- Admission to the bar
: "This article is about requirements for admission to practice law not just terminology. Most countries listed have additional requirements."
Admission to the bar is the term commonly used in the
United States andCanada to indicate that a person is licensed to practice law as anattorney at law . Different terms for admission are used in other countries. The term "bar" originates from the short wall in courtrooms that separates the general public from the tables where lawyers sit and address the court. Only those that have "passed the bar" may sit where the lawyers sit, hence, "passing the bar."Commonwealth countries (general)
Australia
* A
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or aJuris Doctor degree
* A year's practical training in a law firm, known as an Articled Clerkship, or an equivalent practical course
* Written and spoken fluency in EnglishCanada
Lawyers in
Canada are called to the bar when they meet the following requirements:
* ABachelor of Laws (LL.B),Juris Doctor (JD) orBachelor of Civil Law (BCL) (inQuebec ) degree from a recognized Canadian university is required. Foreign lawyers may apply to the [http://www.flsc.ca/en/foreignLawyers/foreignLawyers.asp National Committee on Accreditation] of the [http://www.flsc.ca/ Federation of Law Societies of Canada] .
* Written and spoken fluency in English or French.
* Completion of 10 months of practical legal training, known asArticling .
* Passing the bar exams of a province.England and Wales (Barrister)
* Aged at least 21
* Obtained a law degree of at least II(ii) level or obtained a degree in another subject to the same level and passed theCommon Professional Examination
* Passed theBar Vocational Course
* Written and spoken fluency in English
* InEngland abarrister who is granted permission to plead and practice before the high courts is said to have been called to the bar. The term is not used forsolicitor s, who are "Admitted to the roll" after theLegal Practice Course and a two year Training Contract.
* Admission to the bar is not required to practice law in England and Wales. [http://www.lawsociety.org.uk//documents/downloads/overseaslawyersengwales.pdf "Overseas lawyers in England & Wales, International Unit January 2003"] , [http://www.lawsociety.org.uk The Law Society of England & Wales] [http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/professional/overseaslawyers.law International Unit] However, only duly qualified solicitors and barristers can use those titles, and provision of immigration advice and services is restricted to certain groups. Certain other services also require qualification or registration, including financial advice.New Zealand
* A
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree
* Professional legal studies course
* Written and spoken fluency in English
* Aged at least 20
* Having passed a university paper in Legal Ethics (if having completed your LL.B degree after 2000).Ireland
* A Barrister-at-Law degree from the Honourable Society of
King's Inns , admission to the 1 year barrister-at-law degree requires either a recognised law degree (LL.B. or BCL) or the King's Inns legal diploma and passing the entrance exams.
* Passing the Statutory Irish Language Test
* Solicitors although having rights of audience in all courts are not "called to the bar", they are enrolled on the roll of solicitors.Singapore
* A
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or aJuris Doctor degree
* Written and spoken fluency in EnglishHong Kong
* A
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), aJuris Doctor degree or having obtained a degree in another subject and passed theCommon Professional Examination
*Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (P.C.LL.)
* Written and spoken fluency in English
* Hong Kong, like England (see above), retained the difference between the roles ofbarristers andsolicitors .United States of America
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.