Attending a ceremony for admission as a lawyer – 27 September 2016 Page 1 of 2

Attending a ceremony for admission as a lawyer and booking your ceremony online

Attendance is compulsory Attending your admission ceremony is a compulsory final step in the admission process.

Your admission as a lawyer will not be effective until you have signed the Supreme Court Roll at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Ceremony dates and times Admission ceremonies are held in Sydney about every four weeks (except January), and in Newcastle on one day each year in February.

Ceremony dates are listed in the ‘Admission events and deadlines’ calendar on the LPAB’s website. Several ceremonies are held on each date.

Ceremony times during the forthcoming 3 months are listed on the LPAB’s online admission portal. The ceremony listings are continuously updated to show the number of remaining places at each ceremony. The first ceremony of each day is usually scheduled for 9:15 am.

Booking your choice of ceremony Soon after we receive all your documentary evidence, we will send you an email prompt to go online and book into an admission ceremony.

You will have the choice of any ceremony time and date, as long as there is available seating and the ceremony date falls at least 4 weeks after we’ve received your documentary evidence.

After you book your ceremony, we will send you an email receipt with the details. After your admission application has been approved, we will send you an email to confirm your booking. Until then, your ceremony booking is tentative only.

Please choose your ceremony time and date carefully. If you change your mind, you will need to contact us, and fees apply for requesting any changes.

Venues for ceremonies In Sydney, admission ceremonies are held in the Banco Court at the Law Courts Building at Queens Square (located between Macquarie Street and Phillip Street, near King Street).

In Newcastle, they are held at the Court Complex at 343 Hunter Street, Newcastle (corner of Hunter and Burwood Streets).

Arrival and duration You will need to arrive at the venue at least 40 minutes before your ceremony time (in Newcastle, 30 minutes before). This is to allow you to clear the security screening, make your way to the courtroom, and find your allocated seat well in advance of your ceremony time.

The courtroom will open 30 minutes before the ceremony starts (in Newcastle, 20 minutes before). About 15 minutes before the ceremony begins, an official will give you simple instructions about what to do during the ceremony.

Each ceremony takes up to 30 minutes, depending on the number of people being admitted.

You should expect to be at the court for around 90 minutes which includes the pre-ceremony instructions, the ceremony itself, signing of the Supreme Court Roll and collection of your Certificate of Admission.

Accessibility If you or any of your guests will need accessibility assistance at the ceremony, please enter the details when you book your ceremony online, so that we can make appropriate arrangements in advance.

The Banco Court at the Law Courts Building has steep seating with many stairs. Wheelchair access into the Banco Court is available via a lift platform, but requires assistance.

Attending a ceremony for admission as a lawyer – 27 September 2016 Page 2 of 2

Appropriate attire People who are being admitted should wear business attire at the ceremony (for example, clothing suitable for a formal corporate meeting).

Guests You may bring up to 3 guests, in addition to your mover. (If you bring more than 3 guests, the additional guests may be unable to be seated, or even permitted into the courtroom, due to seating and space restrictions). It will not be possible for you to sit with your guests or with your mover.

Children are welcome at the ceremony, however, they will need to remain with your guests at all times.

Transport and parking (Sydney) The closest railway stations to the Sydney venue are St James and Martin Place. There are a number of parking stations, such as the Domain Parking station, MLC Centre and Sydney Hospital. The LPAB does not have any arrangements with parking stations.

Security Security screening is compulsory for all persons entering the court buildings. More information is on the Supreme Court’s website.

‘Moving’ your admission At the ceremony, it will be necessary for your admission to be ‘moved’ by a person who is:

• currently on the Supreme Court Roll in NSW (whether or not the person holds a current practising certificate), or

• an Australian legal practitioner, provided he or she holds a current practising certificate.

It is generally your responsibility to find someone to move your admission. If you completed your practical legal training with either the College of Law or the Australian National University, those organisations may be able to assist you by providing a mover. If you remain unable to find a mover, please contact the Office of the LPAB for further assistance.

Instructions for your mover, including the words he/she will be required to speak, will be provided on the seats allocated to movers at the ceremony.

Ceremony The admission ceremony is in 3 parts:

1. Moving of Admissions

The name of each applicant will be called in turn, and the applicant will stand. The mover will ask the Court to admit the applicant. The Chief Justice will respond and the applicant and mover should then bow and sit down.

2. Oath or Affirmation of Office

Applicants will be called to stand before the bench in small groups, to take an Oath of Office or make an Affirmation of Office. The Oath will be read, and the applicants will be asked to say together either ‘So help me God’ (if taking the Oath) or ‘I do’ (if making an affirmation).

3. Chief Justice’s Speech

The Chief Justice will make a speech. A copy will be available on the Supreme Court website.

Holy texts If you choose to take an Oath of Office, you may hold a holy text while doing so. Limited copies of the Bible, Quran, Torah and Gita will be available for this purpose. If holding a holy text is important to you, you are encouraged to bring your own.

Photography, filming and phones Photography and filming is not permitted in the courtroom and most areas of the court building, but will be allowed during the signing of the Roll. Please switch off mobile phones before the ceremony starts.

Signing the Roll Following the ceremony, you must sign the Supreme Court Roll. In Sydney, this takes place at the ground floor foyer of the Law Courts Building. In Newcastle, signing occurs outside the courtroom. Photography is allowed at this time.

More information and assistance Legal Profession Admission Board of NSW Web: www.lpab.justice.nsw.gov.au www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au Email: lpab@justice.nsw.gov.au Phone: 02 9338 3500 (Australia) + 61 2 9338 3500 (International)