# New South Wales Bar Association

The New South Wales Bar Association is a professional body of lawyers responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The body administers the bar examination in accordance with the Legal Profession Uniform Law.

## History

Formerly known as the Council of the Bar of New South Wales, the organisation was incorporated on 22 October 1936 as The New South Wales Bar Association. The College of Arms granted the Bar Association's coat of arms in 1959.

### Presidents

| President | Commenced | Ended |
| Richard Clive Teece | November 1936 | December 1947 |
| Alan Taylor | December 1947 | December 1949 |
| Garfield Barwick | December 1949 | November 1952 |
| Keith Ferguson | November 1952 | November 1954 |
| Sir Garfield Barwick | November 1954 | November 1956 |
| Gordon Wallace | November 1956 | December 1958 |
| Bruce MacFarlan | December 1958 | July 1959 |
| Nigel Bowen | July 1959 | November 1961 |
| Leycester Meares | November 1961 | December 1963 |
| John Kerr | December 1963 | December 1964 |
| John Holmes | December 1964 | November 1965 |
| Maurice Byers | November 1965 | November 1967 |
| Bernard Riley | November 1967 | December 1969 |
| Philip Woodward | December 1969 | October 1971 |
| Gordon Samuels | October 1971 | November 1972 |
| Denys Needham | November 1972 | December 1972 |
| Harold Glass | December 1972 | September 1973 |
| Tom Hughes | September 1973 | December 1975 |
| Douglas McGregor | December 1975 | November 1977 |
| Trevor Morling | November 1977 | December 1979 |
| Roddy Meagher | December 1979 | November 1981 |
| Michael McHugh | November 1981 | December 1983 |
| Murray Gleeson | December 1983 | December 1985 |
| Roger Gyles | December 1985 | November 1987 |
| Kenneth Handley | November 1987 | November 1989 |
| Barry O'Keefe | November 1989 | December 1991 |
| John Coombs | December 1991 | November 1993 |
| Murray Tobias | November 1993 | November 1995 |
| David Bennett | November 1995 | December 1997 |
| Ian Barker | December 1997 | November 1999 |
| Ruth McColl | November 1999 | November 2001 |
| Bret Walker | November 2001 | November 2003 |
| Ian Harrison | November 2003 | November 2005 |
| Michael Slattery | November 2005 | November 2007 |
| Anna Katzmann | November 2007 | November 2009 |
| Tom Bathurst | November 2009 | May 2011 |
| Bernard Coles | May 2011 | November 2012 |
| Phillip Boulten | November 2012 | May 2014 |
| Jane Needham | May 2014 | November 2015 |
| Noel Hutley | November 2015 | May 2017 |
| Arthur Moses | May 2017 | November 2018 |
| Tim Game | November 2018 | November 2020 |
| Michael McHugh | November 2020 | May 2022 |
| Gabrielle Bashir | May 2022 | November 2023 |
| Dr Ruth Higgins | November 2023 | |

## Arms

Coat of arms of New South Wales Bar Association :
* NotesThe arms of the New South Wales Bar Association, granted by the Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy & Ulster Kings of Arms on 22 March 1960, consist of:
* CrestOn a Wreath Or and Gules, a closed Book proper, standing thereon a pair of Scales Or.
* EscutcheonErmine, on a Cross Gules a Brief Scroll fessewise proper, Taped Gules, between four Stars each of eight points Or.
* SupportersOn the dexter side a Kangaroo, and on the sinister a Lion, both proper.
* MottoServants of All yet of None
* BadgeA Brief Scroll fessewise proper, Taped Gules.

## Explanatory notes

* 1 2 3 4 5 6 Resigned to take up an appointment to the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
* ↑ Jane Needham is the daughter of former president Denys Needham