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100+ Free Queensland Bar Exam (Ethics) Practice Questions

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Key Facts: Queensland Bar Exam (Ethics) Exam

95 min

Legal Ethics for Barristers Paper Length

Bar Association of Queensland

65

Pass Mark Per Paper

Bar Association of Queensland

3 papers

Evidence, Practice & Procedure, Legal Ethics

Bar Association of Queensland

AUD 600

Exam Fee (incl. GST)

Bar Association of Queensland

3 sittings / 18 months

Window to Pass All Papers

Bar Association of Queensland

100+

Practice Questions Here

OpenExamPrep question bank

The Queensland Bar Examination - Legal Ethics for Barristers is one of three papers (with Evidence and Practice & Procedure) administered by the Bar Association of Queensland (BAQ) that you must pass to practise as a barrister in Queensland. The Ethics paper is a 95-minute, predominantly short-answer scenario exam, sat on one day in Brisbane and delivered online via ExamSoft. It is grounded in the Barristers' Conduct Rules (Qld) 2011 and the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld), testing the paramount duty to the court, the cab-rank rule and independence, duties in conducting cases and dealing with witnesses, conflicts and confidentiality, prosecutor's duties, direct (public) access briefing under Practice Direction 13 of 2024, and the advocate's immunity. The pass mark is 65, and all three papers must be passed within 3 successive sittings (18 months). BAQ does not release past papers, marking rubrics, or pass rates, so source-anchored study of the Conduct Rules is essential.

