Requirements for Qualification 

The rigorous process of becoming an Advocate ensures the quality of Guernsey’s legal system remains unrivalled in the offshore world. Qualification for the Guernsey Bar may take one of a variety of routes.

An Aspirant to the Guernsey Bar must (a) qualify as a barrister or solicitor in England & Wales, Northern Ireland, or Scotland, (b) obtain a Certificat d’Etudes Juridiques Françaises et Normandes from the University of Caen, and (c) pass the Guernsey Bar Exams set under the auspices of the Royal Court. 

There is no statutory requirement governing the order in which those steps must be taken, however Aspirants are required to complete a period of at least six months' pupillage before being permitted sit the Guernsey Bar Exams. This period of training must be undertaken with a firm of Guernsey Advocates under the supervision of a Pupil Master who must be a Guernsey Advocate of at least five years' standing. For barristers who have not completed a least six months’ pupillage in England, Northern Ireland, or Scotland, the requirement rises to 12 months prior to admission (though such Aspirant may sit the Guernsey Bar Exams after 6 of the 12 months). The Pupillage & Assessment Guide 2024 is available here.

Qualification in England & Wales remains the most common predicate to Guernsey qualification. The barrister route is presently less time-intensive than the solicitor route. The latter usually requires a further two years with a law firm as a trainee (though the training contract requirement has been modified in recent years), whereas qualifying as an English barrister is limited to passing the English Bar Exams.

Aspirants should refer to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s website for information about becoming an English solicitor, and to the Bar Standards Board’s website for information about becoming an English barrister.

Finally, and in addition to the qualification requirements, there is a residency requirement such that an Aspirant cannot be admitted to the Guerney Bar unless s/he has been ordinarily resident in Guernsey for a period of at least two years after having attained the age of 16.

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