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SHORT COURSE

Bar Preparation Program

$ 2,675.00

START DATE

29 November

MODE

On Campus (Sydney)

DURATION

3 days

COMMITMENT

3 days

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Meet the Experts

Alexander Kuklik

Alexander Kuklik
Barrister

Admitted to the bar in 2006 after practising as a solicitor in private practice and with the corporate regulator, Alex has established a broad practice in commercial and equity law.  He specialises in trusts and succession, commercial and property disputes and company and financial services law.  His clients include private businesses and government regulators, as well as individuals.  In addition to advocacy work, Alex’s practice also includes advisory work for both private and government clients.

Alex appears in the High Court of Australia, the Supreme Court of NSW (including the Court of Appeal), the Federal Court of Australia, the District Court of NSW, the Local Court of NSW and tribunals.  Alex has also appeared in the Supreme Courts of Victoria and the ACT.

Alex lectures and tutors at the University of Sydney in a range of subjects including, evidence law, contract law, tort law, criminal law, private international law, civil and criminal procedure. Alex is also a lecturer and examiner for the Legal Profession Admission Board and has presented seminars on a broad range of legal topics.

Alex is a lieutenant and legal officer in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve.

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Gráinne Marsden

Gráinne Marsden
Barrister, 12 Wentworth Selborne Chambers

Gráinne has a broad practice and appears in a wide range of civil and criminal matters.  She has particular expertise in commercial and regulatory matters, including commercial and contract law, competition and consumer law, professional negligence and disciplinary proceedings.  Gráinne also has a diverse criminal practice and is regularly briefed on behalf of both prosecution and defence in complex criminal matters including white collar crime, regulatory prosecutions and appeals.

Before being called to the Bar, Gráinne was a solicitor in Disputes at Herbert Smith Freehills and in criminal defence with Legal Aid NSW and the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency.  She was also a Tipstaff to the Hon Ian Gzell AO in the New South Wales Supreme Court.

Gráinne holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons I) and Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University.

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Dr Bryce Douglas-Baker

Dr Bryce Douglas-Baker
Barrister

Dr Bryce Douglas-Baker is a corporate and commercial barrister who advises and appears as counsel in a wide range of jurisdictions and areas of law, including building and construction, contracts, corporations, co-operatives, equity, family, property, and water law.

Bryce is also an experienced university lecturer, having taught Law at several universities, including the University of Sydney through the Law Extension Committee, where he is currently the principal lecturer and unit of study coordinator for Commercial Transactions and Practice and Procedure. He has also lectured in Commercial EquityCivil ProcedureEvidenceLegal Rhetoric, and Legal Ethics.

Before entering the law, Bryce taught English and Rhetoric at the University of Sydney, where he received a Doctor of Philosophy in English.

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The distinctive feature of practice at the Bar is advocacy before the courts and other tribunals. Therefore, the NSW Bar Association’s Bar examination and this UTS Law short course alike have a practical orientation, and address three key focus areas: ethics, evidence, and civil and criminal practice and procedure.

About this course

Modules covering the three focus areas will be conducted over three consecutive days:

1.  Aspects of evidence

2.  Practice and procedure

3.  Legal ethics for barristers.

During each module, participants will have the opportunity to test their understanding of examination topics through the use of practice problems and scenarios.

This model gives participants the opportunity to properly digest each module, develop good problem-solving/answering techniques and aid information retention.

The program is designed and conducted by qualified academics and practising barristers. This unique combination provides the practical approach needed to help candidates ready themselves for the examination, as well as help prepare them for the rigours of the Bar Practice Course.

This short course is usually offered twice per year, in December/January and April/May, approximately a month in advance of the NSW Bar Association's Examination.

Key benefits of this course

As a result of undertaking this course, participants should gain:

  • A greater awareness of evidentiary, procedural and ethical issues that may confront barristers
  • An appreciation of the participant’s current strengths and weaknesses in relation to their exam preparation
  • An understanding of examination and study techniques in preparation for the NSW Bar Exam.

Digital badge and certificate

A digital badge and certificate will be awarded following the successful completion of any necessary tasks or assessments to demonstrate acquired learning of the short course or for meeting attendance and/or participation requirements.

Learn more about UTS Open digital badges.

Course outline

Day 1 – Aspects of evidence

  • An examination of the Evidence Act 1995 and how it is built on a framework of relevance, exclusionary rules and discretionary/mandatory rules. This module will examine specific issues such as the application of the rules of evidence, witnesses, proof, documents, warnings/directions, privileges and so on.

