriculum - Semesters 1 & 2 (Sept–Apr)
  The core curriculum runs from September to April each academic year and combines essential legal subjects with practical skills training to prepare you for life as a solicitor.
  • Core Subjects include: Business Law, Land Law, Dispute Resolution, Criminal Law, Family Law, Probate, Taxation, Legal Practice Irish, Law as Business: Managing a Legal Practice & Professional Responsibility
  • Skills-Focused Courses include: Advocacy, Commercial Drafting, Interviewing & Advising, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Negotiation, Presentation Skills, The Complete Lawye

  Trainees will also explore evolving areas of practice, such as the role of AI in legal services, and develop broader professional capabilities in leadership, legal technology, project management and finance.  The focus is on equipping each trainee with the legal and practical tools needed to navigate real-world challenges and build a successful start to their career.

• Advanced Electives - Semester 3 (May to Jun)
  The Law Society of Ireland offers a wide range of advanced electives to help you deepen your legal expertise and broaden your career opportunities.

  Trainees will receive full details — including elective options, delivery formats, schedules and how to register - during the spring semester.

  • To get a sense of the elective format and range of options, you can view last year’s schedules and registration informatione

• In-Office Training
  In-office training remains a vital component of solicitor qualification. This 24-month period begins 14 days after the trainee’s final core PPC exam.

  For example, PPC 2024 trainees completed their final exam on 17 April 2025, and their in-office training period commenced on 1 May 2025.

  Trainees may be eligible to receive up to 4 months' credit for work-based experience gained before starting the PPC.

02: How the Curriculum Is Delivered

The PPC combines large-group lectures with small-group workshops and tutorials. Teaching takes place onsite at Blackhall Place, online via Zoom, and through recorded materials - offering a structured but flexible learning experience.

• Attendance
  Attendance is a key component of success on the PPC. Trainees are required to attend at least 80% of all lectures and tutorials, with attendance digitally monitored across all formats. As the course is designed to build progressively, missed sessions may result in additional assignments or delays in course completion.
• Teaching Format
  
  • Large-Group Lectures
    Lectures are delivered in a variety of formats:
    • Onsite lectures take place at the Law School. Trainees attend according to their assigned timeslot.
    • Mixed-mode lectures combine onsite, live-streamed and recorded delivery, offering flexibility depending on individual schedules and learning preferences.
    • Zoom live lectures require trainees to log in at set times. These sessions mirror the onsite experience.
    • eLectures are pre-recorded and released in line with tutorial schedules, allowing trainees to prepare in advance of interactive sessions.
  • Tutorials and Workshops
    Small-group sessions are held onsite at Blackhall Place, Monday to Friday.  Trainees are assigned to a fixed group for the duration of the Core PPC.  Group schedules are balanced to ensure a fair distribution of onsite days across the week.

03: Registration Steps

To secure a place on the PPC, trainees must meet the eligibility requirements as outlined by the Law Society. Once eligible, the following steps must be completed by the deadline below.

Registration Deadline: Friday, 15 August 2025

• What you need to do:
  • Submit the completed Indenture Deed.
  • Pay the core course fee by the deadline.
• Fees – Core Course & Advanced Electives
  • Core course fees (Sept to Apr) is €11,850.
  • Advanced electives fees will be confirmed closer to selection time.  Trainees who choose multiple electives with the Law Society will benefit from bundled pricing.

For full details on fees, funding supports, and financial assistance schemes - including SUSI, tax relief and the Access Programme - please visit the Fees & Funding section of the website.

04: Timetables & Academic Calendar

Staying on top of the timetable is essential for managing the schedule of lectures, tutorials and exams throughout the course.

• Core Curriculum - Semesters 1 & 2 (Sept–Apr): The full timetable is available to download as a PDF. Trainees will also receive access to a digital iCalendar during the iPad induction session on Tuesday, 2 September 2025. This calendar will update automatically if any changes occur.
• Advanced Electives - Semester 3 (Advanced Electives): An initial timetable will be shared in December to assist with planning. Once elective selections are confirmed and fees are paid, adjustments will be made as required. Updated calendars will then be issued via iCal.

Important: Timetables are subject to change due to scheduling or operational requirements. Trainees should always refer to the most recent version online.

Trainees can also download the Academic Calendar for an overview of all key course and exam dates.

05: Core Group Information

All trainees are assigned to a fixed tutorial group and a fixed skills group for the duration of the Core PPC.  These groupings determine your schedule for tutorials, workshops, and some lectures.

Please note that we are not in a position to accept individual requests for particular groups or streams.  Group assignments are generated automatically through our central scheduling system to ensure fairness and consistency.  All trainees follow the same curriculum and receive the same level of support, regardless of group.

Group information will be available to download in August.

06: Pre-Course Essentials – Compulsory Actions Before You Start

To begin the PPC successfully, trainees should complete each of the steps below by the stated deadlines. These actions will ensure they are fully set up with the tools, access and information needed before the course begins.

• 01: iPad Selection
  All trainees are required to log in and confirm their iPad selection for the upcoming PPC. The course fee includes the iPad 11-inch (A16) Wi-Fi 128GB, which is the standard model provided to all trainees.
  
  Trainees who wish to upgrade may do so during the selection process.  Upgrade options are available at an additional cost and must be selected before the deadline.  Changes cannot be made after submission.
  
  iPad Selection Portal
  • Opens: Wed, 09 July 2025 @ 4:00pm
  • Closes: Fri, 18 July 2025 @ 1:00pm
  • Log in using the Law Society ID number (also referred to as the FE-1 number).  Passwords can be reset via the login page, if needed

We recommend checking the Apple website for model specifications before making a selection.

Please note: New iPads now ship with a USB-C to USB-C charging cable only (no power adapter), in line with EU sustainability regulations. Trainees should bring a compatible power adapter for onsite charging.

For iPad-related queries, please contact ipad@lawsociety.ie

• 02: Upload Your Student ID Photo
  To access the Law Society campus, all trainees must upload a digital photo for their student ID card.  The digital ID card will be issued during Induction Week - but the photo must be uploaded in advance.
  • Upload deadline: Wed, 27 August 2025
  • Log in using the Law Society ID number
  • Go to Edit Personal Information › Upload a Photo (maximum size: 4MB)

Need help? See the step-by-step guide to uploading your photo and accessing your Digital Student ID Card

• 03: Locker Booking
  Lockers are available to rent for a fee of €55 and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.  A limited number of premium lockers - located near the main lecture theatre - include built-in USB chargers.  Keys can be collected from reception during Induction Week.
  • Log in using the Law Society ID number.
  • Lockers purchased by the Mon, 25 August before the course begins will be available for collection on Day 1 of Induction Week.

07: First Week Events

Events such as the Welcome Party and the Well Within the Law Festival take place during the first week of the PPC.  Details, including how to register, will be shared with registered trainees as part of the welcome email series issued in the lead-up to the course.

08: Support Contacts

If you have questions before or during the PPC, the following contacts are here to support you:

• Student Support Services
  Your first stop for general queries, student life, access to supports, and onboarding guidance.
  
  Deirdre Gilhooly & Joan Dunne
  Email:  studentsupportservices@lawsociety.ie
  
  
• Traineeship Queries
  For queries about indentures, in-office training, or training solicitor matters.
  
  Email: traineesection@lawsociety.ie
  
  
• iPad Support
  For questions about iPad selection, upgrades, or technical issues with your device.
  
  Email: ipad@lawsociety.ie