The UTS Faculty of Law is providing two scholarships for the NSW Bar Association’s Indigenous Barristers’ Trust (IBT) to assist candidates preparing for the Bar exam.
The NSW Bar Association set up the IBT almost 20 years ago to ‘provide relief from poverty, suffering, helplessness, misfortune or other disability of Indigenous law students and lawyers’ and assist them to pursue a career as a barrister.
The UTS Law scholarships are the result of a recent address given to Faculty academics and professional staff by Australia’s first Indigenous silk, Anthony McAvoy SC.
Dean of Law, Lesley Hitchens says Mr McAvoy’s powerful speech was both a deeply personal talk and a motivating address about what we should all be doing to advance the prospects and the life experiences of Indigenous Australians.
Mr McAvoy’s lived experience and wisdom has reinforced our collective drive to achieve more for the advancement of Indigenous peoples.
The Dean came up with the idea to offer scholarships to the Faculty’s Bar Preparation Program (BPP). The BPP is designed to help individuals prepare to sit the NSW Bar Association’s Bar Exams.
These short courses are run twice a year^ to help aspiring barristers with the study process for what are rigorous and often gruelling examinations.
Course convenor, lecturer and barrister, Stuart Lowe says the UTS BPP provides an excellent opportunity for those preparing for the Bar exams to come to grips with the subject matter.
The BPP has proven invaluable to those who are either just starting on the pathway towards their exams, or those who are putting the final polish on their preparation. Personally, I cannot think of a better way to help those who want to come to the Bar, to achieve their goals and aspirations.
IBT Trustee, Chris Ronalds AO SC says it’s a welcome initiative.
We are pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to First Nation’s lawyers seeking to take the important step of coming to the NSW Bar and we are sure it will provide useful assistance for two lawyers in their preparations for the Bar Exams.
The Trust will select the scholarship recipients who will then enrol in the UTS course at the most convenient time for them.
The IBT welcomes donations.
^Edit 04 Feb 2025: this course will be offered three times in 2025.