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100+ Free Queensland Bar Exam (Ethics) Practice Questions
Queensland Bar Examination - Legal Ethics for Barristers practice questions are available now; exam metadata is being verified.
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2026 Statistics
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) Practice Questions
Verified exam format metadata for Queensland Bar Examination - Legal Ethics for Barristers is pending. The practice questions above remain available while official exam length, timing, passing score, fee, and administrator details are reviewed.