Sample Queensland Bar Exam (Ethics) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Queensland Bar Exam (Ethics) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1At trial, your client privately tells you that the alibi witness you are about to call will lie about the client's whereabouts. The client insists you call the witness anyway. What does the paramount duty to the court require?
A.Decline to call the witness to give the false evidence, as the duty to the court overrides the client's wishes
B.Call the witness, because the barrister must advance the client's case to the best of their ability
C.Call the witness but avoid asking about the whereabouts directly
D.Seek the client's permission to disclose the perjury to the court before deciding
Explanation: Under the Barristers' Conduct Rules (Qld), a barrister's overriding duty to the court (rule 25) is paramount and must be performed even where it conflicts with the client's interests or wishes. A barrister must not knowingly help a client present evidence the barrister knows to be false, so the witness cannot be called to give the perjured account.
2Which statement best describes the relationship between a barrister's duty to the court and the duty to the client under the Queensland Barristers' Conduct Rules?
A.The two duties are of equal weight and must be balanced case by case
B.The duty to the court is paramount and prevails when the duties conflict
C.The duty to the client prevails because the client pays the fee
D.The duty to the court applies only in criminal matters
Explanation: Rule 25 of the Barristers' Conduct Rules (Qld) establishes that the barrister's duty to the court and the administration of justice is paramount and prevails to the extent of any inconsistency with any other duty. This reflects the principle affirmed in Giannarelli v Wraith and D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid.
3While preparing closing submissions you discover a recent Court of Appeal decision that is directly on point, binding, and clearly against your client's argument. Your opponent has not cited it. What must you do?
A.Stay silent, because it is the opponent's job to find adverse authority
B.Distinguish the authority only if the judge raises it
C.Inform the court of the binding authority even though it harms your client's case
D.Disclose it to your opponent privately but not to the court
Explanation: Rule 31 of the Barristers' Conduct Rules (Qld) requires a barrister to inform the court of any binding authority and any applicable legislation that the barrister has reasonable grounds to believe is directly on point, whether or not it favours the client's case. The duty to the court overrides the tactical disadvantage to the client.
4A barrister makes a submission of fact to the court that the barrister knows is false in order to assist the client. This most directly breaches which rule?
A.The cab-rank rule
B.The rule on costs disclosure
C.The rule on advertising
D.The rule against deceiving or knowingly misleading the court
Explanation: Rule 26 of the Barristers' Conduct Rules (Qld) provides that a barrister must not deceive or knowingly or recklessly mislead the court. Making a submission of fact known to be false is a direct breach of this fundamental duty of candour.
5On an ex parte interlocutory application for a freezing order, you are aware of a material fact that undermines your client's entitlement to the relief. What does the duty of candour require?
A.Make full and frank disclosure of all material facts, including those adverse to the client
B.Disclose only the facts that support the application
C.Wait until the inter partes hearing to mention the adverse fact
D.Disclose the adverse fact only if the court specifically asks
Explanation: On an ex parte application a barrister owes a heightened duty of full and frank disclosure of all material facts, including those adverse to the client (reflected in rule 29 of the Barristers' Conduct Rules (Qld)). Because the opponent is absent, the court relies on the applicant's candour.
6What is the central rationale for the requirement that a barrister act with independence in the interests of the administration of justice?
A.To maximise the barrister's earning capacity
B.To ensure the barrister's professional judgment is not subordinated to the client's pressure or the barrister's own interests
C.To protect the barrister from disciplinary complaints
D.To allow the barrister to refuse any brief at will
Explanation: The duty of independence (rule 25 of the Barristers' Conduct Rules (Qld)) requires a barrister to exercise forensic judgment fearlessly and without being controlled by the client, the instructing solicitor, or the barrister's own interests. Independence underpins the barrister's ability to fulfil the paramount duty to the court.
7A wealthy client offers a barrister a large bonus if the barrister wins, on condition the barrister suppresses a weak point in the client's case from the judge. The duty to act fearlessly and independently means the barrister should:
A.Accept the bonus and comply, because the client is entitled to zealous advocacy
B.Negotiate a higher bonus before agreeing
C.Refuse to suppress matters the rules require to be disclosed, regardless of the inducement
D.Comply only if the weak point is not legally significant
Explanation: Independence (rule 25) requires the barrister's judgment not to be bought or controlled by the client's inducements. The barrister must continue to meet duties of candour to the court and cannot suppress matters the rules require to be disclosed in exchange for a fee.
8Under the cab-rank rule in the Queensland Barristers' Conduct Rules, a barrister is generally obliged to accept a brief to appear before a court if certain conditions are met. Which of the following is NOT one of those conditions?
A.The brief is within the barrister's capacity, skill and experience
B.The barrister is available to do the work required
C.The fee offered is acceptable
D.The barrister personally approves of the client's character or cause
Explanation: The cab-rank rule requires acceptance of a brief that is within the barrister's field and capacity, where the barrister is available and the fee is acceptable, subject to the exceptions in rules 95, 97, 98 or 99. Personal approval of the client's character or cause is expressly irrelevant; a barrister must act regardless of personal opinion of the client.
9What is the primary public-interest justification for the cab-rank rule?
A.It ensures that even unpopular or unattractive clients can obtain representation
B.It guarantees barristers a steady income
C.It allows barristers to specialise in only profitable cases
D.It reduces the number of self-represented litigants by limiting access to the Bar
Explanation: The cab-rank principle ensures access to justice by requiring barristers to act for any client within their field, however unpopular the client or cause, so that representation does not depend on the advocate's personal approval. This protects the right to representation and the integrity of the adversarial system.
10A solicitor offers a barrister a brief in a field in which the barrister practises, but the brief would require the barrister to appear on a date when the barrister is already committed to another trial. Under the cab-rank rule, the barrister:
A.Must accept the brief and adjourn the existing trial
B.May decline because the barrister is not available to do the work without compromising the existing client
C.Must accept because availability is irrelevant to the cab-rank rule
D.May only decline if the new client consents
Explanation: The cab-rank obligation is conditional on the barrister being available to do the work. Where existing commitments would prevent the barrister from properly serving the new brief or would compromise an existing client, the barrister is not obliged to accept it.

About the Queensland Bar Exam (Ethics) Exam

The Queensland Bar Examination - Legal Ethics for Barristers is one of the three papers (alongside Evidence and Practice & Procedure) that prospective barristers in Queensland must pass, administered by the Bar Association of Queensland (BAQ). All three papers are sat on a single day in Brisbane and delivered online via ExamSoft. The Ethics paper runs for 95 minutes and is predominantly short-answer scenario questions that test the barrister's professional conduct obligations. It is based on the Barristers' Conduct Rules (Qld) 2011 and the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld), covering the paramount duty to the court, the cab-rank rule and independence, duties in conducting cases, conflicts and confidentiality, the prosecutor's duties, direct access briefing, and the advocate's immunity. The pass mark is 65, and candidates must pass all three papers within 3 successive sittings (18 months) before completing the Bar Practice Course.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

95 minutes

Passing Score

65 (pass mark per part)

Exam Fee

AUD 600 (covers the exam sitting; incl. GST) (Bar Association of Queensland)

Queensland Bar Exam (Ethics) Exam Content Outline

30%

Duty to the Court & Administration of Justice

The barrister's paramount duty to the court and the administration of justice: the obligation not to mislead the court, the duty to disclose binding adverse authority, candour in ex parte applications, and how this paramount duty prevails over the barrister's duties to the client. Based on the Barristers' Conduct Rules (Qld) 2011.

