The profession of Guernsey Advocate is open to all. We consciously encourage a diverse and inclusive Bar. Those wishing to be advocates are required to qualify as a UK barrister or solicitor, they must undertake pupillage in Guernsey, pass the Guernsey bar exams and a brief course provided by the University of Caen (currently taught remotely). The qualification process is explained more fully elsewhere on this site and here.
Who We Are
The Bailiwick of Guernsey comprises the Islands of Guernsey, Alderney and Sark. They are near autonomous communities with their own institutions, laws and customs. They also have their own legal profession, the Advocate, or to state the full title “Advocate of the Royal Court” (the Royal Court of Guernsey, to be more precise). Advocates combine the roles of barrister and solicitor in the English legal system. They are entitled to use the title “Advocate” and are addressed as such in formal settings.
Only Guernsey advocates are qualified to advise on matters of Guernsey law. Only Guernsey advocates may appear in Island courts. Guernsey advocates provide the full range of legal services, whether advising on the most complex and high value international financial transactions to appearing in the Magistrate’s Court in a minor criminal matter. They draft documents ranging from sophisticated securitisation instruments to conveyances to wills to contracts of all kinds.
About us
Members of the Guernsey Bar come from a wide variety of backgrounds and locations, whether Guernsey itself, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, the United States, France or elsewhere. It is a small but friendly profession.
A list of members of the Guernsey Bar is available by clicking on this link. A register is maintained by the Greffe (Court registry) and may be inspected on request.
You will find links on this page to various practice areas, along with information about Guernsey’s legal aid scheme.