Victorian Bar Entrance Exam

To be eligible to undertake the Exam a candidate must:

• be admitted as an Australian Lawyer, or expect on reasonable grounds to become an Australian Lawyer by the time he or she signs the Bar Roll;
• be of fit and proper standing, (refer to Victorian Legal Services Board’s Fit and Proper Person Policy);
• be available and willing to undertake either of the next two Victorian Bar Readers’ Courses immediately following the Exam;     
• be prepared to read with an eligible mentor for nine months, commencing at the start of the Readers’ Course;
• agree to the Exam Rules and Conditions; and
• register and pay the registration fee (non-refundable).

Candidates should consult the Entrance Exam Information Guide for Candidates and the Victorian Bar Application and Reading Regulations (Regulations)  for further information about eligibility to undertake the Exam and to apply to become a member of the Victorian Bar.

The next exam will be held Sunday 25 October 2020.

To register, you will need to complete the online registration, provide photographic proof of identity and pay the registration fee (non-refundable).

The registration fee is $620 including GST.

Registration will open from 5:00pm on 25 August 2020 and will close 5:00pm on 25 September 2020.

Upon registration, candidates will be able to access the Exam materials and resources.

Persons interested in registering for the Exam should note that registration must be completed strictly within the time specified. Late registrations will not be accepted.

Electronic Exam

From 2020, the Exam will be delivered electronically using ExamSoft software.

To undertake the Exam, candidates must use their own laptop or other device which has a camera and which meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements for devices as determined by ExamSoft.  Candidates will sit the exam remotely in their own location.  The Victorian Bar exam will require the use of three software programs provided by ExamSoft:  Examplify, ExamID and ExamMonitor.

The minimum system requirements differ according to the operating system for the chosen device, and are as described in the following links:

• Windows
• Mac OS X

Candidate devices must meet the minimum requirements that apply for exams with ExamID and ExamMonitor enabled.  NB:  iPad is unsupported for use with ExamMonitor and cannot be used for the exam.

How will it work?

Candidates will undertake the Exam at their own location (e.g. home, office), using the ExamSoft software, which will be supplied to them after registration and must be downloaded onto their own device and tested well prior to the Exam.

Shortly prior to the Exam, candidates will download an encrypted copy of the Exam onto their device, which can only be accessed (via password) and completed on the day of the Exam.

Candidates will have three hours to complete the Exam after accessing and commencing it. This includes time to both read and complete the exam (there is no additional reading period).

On the day of the Exam, candidates must undertake the three-hour Exam within the permitted window, which is between 9:30am and 1:00pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time). This means that candidates must access and commence the Exam at or shortly after 9:30am. Candidates will be automatically “timed out” three hours after commencing the Exam, and the program will lock the encrypted exam file.  They will then have to upload the Exam promptly before 2:00pm on the same day (as described further below).

During the Exam, candidates must type their answers directly into the software on their device. There is no mechanism for candidates to handwrite their answers. 

The Exam is an open book exam, but candidates may only refer to non-electronic materials (i.e. printed or hand-written notes and other hard copy texts and materials). While undertaking the Exam, candidates must not access or consult any electronic materials or other devices (including phone, tablet, smart-watch), and they must not communicate with any person.  

As the ExamSoft software and the Exam and video are stored locally on the candidate’s device, there is no need for access to the internet or Wi-Fi during the Exam, and the ExamSoft software will prevent that access. 

During the Exam, internet access and other features of a candidate’s device will be disabled by the ExamSoft software, which will access the camera on the candidate’s device and will capture a video of the candidate.  This may subsequently be reviewed and retained by ExamSoft and the Victorian Bar.   

In extenuating circumstances, candidates may apply for alternative sitting arrangements (per Regulations, reg. 6A).

In your application you will need to include:

• Basis for your request, and
• Detailed supporting documents, eg medical certificate/letter from health professional explaining basis for request.

Applications for alternative sitting arrangements can be made at registration or by email no later than five full business days prior to the exam.  Applications made later will not be considered.  Some requests may be subject to surcharges.

Approval or refusal is at the discretion of the Admissions Officer.