Major Reviews and Reports

The Bar keeps membership statistics based on gender, age and seniority, accreditations, membership type and area of speciality.

Wellbeing at the Victorian Bar survey report

The Wellbeing of the Victorian Bar survey report covers the findings of a survey undertaken in June 2018 by 856 Victorian barristers.

The survey covered two key areas:

  • Quality of Working Life, Workplace Wellbeing and Personal Wellbeing; and
  • Conduct including discrimination, sexual harassment and workplace bullying

It used two benchmarks:

  • the 2017 Barrister Wellbeing Survey of 1088 (non-Victorian) Australian barristers; and
  • a sample of just under 6000 academics from 10 UK universities

Headline results were mostly encouraging and were in line with or exceeded the benchmark samples. Three in four respondents agreed or strongly agreed they were satisfied with the overall quality of their working lives. More than four in five respondents agreed or strongly agreed they enjoy their work. Four in five reported overall satisfaction with their jobs. Two-thirds agreed or strongly agreed they felt good or content with life as a whole.

The full report and Wellbeing at the Victorian Bar presentation slides may be accessed via the below links:


The State of the Victorian Bar report

The State of the Victorian Bar report is the biggest and most comprehensive demographic study of the Bar ever conducted.  It was commissioned in 2017 to provide an account of members’ work practices, incomes, and demographic information to identify opportunities and challenges for the Bar. The key findings of the report are:

  • Over time, the Bar has undergone significant demographic shifts; it has become older and women are better represented.
  • There has been steady growth in members’ incomes since the GFC.
  • There are positive signs for gender pay equity.
  • Members' changing work practices reflect more competition with law firms for work. 

The report provides a fascinating insight into the modern Victorian Bar, showing how far it has come in many areas, and where it faces challenges.

Download and view the State of the Victorian Bar report below:

Download and view the latest membership statistics report (PDF) below: