FE-1 Criminal Law study guide
FE-1 Criminal Law · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
FE-1 Criminal Law is the criminal law component of the FE-1 entrance examinations sat by candidates seeking to enter the Law Society of Ireland's solicitor training pathway. The Law Society of Ireland describes itself as the regulatory, educational and membership body for Irish solicitors, and its site sets out routes to qualifying as a solicitor in Ireland, including the Professional Practice Course for trainees studying at the Law School. This page supports candidates preparing for the criminal law paper within that entrance stage. The subject matter is Irish criminal law: the general principles of liability, the mental and conduct elements of offences, the major offences against the person and against property, inchoate liability and the defences available to an accused. Preparation should be built around accurate statement of legal rules, the leading authorities that establish them, and the ability to apply both to a fresh factual scenario under time pressure. Because the Law Society's public pages do not publish a detailed FE-1 syllabus, question counts, timings or pass marks, candidates should confirm the current examination arrangements directly with the Law Society before relying on any figure. Topics on this exam: Criminal Law. The FE-1 Criminal Law study guide has 1 section and about 391 words.
01FE-1 Criminal Law: Elements, Offences and Defences
FE-1 Criminal Law tests Irish criminal liability in problem scenarios: the elements of offences, statutory definitions, and defences. Expect questions that require you to apply the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997, and the common law on homicide, rather than recite policy. Actus reus: conduct, circumstances and consequences. Mens rea: intention, knowledge, recklessness or negligence as the offence requires.
391 words, about 2 minMore study resources for FE-1 Criminal Law
- Practice questionsWhich mental state is required at common law for the crime of burglary of a dwelling at night with intent to commit a felony therein?
- FlashcardsActus reus. The physical element of a crime: a voluntary act or legally required omission that causes the prohibited result.
- Cheat sheetActus reus requires a voluntary act or legally imposed omission; status, thoughts, and involuntary movements (reflex, unconsciousness, coercion by physical force) do not satisfy it.
- Key termsActus Reus. The physical or external element of a crime: a voluntary act, omission, or state of affairs that the offence definition prohibits.
- Study planMap the exam blueprint against your own knowledge gaps by writing a one-line self-rating for each major topic area.
- Common mistakesExam questions are written to stack two or three doctrines into one fact pattern, and candidates under time pressure latch onto the first label that fits, then select an answer that is correct on that one issue but wrong overall.
- Exam-day guideBring the original, unexpired ID matching the name on your registration.