Professional Practice Course (PPC)

The 2025/26 full-time PPC course runs from 2 September 2025 to 30 June 2026.

Law Society new PPC

For general information about the PPC course and the process of qualifying, see becoming a solicitor. Incoming trainees can access detailed information through the links below.

Course overview and key dates >

How the curriculum Is delivered >

Registration and fees >

Timetables and academic calendar >

Core group information >

iPads, student ID and lockers >

First week events >

Support contacts >

Course overview and key dates

  • 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)

See details of each semester below, or download key documents below:

Before the course begins, trainees should ensure that they complete essential course setup steps.


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 and Advising, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Negotiation, Presentation Skills, The Complete Lawyer.

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.


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 registration information — approximately six months in advance, typically in the preceding December.  Fore a sense of the elective format and range of options, view last year’s schedules and registration information.


In-office training remains a vital component of solicitor qualification. This 24-month period begins 14 days after the 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.

 

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 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.


Large-group lectures

Lectures are delivered in a variety of formats:

  • On-site lectures take place at the Law School. Trainees attend according to their assigned timeslot.
  • Mixed-mode lectures are delivered live, giving you the option to join either in person or via livestream. Recordings are also available afterward for review
  • 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.

 

Registration and fees

To secure a place on the PPC, trainees must meet the eligibility requirements as outlined by the Law Society. Once eligible, they must submit the completed Indenture Deed and pay the course fee by the relevant registration deadline.

The registration deadline for the Full-Time PPC 2025 is Friday, 15 August 2025.


  • Core Course fees (September to April) are €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 and Funding section of the website.

 


Timetables and academic calendar

Staying on top of the timetable is essential for managing your schedule — always check the latest version of the Timetable online and refer to the Academic Calendar  for key course and exam dates


The full PPC 2025 Timetable is available to download as a PDF. Trainees will also receive access to a digital iCalendar during the iPad induction sessions iPad induction sessions on the first day of the course. This calendar will update automatically if any changes occur.


An initial timetable is usually shared in the preceding December to assist with planning. Once elective selections are confirmed and fees are paid, any necessary adjustments will be made and updated calendars will be issued via iCal.

 


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 via an automated scheduling system to ensure fairness and balance. All trainees follow the same curriculum and receive equal support, regardless of group.  The latest Core Group Inforation is available for download - updated 29 August 2025.

 

Pre-course essentials – iPads, student ID and lockers

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.


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 of 1pm on Wednesday 30 July.  Changes cannot be made after submission.

How to select your iPad

  1. Select your iPad. If required, log in using the Law Society account that you used to access FE-1 examination results. Passwords can be reset via the login page if needed.
  2. Print off your receipt as proof of purchase

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

Getting your iPad

  • Your iPad will be given to you on the first on-site day of your PPC course.
  • Trainee iPad deployment and setup will take place on-site. Attendance at these sessions is compulsory.
  • Bring your iPad receipt as proof of purchase as you will be asked for this before the iPad is given to you.
  • You will need your Apple ID username and password to setup your iPad. If you do not already have an Apple ID you can . If you already have an Apple ID then you can .
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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


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 by Wednesday 27 August.

You can upload your photo by following these steps:

  1. Visit 'personal details' in your lawsociety.ie dashboard.
  2. If needed, log in using the using the Law Society account that you use to access FE-1 examination results.
  3. Click on 'Upload a Photo' and follow the on-screen instructions (maximum size: 4MB)

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


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.

Lockers purchased by the Mon, 25 August before the course begins will be available for collection on Day 1 of Induction Week.

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.

 

Support contacts

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