Renewal of Practising Certificates

23/05/2025

Applications for renewal of practising certificates are now open. All barristers should have received an email containing a link to renew their practising certificates using the same online system as previous years. Please do not attempt to renew your practising certificate on your smartphone. For optimal efficiency, the system is best on a laptop or desk top computer and using Chrome as your web browser. If you cannot find your email, please click here and login to start your application. Your login details can be obtained by calling Reception on 9232 4055.

Please note that the 2025/2026 fees for practising certificates and membership have increased by 2.5% for all categories. All payments are required to be made by one of the following methods:

• Credit or Debit Card;

• BPay; or

• Direct Deposit.

Please be advised, that as of 1 May 2025, the NSW Bar Association will be passing on a payment processing fee of 1.7% + $0.30 of the total payment amount (including GST, if applicable) for all payments received by credit or debit card. This includes the renewal of your 2025-2026 Practising Certificate and Membership.

The NSW Bar Association is charged fees from financial institutions when receiving payment via credit and debit cards. In previous years the NSW Bar Association has absorbed this cost, however the Bar Council has recently determined to pass on the payment processing fee to those who choose to pay by card.

Please note that payments made by BPAY and Direct Deposit (available until 23 June 2025) will not incur the payment processing fee.

Payments by BPAY and Direct Deposits will not be accepted after 23 June 2025. Payments after that date must be made by credit or debit card online.

Applications for waiver of fees will be considered in accordance with the NSW Bar Association Fee Waiver Policy in the link here. If you wish to apply for a waiver of your practising certificate fees for 2025/2026, please progress with the online application with your responses until just before the payment stage (the last step) and save the application. Please send your application for a fee waiver to certification@nswbar.asn.au and wait for a response before completing the payment stage of your application.

If you intend to renew your practising certificate, it would be appreciated if you could submit your online renewal application as soon as possible to assist the Bar Association to process applications in a timely manner. If you do not intend to renew, please use the online system to advise the Association you will not be renewing and provide your contact details for after you cease to practise. Please note that if you are leaving practice, you have the option to move to Class B membership of the Association which you may find helpful to maintain your connection to the wider Bar and keep up to date with developments of interest. If you experience any difficulties using the online system, please contact the Certification area of the Association by email certification@nswbar.asn.au.

All applications to renew must be received by Monday, 30 June 2025. Any applications received after Saturday, 7 June 2025 will attract the statutory late fee. Please note that late fees will also be applied to fresh practising certificate applications received after 1 July 2025, where the applicant held a practising certificate prior to 30 June 2025.

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