Welcome

Welcome

This website contains information about the process for the award of Queen's Counsel. It provides information to applicants, assessors (formerly referees) and others during a competition. It also provides information about completed competitions run by the Queen’s Counsel Selection Panel. It is updated regularly.

Announcement and Ceremony

The Selection Panel’s recommendations for the 2009-10 competition have been forwarded to the Lord Chancellor and by him to the Queen. We do not yet have a date for the announcement of the successful Silks, however, MoJ is working towards a provisional Ceremony date of Monday 22 March 2010. All applicants who were interviewed will be sent a personal notification before any public announcement of the new Silk appointments. You should continue to visit this website on a regular basis for up to date information and for confirmation of the date for the ceremony.

Applications for the 2009-10 competition

There have been 275 applications accepted for this year’s competition. This compares to 247 applications in the previous competition, an increase of 11%. The information about the applicants breaks down as follows (Figures for the current competition are in bold type; equivalent figures for the 2008 competition are in plain type):

Applicants declared male: 226 (82.2%) 215 (87.1%)
Applicants declared female: 46 (16.7%) 29 (11.7%)
Applicants not declaring their gender: 3 (1.1%) 3 (1.2%)
Applicants declared white: 238 (86.5%) 230 (93.1%)
Applicants declared non-white: 30 (10.9%) 15 (6.1%)
Applicants not declaring their ethnicity: 7 (2.5%) 3 (1.2%)
Applicants declared disabled: 3 (1.1%) 3 (1.2%)
Employed barristers: 3 (1.1%) 2 (0.8%)
Solicitors: 10 (3.6%) 4 (1.6%)
Broad fields of practice (NB some applicants practise in more than one category)
Civil: 169 (61.5%) 151 (58.3%)
Criminal: 102 (36.4%) 92 (35.5%)
Family: 13 (4.6%) 16 (6.2%)

Award of Queen's Counsel

The award of Queen’s Counsel is for excellence in advocacy in the higher courts. It is made to experienced lawyers, both barristers and solicitors, who have a right of audience in the higher courts of England and Wales and have demonstrated the competencies in the competency framework to a standard of excellence. “Advocacy” includes both oral and written advocacy before the higher courts, arbitrations and tribunals and equivalent bodies. There is no specific requirement as to the amount of in court or written advocacy, so long as the there is sufficient evidence for the Panel to reach a conclusion as to excellence in respect of each of the competencies.

Applications are invited from any suitably qualified advocates. Applications are particularly welcomed from women, members of ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and other groups that are currently under-represented. We also welcome applications from solicitors and employed advocates.

If you or the members of any group you represent require further information, the Secretariat will be very happy to answer queries. Please ring 020 7831 0020 or send an email to: enquiries@qcapplications.org.uk .

____________________________________

© Copyright Notice 2005
Queen’s Counsel Appointments is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales (Company Registration No. 05423088). The registered office is: 3rd Floor, Totara Park House, 34-36 Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X 8HR