Bar Council : Queen's Counsel appointments

12 January 2017

The Chairman of the Bar, Andrew Langdon QC, said 'Huge congratulations to each of the 113 new Queen's Counsel whose appointments are announced today.

'The demanding selection process is based on assessments from judges, other advocates and professional clients as well as panel interviews for each applicant.

'The award of Queen's Counsel is the definitive mark of professional quality and is one of the reasons the Bar of England and Wales enjoys a global reputation for excellence in advocacy.'

Chair of the Bar Council Equality and Diversity Committee, Robin Allen QC said:

'As well as sending our congratulations to all successful applicants, it is fantastic news that the number of BAME candidates has increased and that their success rate is in line with other applicants.

'The number of women who applied also rose, and they continue to succeed at a higher rate than men, although it is of concern that the total number of female applicants remains relatively low.

'It is vital that all barristers who wish to progress their careers by applying for silk are supported through that process.

'The Bar Council Silk and Judicial Mentoring Scheme provides a safe and open environment for barristers to learn more about the application process. It can help candidates to identify potential barriers, get honest feedback about their application, and explore areas of development with experienced Silk mentors. The service is open to all members of the Bar, and we of course encourage women and BAME members who are thinking of applying for silk to take advantage of this opportunity.

'Additionally, last year the Bar Council launched the Maternity Mentoring scheme to help barristers with children to return to work, in recognition of the fact that women leave the Bar earlier than men, which means there are fewer women candidates for silk and judicial appointment.'

Applications for mentees for the Silk and Judicial Mentoring Scheme are now being accepted, and the form is available online.

For further information about the scheme, please feel free to contact Onyeka Onyekwelu at [e-mail].