Day 2 – Criminal and civil practice and procedure

  • The various aspects of the Civil Procedure Act 2005, the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, as well as the relevant court legislation, rules and practice notes, providing candidates with a practical understanding of the various rules and procedures that are commonly encountered in practice. Relevant provisions from the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 and the Bail Act 2013 will also be covered.

Day 3 – Ethics for barristers

  • The various aspects of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 and the Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules 2015. This module will provide an initial overview of the interrelationship between the Barristers Rules and relevant legislation before working through the relevant rules and legislation in more detail.

As part of this treatment of the various requirements and principles, a range of relevant authorities will be examined as a way of demonstrating the importance of the issues and how the courts have approached them.

Additional course information

Please contact the Law Short Courses team at law.shortcourses@uts.edu.au with any queries.

Disclaimer

It should be noted that the UTS Bar Preparation Program, like all similar courses, is not accredited or endorsed by the NSW Bar Association. This short course does not replace the examination tutorial offered by the NSW Bar Association in the weeks prior to the examination; rather, the UTS Bar Preparation Program provides complementary study support for candidates preparing for the exams.

Whilst every effort will be made to help each candidate to prepare for their examination, UTS cannot guarantee individual success at the examination.

UTS reserves the right to alter the program, or to cancel this seminar should the minimum enrolment quota not be met. A full refund will be provided for the cancellation of any short course event.

Price

Full price: $2,675 (GST free)*

*Price subject to change. Please check price at time of purchase. 

Discounts

Discounts are available for this course as follows:

  • 10% discount for UTS alumni and staff

Discounts cannot be combined and only one discount can be applied per person per course session. Discounts can only be applied to the full price. Discounts cannot be applied to any offered special price. 

UTS alumni and staff

Please contact the team at support@open.uts.edu.au with your student or staff number to request your discount code. 

If you have forgotten your UTS student number, email support@open.uts.edu.au with your full name, UTS degree and year of commencement.  

How to apply your discount code

  • If you are eligible for a UTS alumni or student discount, please ensure you have provided your UTS student number during checkout. If you are an alumni and have forgotten your UTS student number, email support@utsopen.uts.edu.au with your full name, UTS degree and year of commencement.
  • Add this course to your cart.
  • Click on "View Cart" (blue shopping trolley at top right of screen). You will need to sign in or sign up to UTS Open. 
  • Enter your eligible code beneath the "Have a discount code?" prompt and click on the blue "Apply" button. 
  • Verify your discount code has been successfully applied before clicking on the blue "Checkout" button.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander support 

UTS Faculty of Law is pleased to sponsor participation in our Bar Preparation Program for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants approved to receive this support by the Indigenous Barristers’ Trust The Mum Shirl Fund.

Interested applicants should refer to the NSW Bar Association’s information page for First Nations Lawyers and Law Students which includes a link to an application form for financial assistance. When completing this form, applicants should indicate their interest in taking up one of the available sponsored spots in the UTS Bar Preparation Program in the "Reasons funds requested" section.

Catering

Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea will be provided as part of your enrolment. If you have particular dietary requirements, please advise our team members via email at law.shortcourses@uts.edu.au

Accessibility

If you have any specific accessibility requirements, including the need for breastfeeding facilities, please contact law.shortcourses@uts.edu.au

Requirements

To complete this course, you will need a personal computer with an operating system and web browser compatible with Canvas, the UTS learning platform.

Enrolment conditions

Course purchase is subject to UTS Open Terms and Conditions. 

COVID-19 response 

UTS complies with latest Government health advice. Delivery of all courses complies with the UTS response to COVID-19.

Who is this course for?

This program is particularly useful for candidates preparing to undertake the NSW Bar Association entrance exam.

It [the UTS Bar Preparation Program] is essential; you can’t pass the Bar without it, it is that simple.

Paul T

Really well set out - the materials, the classroom and the interaction between the barristers and the class, especially focusing on the problem questions.

Svetlana C

The discussion on problem questions and advice on the exam was very helpful; I was very impressed with the facilities. 

Gareth W

Contact information

For any questions on enrolment or payment, please email support@open.uts.edu.au 

If you have a specific question on course content or requirements, please email law.shortcourses@uts.edu.au

Book a session

Fri 29 Nov 2024-
Sun 01 Dec 2024
Expert: Alexander Kuklik, Gráinne Marsden, Dr Bryce Douglas-Baker
  • UTS City Campus. Click on the underlined sessions and hours total link below to reveal specific session details.
  • On Campus (Sydney)
  • 3 sessions, 24 hours total

Enrolments close 11.59pm AEDT Thursday 21 November 2024 or when all places have been filled, whichever occurs first.  

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.

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