Counsel Magazine

SIR Duncan Nichol CBE’s review of the Queen’s Counsel Appointment System was jointly commissioned by the Bar Council and the Law Society in September 2008. The terms of reference of the review included considering whether it would be appropriate to red-affirm the purpose of the award; the forms of excellence that it is intended to recognise; and the range of criteria against which applicants for the award are assessed.

Following the move away from the previously used “soundings” process three years ago, Sir Duncan considered the operation of the new selection process; the business model supporting the selection process and the personnel who will comprise the selection panel in the future. The new process – which is an open and independent competition, undertaken by a selection panel – is sponsored by the Law Society and the Bar Council with the approval of the Lord Chancellor. On 18 December 2008 the Law Society and the Bar Council
received Sir Duncan’s review. The review will now be considered in detail by the General Management Committee of the Bar Council and the [Legal Affairs and Policy Board] of the Law Society.