In order to appear in court as an advocate, all barristers must pass the Bar Exam and then undertake twelve months of training known as readerships.

This training includes completing the Bar Practice Course, which B run twice each year by the New South Wales Bar Association and then working under the guidance and supervision of one or two tutors. A tutor must be a barrister of at least seven years’ standing (but barristers of 5-7 years may in certain cases be permitted to act as tutors), but not a senior counsel. Our Clerk, Dianne Strathdee can provide the names of potential tutors on enquiry. A list of potential tutors is also kept by the New South Wales Bar Association.

Tenth Floor Chambers offers two readership positions each year, one for the May intake and one for the September intake. Competition for those places is fierce, and only candidates of exceptional ability and ambition are likely to be made an offer.

Tenth Floor Chambers awards The David Officer DC Scholarship to the successful applicants for readership on the Boor each year. The scholarship is named in honour of David Officer who was a member of the floor widely known for assisting junior members of the bar and for possessing in abundance all of the qualities required of a barrister.

Enquiries and applications for readerships should be sent to the Clerk, Dianne Strathdee, at strathdee@tenthfloor.org.