Returning to the bar

Where an application for a New South Wales barrister's practising certificate is received from an Australian lawyer who has previously held a practising certificate that entitled the practitioner to engage in legal practice only as a barrister, which is not current, the following policy will apply:

• Where the applicant is returning to the bar within two years of the expiry of their last barrister’s practising certificate, and that certificate did not have readers conditions attached, the applicant will not be required to undertake the NSW Bar Examination, complete the Bar Practice Course or complete the Reading Program.
• Where the applicant is returning to the bar within two years of the expiry of their last barrister’s practising certificate, and that certificate had readers conditions attached, the applicant must complete any outstanding reading requirements.
• Where the applicant is returning to the bar, and more than two years have elapsed since the expiry of their last barrister’s practising certificate, the applicant must undertake the NSW Bar Examination and complete the Bar Practice Course and the Reading Program.

The Bar Council may dispense with, or relieve against, compliance with any of the foregoing requirements, in whole or in part, either before or after the occasion for compliance arises.

Applications for dispensation of or relief against the requirements to undertake the NSW Bar Examination, to complete the Bar Practice Course or to complete the Reading Program will be determined in accordance with the Exemption Policy.

Bar Council delegates to the Executive Director the authority to act on behalf of the Bar Council, in consultation with the members of the Bar Council Executive and the Education Committee as the Executive Director believes appropriate, in respect of the matters noted above.