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Key Facts: FE-1 Law of the European Union Exam
1 of 8
FE-1 Subjects
Law Society of Ireland
3 hours
Single Paper (3.5 hours online)
Law Society of Ireland
Answer 4 of 5
Essay/Problem Questions
Law Society of Ireland
50%
Pass Mark per Subject
Law Society of Ireland
~EUR 128
Fee per Subject (2026)
Law Society of Ireland
100+
Practice Questions Here
OpenExamPrep question bank
FE-1 Law of the European Union is one of eight subjects in the Law Society of Ireland's FE-1 entrance examination for intending solicitors. It is assessed by a single three-hour paper (3.5 hours online) of five essay and problem questions, of which candidates answer four, with a 50% pass mark. The syllabus covers the sources of EU law (the TEU and TFEU, regulations, and directives), the EU institutions and the ordinary legislative procedure, and the constitutional principles of supremacy (Costa v ENEL, with the Irish Crotty / Article 29.4 dimension), direct effect (Van Gend en Loos, Marshall, Faccini Dori), indirect effect (Von Colson), and state liability (Francovich). It also covers the Article 267 preliminary reference procedure (CILFIT), direct actions (Articles 258, 263 with Plaumann standing, and 265), free movement of goods (Articles 34-36, Dassonville, Cassis de Dijon, Keck), free movement of persons and services (Articles 45, 49, 56), and competition law (Articles 101-102), using current post-Lisbon TFEU numbering. The paper is set in EU law as applied in Ireland. The FE-1 is held twice yearly, each subject is sat individually, and all eight subjects must be passed within seven years of the first pass.
Sample FE-1 Law of the European Union Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your FE-1 Law of the European Union exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which two treaties together form the primary constitutional foundation of the European Union following the Treaty of Lisbon?
2Under Article 288 TFEU, which EU legal act is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States without any need for national implementing measures?
3Which of the following best describes a directive under Article 288 TFEU?
4Which EU institution holds the near-exclusive right of legislative initiative, proposing the legislation that the Council and Parliament then adopt?
5In the landmark case establishing the supremacy (primacy) of EU law over conflicting national law, which case did the Court of Justice decide?
6In which case did the Court of Justice first establish the principle of direct effect, holding that Treaty provisions can confer rights on individuals which national courts must protect?
7Under Article 267 TFEU, a national court or tribunal may request the Court of Justice to give a preliminary ruling on which of the following?
8Articles 34 and 35 TFEU prohibit, between Member States, quantitative restrictions on imports and exports and all measures having equivalent effect. What is the standard formulation of a 'measure having equivalent effect' established in Dassonville?
9Which Treaty article guarantees the free movement of workers within the European Union?
10Articles 101 and 102 TFEU contain the EU's principal competition rules. Article 101 TFEU prohibits which of the following?
About the FE-1 Law of the European Union Exam
FE-1 Law of the European Union is one of the eight subjects of the Final Examination - First Part (FE-1), the entrance examination administered by the Law Society of Ireland for entry to the solicitors' profession. It is examined by a single three-hour paper (3.5 hours for the online sitting) containing five essay and problem questions, of which candidates must answer four, with a pass mark of 50%. The subject covers the constitutional and institutional framework of EU law as it operates within the Irish legal order: the sources of EU law and the institutions, the supremacy of EU law, direct and indirect effect, Member State liability in damages, the Article 267 preliminary reference procedure, direct actions before the Court of Justice, and the free movement of goods, persons, and services together with EU competition law. The examination is held twice each year, in Spring (around March) and Autumn (around October), and each subject is sat individually.
