Already a subscriber?The Victorian Bar is overhauling its controversial entrance exam after a sweeping review slammed it as “unfairly and unnecessarily restricting access to the Bar” and in “pressing need” of drastic reform.
“It would be highly undesirable if the Bar conducts another sitting of the exam on the current model.”was a test of typing speed and exam technique rather than the base knowledge needed to be a barrister, potentially prejudicing older candidates or those from non-English-speaking backgrounds. It warned that if the exam continued to significantly restrict those going to the Bar, “it may be necessary to … possibly abolish the exam altogether”.As well as increasing the frequency of the test and splitting it across more papers, the review recommended the Bar Council consider alternative pathways for suitable candidates for the Bar who have not passed the exam despite their best endeavours.
The review said these recommendations should reduce “the personal and psychological impact” of failing that candidates feel.“These are significant changes that will no doubt change the shape of our bar,” Victorian Bar president Georgina Schoff, KC, said in a note to members about the changes. But the Bar Council rejected a recommendation to make the exam and reader’s course more affordable by letting participants pay their fees in instalments.
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