nsw bar defends readers' fees
DESCRIPTION
Bar boss Philip Selth responds to Justinian's Bar Talk article ...TRANSCRIPT
NEW SOUTH WALESBAR ASSOCIATION
Servants of All Yet of None
Selborne ChambersB/174 Phillip StreetSydney NSW 2OOO
DX l2O4 Sydneyr +61 2 9232 4055E enquiries@nswbar asn au
ABN 18 s26 414 014ACN OOO O33 652
nswbar asn au
13167;131201
25 November 2073
Mr Richard AcklandEditorJustinianVia email: [email protected]
I)ear Mr Ackland
Bar Prøctice Course ønd Bar Exømination Fees
I write concerning the item in Justinian's Bar Talk column dated 22November 2013 relating to readers fees charged by the New South \ØalesBar Association in 2012-73.
Although the piece is correct in stating that the Association's revenue fromreaders increased substantially in 2012-13, there are a number of factorswhich need to be taken into consideration in this context.
First, it is important to note that there were three sets of Bar Exams heldover 2012-13, instead of the usual two per year, due to a change in thescheduling of the examinetions. This resulted in a substantial increase inrevenue in the period.
Second, the intake of readers for the Bar Practice Courses ovet 2012-13 wassubstantially higher than that in the preceding financial year, which also
resulted in an increase in revenue received from the courses.
Third, although the Bar Practice Course fee was increased in 2012-13 from$3000 to $3800, this was the first increase in course fees For ten years' I notethat the fees for the Association's Bar Practice Course are substantially lowerthan the equivalent Victorian and Queensland Bar courses.
It is also important to note that practising certificate fees for readers are
heavily discounted.
Further, I note that the piece comments that "the costs of organisation andsupervision wouid be minimal". This is not the case. Although presenters at
the Bar Practice Course give their time free of charge, there are extensivestafi rent and other direct costs (such as costs for hiring court venues)involved.
I hope that this information places the matters raised in Friday's Justinianpiece in their proper context,
The Bar Talk column also included a piece on the offensive corresPondenceraised in NSV Parliament by the Hon Helen 'Westwood MLC from a
member of the Bar concerning same sex marriage, Following the piece thePresident has contacted Ms \Øestwood to make it clear that the barrister'sconduct was completely unacceptable,
Yours sincerely
/afuP A SelthExecutive Director