Victorian Bar


The Victorian Bar is the bar association of the Australian State of Victoria. The 2025-2026 President of the Bar is Fiona Ryan SC. Its members are barristers registered to practice in Victoria. Those who have been admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Victoria are eligible to join the Victorian Bar after sitting an entrance exam and completing a Bar Readers' course. The Victorian Bar is affiliated with the Australian Bar Association and is a member of the Law Council of Australia.
The first association of barristers in Victoria was formed in 1884, although the first barristers admitted to practice in Victoria were appointed in 1841. On 20 June 1900, an official Bar Council was established and a Bar Roll was started. By 1902, all barristers practicing in Melbourne had signed the Roll. To this day, new barristers sign the Roll when they are admitted to the Bar.
As of October 2023, 34% of barristers at the Victorian Bar were women, up from 5% in 1980. In 2023, 13% of members were born outside of Australia and 6% speak languages other than English at home. Ten women have served as Chairs or Presidents of the Bar, including Elizabeth Bennett KC, Roisin Annesley KC, as well as, Susan Crennan AC KC, Kate McMillan SC, Melanie Sloss SC, Fiona McLeod SC, Jennifer Batrouney KC, Wendy Harris KC and Georgina Schoff KC.

Pro Bono Scheme

In 2000, the Victorian Bar launched a Legal Assistance Scheme in association with the Public Interest Law Clearing House, to coordinate pro bono work among barristers in Victoria. The Legal Assistance Scheme, now operating as the "Pro Bono Scheme" and PILCH, now operating as "Justice Connect", has approximately 1,000 participants from the Victorian Bar.
Overseen by the Pro Bono Committee, the Scheme assists individuals and community groups with legal aid. This work includes advocating for human rights, environmental or social justice causes, and helping people who are marginalised or from disadvantaged backgrounds. The premise of the Scheme is to ensure that everyone has access to legal representation regardless of age, gender, race, disability or socio-economic hardship.

Equitable Briefing

In 2016, the Victorian Bar endorsed the National Model Gender Equitable Briefing Policy, launched by the Law Council of Australia to achieve a nationally consistent approach towards bringing about cultural and attitudinal change within the legal profession concerning gender briefing practices. The Victorian Bar has also adopted the Law Council's Diversity and Equality Charter. The Commercial Bar Association of Victoria, members of the Judiciary and the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission have also launched the CommBar Equitable Briefing Initiative to increase briefing of women at all levels and to engage with the law firms that brief the Commercial Bar to commit to real change.

International legal practitioners

All lawyers in Australia must first be admitted to practice. In Victoria, the process for admission is conducted by the Victorian Legal Board of Admissions.

Chairman and Presidents of the Victorian Bar