Bar exams

NEW SOUTH WALES BAR ASSOCIATION EXAM INFORMATION GUIDE. PDF 

Updated 20 March 2023

The Sydney based June 2023 Bar Exam is scheduled for Thursday, 8 June 2023 and will take place at the Sydney Masonic Centre Conference & Function Centre (SMC). The precise timing of the exam may vary slightly for distance candidates depending on the location at which the exam is to be conducted. While every effort will be made to ensure the exam is able to be conducted on this date, we cannot exclude the possibility that this date will need to be changed to enable us to accommodate changing circumstances.

Please note the following schedule change, this is that Approved Special Provision Candidates will sit the exam the day prior within the NSW Bar Association, this is Wednesday 7 June 2023. These candidates will be informed of their approval via email from the NSWBA and the relevant procedures they will need to follow.

Registrations for the June 2023 Bar Exam are scheduled to open at midday on Tuesday 21 March 2023 and close at midday on Monday 17 April 2023. Registration must be completed via the dedicated information/registration website (link provided below). No late registrations will be accepted outside of this period. 

Please note if you are a transferred candidate you will receive an email with a personalised link & instructions on how to register for the Exam.

The June 2023 dedicated Information Portal is available by clicking here - the registration website is only accessible through this link. https://nswbar.eventsair.com/2023-june-bar-exam 

General Information

The distinctive feature of practice at the bar is advocacy before the courts and tribunals. Accordingly, the Bar Council sets an exam in subjects related specifically to advocacy: legal ethics for barristers; aspects of evidence; and practice and procedure for barristers.  Admission to the Supreme Court is not a pre-requisite for sitting the Bar Exam, but it is necessary to pass this exam before commencing the Bar Practice Course. Candidates should familiarise themselves with the Bar Association Examination Policy and other professional development-related policies before registering.

Registration

The NSW Bar Exam is offered twice a year. Candidates are required to register. The registration fee is non-transferable and non-refundable. Please ensure you have read the Bar Association Examination Policy and all relevant material before registering.

Overseas or interstate sittings may be arranged through the Professional Development Department: exams@nswbar.asn.au.  

Preparing for the Bar Exam

Upon registration, exam candidates are provided with a reading list and relevant materials. Tutorials are offered by the Bar Association in the weeks prior to the exam. We do not endorse courses provided by other organisations. The examination is delivered electronically using ExamSoft software. For more information refer to our Information Guide.

The Bar Exam is comprised of 2x 2-hour papers with an additional 30 minutes of reading time allowed for each paper. Each paper is divided into two equally weighted question books including both short and long answer questions. 

Passing the Bar Exam

The pass mark is 75 per cent overall.

Passing the NSW Bar Exam does not entitle you to a NSW barrister's practising certificate.  The Bar Practice Course must be undertaken within 15 months of passing the examination. Passing the NSW Bar Examination permits a candidate to apply for enrolment in the Bar Practice Course, but does not guarantee that a candidate will be able to enrol in the Bar Practice Course of his or her choosing. Please refer to the Bar Practice Course Policy (updated October 2019), and, in particular, the capacity limits that apply for each course.  There will be a limit of 54 places for each course. Applicants are advised not to give notice of termination to employers until examination results and an offer of a place confirms entry to the full-time course. In addition to passing the Bar Exam, you must satisfactorily complete the NSW Bar Practice Course and Bar Council must approve your application for a practising certificate before a practising certificate will be issued. 

Exemptions

Applications for exemption from the Bar Exam should be directed to the Executive Director, in writing, detailing grounds for exemption supported by a curriculum vitae. Specific guidelines for application are not provided. All applications are judged on their merits. Applications for exemptions are only considered in the context of a full Practicing Certificate application.

Examination format

The Examination is comprised of 2 x two-hour exam papers and 30 minutes of reading time with a break between each paper.  Each sitting will comprise of one question book. Answers will be required to be typed on the software on the approved candidates laptop.

Paper 1                    All Sydney candidates must arrive at least one (1) hour before reading time commences for laptop setup on examination day.

Paper 2                   All Sydney candidates must arrive at least one (1) hour before reading time commences for laptop setup on examination day.

 

Examination Dates 2023

February 

Registration

Registration Open

Friday, midday 4 November 2022

Registration Close

Friday, midday 2 December 2022

Sittings

Sydney Candidates

Thursday, 9 February 2023

Distance Candidates

Wednesday, 8 February 2023

Results

Thursday 16 March 2023

 

JUNE

Registration

Registration Open

Tuesday 21 March 2023 (midday)

Registration Close

Monday 17 April 2023 (midday)

Sittings

Sydney Candidates

Thursday, 8 June 2023

Distance Candidates

Wednesday, 7 June 2023

Results

TBA

 

Note: dates provided are in AEST and may change to enable us to accommodate prevailing Government social distancing and other restrictions