Message from the President

Bar exams

Qualificatons for and cost of a career at the Bar

The Reading Programme

Bar Practice Course

Starting a practice at the Bar

Continuing Professional Development Programme

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Qualification for registration in the Bar Practice Course

The registrant in the Bar Practice Course must be admitted to the Supreme Court and has current passes in all three Bar exams. More...

Timetable for the Bar Practice Course

The timetable for each Bar Practice Course is issued to readers prior to the first day.

Course dates

October 2006

Monday 9 October 2006 - Saturday 4 November 2006

May 2007

Monday 30 April 2007 - Saturday 26 May 2007

October 2007

Monday 8 October 2007 - Saturday 3 November 2007

Lectures, workshops, court practice sessions and informal discussions address these aims. All methods strive to illuminate the role and responsibilities of barristers, and their place in the community, and in the administration of justice and the maintenance of the rule of law.

The contributions of judges, magistrates, senior counsel, experienced barristers and some professionals from disciplines other than the law make the course an ideal introduction to practice as a new barrister and, for overseas and interstate practitioners starting practice in New South Wales, an effective means of becoming familiar with practice at the New South Wales Bar.

Some of the advocacy exercises performed by readers during the course are presided over by judicial officers and involve witnesses drawn from relevant professional fields.

Attendance and satisfactory performance in the Bar Practice Course

The first of the requirements for readers is that they attend all sessions punctually, and perform satisfactorily in the Bar Practice Course.

Attendance at the course is generally required between 8.30am and 6.30pm. Readers can expect to devote a further few hours in the evening in preparation for the following day. Readers are required to give their complete professional attention to course work.

It is a condition of the reader's practising certificate that the reader will not practice during the period of the course.

In order to meet the requirement of satisfactory performance in the Bar Practice Course, readers must:

• Attend all sessions in the Bar Practice Course unless exempted or excused by prior arrangement.
• Satisfactorily present applications before the court for each of the practical sessions.
• Satisfactorily perform an opening address, examination in chief of a witness, and cross examination of an expert witness in the advocacy sessions.
• Satisfactorily conduct a series of discrete mini hearings.
• Satisfactorily conduct conferences with witnesses for the purposes of the final trial.
• Satisfactorily prepare an advice in a matter set for trial.
• Satisfactorily prepare and present a case for hearing at the final trial.

Assessment

Readers are progressively assessed through instructors' completion of assessment sheets.

Failure to attend all sessions punctually and perform satisfactorily in the course constitutes a breach of practising certificate conditions.

Registration for the Bar Practice Course

Registration forms for the Bar Practice Course will be sent to all eligible lawyers once they hold current passes in all three Bar exams.

While the examinee does not need to be admitted as a lawyer in order to attempt the Bar exams, the registrant of the Bar Practice Course does need such qualification in order to apply for a practising certificate and commence the Reading Programme.

The Bar Practice Course must be commenced within ten months of notification of a pass in the first of the exams sat.

When completing the registration form, the registrant will be invited to register for either the Bar Practice Course next following, or the course to be conducted six months after the next following course. For example, a registrant who has achieved the required three current passes following the Bar exams in February 2007 may register for the Bar Practice Course commencing in either May or October of 2007. Of course, the registrant would only be able to enjoy this choice if all three exam passes would still be current at the time of the second in the sequence of the two Bar Practice Courses. Currency of passes may be maintained for ten months. Click here to view the Bar Practice Course Policy.

Acceptance of a place in the Bar Practice Course is deemed to have been confirmed only upon receipt of the 'Registration to attend the NSW Bar Practice Course' form and fee. Registration will require confirmation of admission, details of arranged tutors and chambers, a response to an advocacy experience questionnaire, and a current curriculum vitae.

Costs of the Bar Practice Course

The course fee is $3000.00. The fee is refundable with a $100 administration fee being charged if withdrawal from the course is not less than 30 days prior to the course commencement. Applicants providing less than 30 days notice of withdrawal will be charged a $500.00 administration fee.

Bar Practice Course material online

On registration, a place in the preferred course will be offered and the registrant will be directed to the Bar Practice Course material on the Bar Association website.  A draft timetable will also be included.  A final timetable will be distributed on the first day of the course.  Additional course material will also be distributed during the course and posted online.

Lecture notes, teaching materials (copyright reserved) and video reviews


The timetable highlights the material that will be used each day.  The relevant papers for the day should be read beforehand. 

All lecture notes and other teaching materials received prior to and during the Bar Practice Course cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the Bar Association.

Video recordings of practical performances are reviewed by group leaders. Video recording of practical performances is compulsory.