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Practising Certificate (Barrister) - New South Wales

Description

You will need this practising certificate if you intend to principally practice as a barrister in New South Wales. Barristers are sole practitioners and specialise in court work. A barrister's practising certificate is an Australian practising certificate but with an additional condition allowing the holder to act as a barrister.

As a barrister, you must follow strict regulations set down by the New South Wales Bar Association and the legislative regime which regulates the legal profession and is known as the Uniform Law (see below). You must also complete extensive academic and professional training.

You do not need to apply for this certificate if you already have a barrister's practising certificate and your principal place of practice is in another Australian state or territory.

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for a barrister's practising certificate, you must:

  • be a fit and proper person
  • be admitted as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of New South Wales or in another Australian state or territory
  • pass the New South Wales bar exam
  • complete the 12-month reading program
  • have the required professional indemnity insurance.

Ongoing eligibility requirements

As a practising barrister in New South Wales, you must:

  • follow all conditions placed on your practising certificate
  • not hold another practising certificate while your current practising certificate is in force
  • complete the required amount of continuing professional development (CPD) every 12 months.

Duration

Annual

Expiry

You will need to renew your certificate by 30 June each year.

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Description
Apply Application All

Fees are listed on the attached document.

Other resources

Task Business Structure Resources
Comply All Guide to Becoming a Barrister in New South Wales - PDF (Opens in new window)

Act(s) name

Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) New South Wales

Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 New South Wales

Regulation(s) name

Legal Profession Uniform Barristers (Conduct) Rules 2015 New South Wales

Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Barristers) Rules 2015 New South Wales

Legal Profession Uniform General Rules 2015 New South Wales

Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Regulation 2015 New South Wales

Lodgement process

Lodge

Please lodge your application directly with the Association.

Additional information

The New South Wales bar exam is offered twice a year.

If you have previously held a New South Wales barrister's practising certificate and more than two years has passed since it expired, you will be required to undertake the bar exam and the reading programme again.

If you are a legal practitioner from New Zealand, you can apply to have your qualifications recognised in New South Wales.

Disqualified persons or entities

You may not be eligible for a barrister's practising certificate if you:

  • currently have (or are applying for) an Australian practising certificate that would be in force alongside the New South Wales application
  • are not a fit and proper person.

Administering agency

New South Wales Bar Association

Contact details

Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.