25%

Independence, Cab-Rank Rule & Briefing

Independence and the cab-rank rule, including the circumstances in which a brief may or must be refused or returned, conflicts and duties to former clients, confidentiality, and direct (public) access briefing under Practice Direction 13 of 2024 governing when a barrister may accept instructions without a solicitor.

25%

Conduct of Cases & Special Duties

Duties in conducting cases and dealing with witnesses (including limits on coaching and communicating with witnesses), the prosecutor's special duties of fairness and disclosure, and the advocate's immunity from suit for in-court and intimately-connected work.

20%

Discipline & Regulation

Professional discipline and the regulation of barristers under the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld): unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct, complaints handling, and the consequences of breaching the Barristers' Conduct Rules (Qld) 2011.

How to Pass the Queensland Bar Exam (Ethics) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 65 (pass mark per part)
  • Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
  • Time limit: 95 minutes
  • Exam fee: AUD 600 (covers the exam sitting; incl. GST)

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Queensland Bar Exam (Ethics) Study Tips from Top Performers

1Organise the Barristers' Conduct Rules (Qld) 2011 by theme rather than by number - duty to the court, cab-rank rule, conduct of cases, witnesses, conflicts, confidentiality, and prosecutor's duties - so you can spot which rule a scenario engages
2Make the paramount duty to the court your anchor: when a scenario pits a client's interests against the court, the duty to the court and the administration of justice prevails, and your answer should say so explicitly with the rule
3Know the cab-rank rule and its exceptions cold - when a brief may or must be refused or returned (conflicts, competence, capacity, lack of fee arrangements) - because this is a recurring scenario theme
4Learn direct (public) access briefing under Practice Direction 13 of 2024: when a barrister may accept instructions without a solicitor and the conditions that apply, as this is a current and examinable area
5Because BAQ releases no past papers or rubrics, practise structured short-answer responses that identify the issue, cite the specific conduct rule or Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld) provision, apply it to the facts, and state a clear conclusion
6Drill under a 95-minute clock so you allocate time across the scenarios and reach the 65 pass mark; concise, rule-cited answers score better than long, unfocused discussion

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Queensland Bar Ethics exam and how long is it?

The Legal Ethics for Barristers paper is one of three papers in the Queensland Bar Examination, alongside Evidence and Practice & Procedure. The Ethics paper runs for 95 minutes and is predominantly short-answer scenario questions. All three papers are sat on a single day in Brisbane and delivered online using ExamSoft.

What is the pass mark for the Queensland Bar exam?

The pass mark for each paper, including Legal Ethics for Barristers, is 65. Candidates must pass all three papers - Evidence, Practice & Procedure, and Legal Ethics - within 3 successive sittings (18 months). Passing the exam is required before completing the Bar Practice Course.

What rules does the Ethics paper test?

The paper is based on the Barristers' Conduct Rules (Qld) 2011 and the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld). It covers the paramount duty to the court, independence and the cab-rank rule, duties in conducting cases and dealing with witnesses, conflicts and former clients, confidentiality, the prosecutor's duties, direct (public) access briefing under Practice Direction 13 of 2024, professional discipline, and the advocate's immunity.

How much does the Queensland Bar exam cost?

The Bar Association of Queensland exam fee is AUD 600, inclusive of GST, which covers the exam sitting. Fees are set by the Bar Association of Queensland and may change, so candidates should confirm the current amount and what it covers on the BAQ website before registering.

Does the Bar Association of Queensland release past papers?

No. BAQ does not release past papers or marking rubrics for the Bar Examination. Because of this, effective preparation relies on knowing the Barristers' Conduct Rules (Qld) 2011 and the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld) thoroughly and practising scenario-based questions that mirror the short-answer format rather than memorising past questions.

What does passing the Queensland Bar exam allow me to do?

Passing all three papers is required before you can complete the Bar Practice Course, the mandatory training program for new barristers in Queensland. After the exam and the Bar Practice Course, you can obtain a barrister's practising certificate and practise as a barrister in Queensland. The exam is a prerequisite step, not the final one.