THE VICTORIAN BAR
ABOUT THE VICTORIAN BAR
The Victorian Bar is a private, voluntary, self-funded, non-profit professional association representing more than 2200 barristers in Victoria. The Bar’s home is in the Courts precinct of Melbourne in the Owen Dixon Chambers, surrounded by chambers in other buildings.
The work of the barrister is built on the proud tradition of providing strong and independent legal representation and advice, without fear or favour to all in the community.
The first association of barristers in Victoria was formed in 1884, although the first barristers admitted to practice in Victoria were appointed in 1841. On 20 June 1900, an official Bar Council was established and a Bar Roll was started. By 1902, all barristers practicing in Melbourne had signed the Roll. To this day, new barristers sign the Roll when they are admitted to the Bar.
Since 1891, Victoria has had a fused or amalgamated legal profession. That is, there has been a single admission to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria. The terminology changed with the Legal Profession Act 2004 (Vic) to admission as an “Australian lawyer” and licensing to practise as an “Australian legal practitioner” and “local legal practitioner”. “Barrister” is defined in the Legal Profession Uniform Law as “an Australian legal practitioner who engages in legal practice solely as a barrister”. To this day, the discharge of the several functions delegated to the Victorian Bar has been guided by the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (Vic).
The Victorian Bar:
- performs several functions delegated by the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner (the peak legal regulatory body in Victoria) including the receipt and processing of applications for practising certificates by barristers, and
- under delegation from the Legal Services Commissioner, investigates suitability matters concerning barristers.