Assessment
Question count not published by the exam provider
Time Limit
3 hours (3.5 hours online)
Passing Score
50% per subject
Exam Fee
EUR 128 per subject (2026; recheck EUR 154) (Law Society of Ireland)
FE-1 Law of the European Union Exam Content Outline
Sources & Institutions of EU Law
The post-Lisbon Treaty framework (TEU and TFEU), the hierarchy of EU acts - regulations, directives, and decisions - the roles of the Commission, Council, European Parliament, and Court of Justice, and the ordinary legislative procedure under Article 294 TFEU
Supremacy & the Irish Constitutional Dimension
The supremacy of EU law as established in Costa v ENEL and developed in Internationale Handelsgesellschaft and Simmenthal, its reception into Irish law, and the constitutional dimension reflected in Crotty v An Taoiseach and the EU amendments to Article 29.4 of the Irish Constitution
Direct Effect
The conditions for direct effect of Treaty provisions established in Van Gend en Loos, the direct effect of regulations and decisions, and the vertical-only direct effect of unimplemented directives (Marshall) with the denial of horizontal direct effect (Faccini Dori) and the broad definition of the State (Foster)
Indirect Effect & State Liability
The duty of consistent interpretation of national law (Von Colson; Marleasing) as a route around the absence of horizontal direct effect, and Member State liability in damages under Francovich and the three Brasserie du Pecheur / Factortame conditions for a sufficiently serious breach
Preliminary References & Direct Actions
The Article 267 TFEU preliminary reference procedure, the discretion and obligation to refer and the CILFIT acte clair criteria, and direct actions - infringement proceedings under Article 258, actions for annulment under Article 263 with the Plaumann test for individual standing, and the action for failure to act under Article 265
Free Movement of Goods
Articles 34-36 TFEU, the prohibition on quantitative restrictions and measures having equivalent effect on the Dassonville formula, the rule of reason and mandatory requirements under Cassis de Dijon, the distinction between product requirements and selling arrangements under Keck, and the Article 36 derogations
Free Movement of Persons, Services & Competition
Free movement of workers (Article 45 TFEU), freedom of establishment (Article 49), and freedom to provide services (Article 56), the public-policy and other derogations, and EU competition law - prohibited agreements and concerted practices under Article 101 and abuse of a dominant position under Article 102
How to Pass the FE-1 Law of the European Union Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 50% per subject
- Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
- Time limit: 3 hours (3.5 hours online)
- Exam fee: EUR 128 per subject (2026; recheck EUR 154)
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
FE-1 Law of the European Union Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the format of the FE-1 Law of the European Union exam?
FE-1 Law of the European Union is examined by a single three-hour paper (3.5 hours for the online sitting) made up of five essay and problem questions. Candidates must answer four of the five. There are no multiple-choice questions - each answer is a full written essay or a worked analysis of a fact-based problem, and the pass mark is 50%.
How does FE-1 EU Law fit into becoming a solicitor in Ireland?
FE-1 (the Final Examination - First Part) is the entrance examination for the solicitors' profession in Ireland, administered by the Law Society of Ireland. There are eight subjects in total, of which the Law of the European Union is one, and each is sat individually. All eight must be passed within seven years of the first pass before a candidate can take up a training contract and the Professional Practice Course.
What does the FE-1 EU Law syllabus cover?
The syllabus covers the sources of EU law and the institutions, the supremacy of EU law and its Irish constitutional dimension, direct effect, indirect effect, and state liability, the Article 267 preliminary reference procedure, direct actions such as annulment and infringement proceedings, the free movement of goods, persons, and services, and EU competition law under Articles 101 and 102 TFEU.
Does FE-1 EU Law use the old or the current Treaty article numbers?
Candidates should use the current post-Lisbon TFEU numbering. For example, free movement of goods is Articles 34-36 TFEU, workers is Article 45, establishment is Article 49, services is Article 56, the preliminary reference procedure is Article 267, annulment is Article 263, and competition is Articles 101 and 102. Older EC Treaty numbers may appear in pre-Lisbon case names but the current numbering should be used in answers.
What is the Irish constitutional dimension tested in FE-1 EU Law?
Ireland gave effect to EU membership through amendments to Article 29.4 of the Constitution, and the relationship between EU law and Irish constitutional law is examined. The leading authority is Crotty v An Taoiseach, where the Supreme Court held that ratification of the Single European Act required a constitutional referendum, establishing the principle that significant transfers of sovereignty require a popular vote.
Why does the vertical/horizontal distinction for directives matter in FE-1 EU Law?
An unimplemented directive can be relied on against the State or an emanation of the State (vertical direct effect, per Marshall and the broad State definition in Foster) but not against another private party (no horizontal direct effect, per Faccini Dori). This gap is bridged by indirect effect under Von Colson and Marleasing and, in some cases, by Francovich state liability in damages - a frequently examined chain of reasoning.