How do you become a barrister in Australia?

Asked by: Kaela Koepp  |  Last update: October 10, 2022
Score: 4.6/5 (11 votes)

How to become a barrister
  1. Complete an undergraduate law degree and earn a practising certificate in your state or territory.
  2. Pass the examination set by the Australian Bar Association (ABA), applicable to your state or territory; this will allow you to register for the Reader course.

How long does it take to become a barrister in Australia?

All in all, it takes almost 6 years of education and practice to become a lawyer in Australia. Note: If you want to be a barrister, you must first take and pass the bar exam and get admission into the Bar Readers' Course.

How much does a barrister in Australia make?

Barristers, whose main duties are to represent clients in court, earn higher average pay than solicitors, who commonly do more behind-the-scenes work, usually of an advisory or administrative nature. The barrister salary in Australia averages at $168,766.

What qualification do you need to be a barrister?

To become a barrister, you will need a degree (along with the Graduate Diploma in Law if it is a non-law degree). You will also need to complete the vocational component and pupillage/work-based component.

How hard is it to become a barrister Australia?

To be eligible to practise as a Barrister in Australia, you must become a qualified Lawyer by completing a Bachelor of Laws degree. You must then qualify for and complete the Bar Readers' Course in your relevant state. Complete a Bachelor of Laws degree and obtain a practicing certificate.

Becoming A Barrister

45 related questions found

Can I do barrister after LLB?

You will need to complete an undergraduate degree in law (LLB). Previously, you needed to apply to the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) as the final stage of qualifying as a Barrister.

Can you be a barrister without a law degree?

Non-law graduates who want to work as barristers need to take a conversion course such as the postgraduate diploma in law or common professional examination. These qualifications also serve as a good grounding if you want to study the solicitors qualifying examination.

Is a barrister higher than a solicitor?

Barristers can be distinguished from a solicitor because they wear a wig and gown in court. They work at higher levels of court than solicitors and their main role is to act as advocates in legal hearings, which means they stand in court and plead the case on behalf of their clients in front of a judge.

What is a barrister salary?

£40,000 - £90,000. General Civil. £20,000 - £50,000. £40,000 - £100,000. Chancery.

How long does it take to train as a barrister?

Becoming a fully-fledged barrister takes five years - including three years for your law degree, one year for a Bar course and a one-year pupillage in chambers.

What is the highest paid job in Australia?

Which job has the highest salary in Australia? Neurosurgeons earn the highest annual salary in Australia at over $600,000.

What type of lawyer gets paid the most in Australia?

General-In-House Lawyers came first, at an average annual salary of $128,988. Constructions Lawyers came second highest, at an average annual salary of $124,041. Corporate & Commercial Lawyers come third highest, at an average annual salary of $118,558.

Who is the best barrister in Australia?

Australian Financial Review 'Best Lawyers' List 2022 – 23 Barristers Listed
  • Scott McCleod QC.
  • Michael Trim.
  • Stewart Webster.
  • Shane Doyle QC -“Lawyer of the Year”
  • Matthew Hickey.
  • Michael May.
  • Claire Schneider.
  • Kristi Riedel.

Is there a bar exam in AUstralia?

There is no bar exam in AUstralia. HOwever, you definitely must pass the so called "Priestley 11". These are 11 areas of law (e.g. contracts, torts, property etc.) which constitute the heart of the Australian legal system.

How much does a barrister earn per hour in AUstralia?

Standard Price per hour for Barristers

The standard cost to hire a QC/SC is $1,000/hour.

What is the difference between a solicitor and a barrister in AUstralia?

Solicitors provide general legal advice on a variety of issues. Barristers are specialists in certain legal fields that solicitors can instruct on behalf of their client to appear in court. In Australia, attorneys often refer to trade mark attorneys.

Are barristers rich?

Barristers in chambers do not have salaries; they are self employed. That means that they get paid for the work that they do, and if they are not working (for example, if they are on holiday) they do not get paid. So it is not the case that you will pick up a set monthly amount as a barrister.

Is it too late to become a barrister?

No, you have not left it too late to become a barrister or get work experience. Age wise you're not old at all. Plenty of barristers have previous careers and are into their 40s or beyond when they secure pupillage. In terms of age it is very common for new pupils to be more towards 30 than their early twenties.

Is being a barrister worth it?

Being a barrister can be immensely satisfying in that it offers an opportunity to provide the specialist knowledge that can assist a client in obtaining their desired result, and therefore make a real difference to their lives. You are offering advice and representation to clients at a very stressful time.

What does it mean when a barrister gets silk?

What is a QC? A limited number of senior barristers receive 'silk' - becoming Queen's Counsel - as a mark of outstanding ability. They are normally instructed in very serious or complex cases. Most senior judges once practised as QCs.

Can you be both a solicitor and a barrister?

Have you trained to become a solicitor and had a change of heart? Don't despair – solicitors can become barristers if this is the route you wish to take. Read on to find out how to do it.

What is a barrister in Australia?

A 'barrister' is an independent specialist advocate and advisor in law. Their highly competitive training, together with their specialist knowledge and experience, can make a substantial difference to the outcome of a case.

Is it difficult to become a barrister?

The process of becoming a barrister is not complex to understand. Almost anyone can get into Bar School, provided you have a 2:2 and can pass a straightforward entrance exam. The tough part of landing yourself a pupillage and then tenancy. The Bar offers one of the most challenging career paths out there.

What are the steps to becoming a barrister?

The steps to becoming a Barrister involve 3 key stages that include obtaining minimum academic qualifications in law, completing vocational training and attaining a pupillage. Academic: A qualifying law degree or a degree in another subject supplemented by an approved Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) course.

Do barristers have masters?

Training as a barrister

The course usually takes one year full time. Alternatively, a few institutions offer a two-year masters' course, which goes into more depth.