BAR READERS' COURSE  -  EXEMPTION POLICY

DATE ISSUED:     MAY 2009

1.     ASSOCIATION RESOLUTION

The Council of the Western Australian Bar Association gives effect to the resolution of the Association’s Members for the introduction of a Bar Readers’ Course for all future applicants for Ordinary Members of the Association, in the following terms:

1.1     the Association will offer a Bar Readers’ Course annually;
1.2     the Association may offer the Advocacy module of the Bar Readers’ Course to the legal profession at large in any year; and
1.3     that completion of the Bar Readers’ Course or exemption from the Bar Readers’ Course or part of the Bar Readers’ Course shall be mandatory for applicants seeking membership of the Association.

2.     EXERCISE OF THE POWER TO EXEMPT IN RESPECT OF THOSE APPLICANTS FOR MEMBERSHIP

The determination of any application for exemption will take into account the following general principles:

2.1    to ensure that all entrants to the Western Australian Independent Bar and members of the Association understand the nature and mode of practice of an independent barrister in Western Australia;
2.2     to ensure that all entrants to the Western Australian Independent Bar and members of the Association are familiar with the history, objects, Constitution and Conduct Rules of the Western Australian Bar Association (“the Association”);
2.3     to ensure that all entrants to the Western Australian Independent Bar have achieved the standards set in the Bar Readers’ Course;
2.4     the desirability of achieving the objects of the Bar Readers’ Course in the maintenance and improvement of the professional skill level of the Western Australian Independent Bar having regard to competition for legal services within the national legal profession;

The following are general rules that will guide determination of any application for exemption by Bar Council:

(i)    no applicant seeking membership of the Association will be exempted from completing the Ethics module except if the applicant is a long standing member of another Australian Bar;

(ii)    exemption from other modules will only be considered in respect of applicants who can demonstrate that they have recent substantial experience as counsel in the conduct of significant litigious matters.

Click here to download a copy of the Bar Readers' Course Exemption Policy.