*/
More female and black and minority ethnic candidates were appointed Queen’s Counsel than ever before.
Queen’s Counsel Appointments (QCA)announced the appointment of 113 new Silks, from 254 who applied. Thirty-one women, 55% of the 56 applicants, were successful, up from the 25 out of 48 last year.
There was a rise in the percentage of those from a black and minority ethnic (BAME) background whose applications succeeded – 16 (43%) of 37 were awarded Silk, compared to nine out of 32 last year.
Eight of the nine applicants who said they were gay or bisexual, two of the four with a disability and six of 13 solicitors who applied, were appointed. The youngest new Silk was 37 and the oldest 65.
Congratulating the new appointees, the Lord Chancellor, Liz Truss, said: ‘I want us to tap into all the talents of our society and today’s appointments are a step in the right direction. The number of women and BAME candidates applying and being successful is moving in the right direction.’
She added: ‘There is more to be done, but my message is clear – when you widen the pool of talent from which lawyers and judges are drawn, you make the justice system stronger.’
Helen Pitcher OBE, Chairman of the QCA Selection Panel, said she would like to see more female applicants and that research to identify barriers which deter women from applying would be published later this year. (See also 'QC Q&A', Counsel, February 2017)
The new QCs will formally become Silks at the ceremony on 13 February.
More female and black and minority ethnic candidates were appointed Queen’s Counsel than ever before.
Queen’s Counsel Appointments (QCA)announced the appointment of 113 new Silks, from 254 who applied. Thirty-one women, 55% of the 56 applicants, were successful, up from the 25 out of 48 last year.
There was a rise in the percentage of those from a black and minority ethnic (BAME) background whose applications succeeded – 16 (43%) of 37 were awarded Silk, compared to nine out of 32 last year.
Eight of the nine applicants who said they were gay or bisexual, two of the four with a disability and six of 13 solicitors who applied, were appointed. The youngest new Silk was 37 and the oldest 65.
Congratulating the new appointees, the Lord Chancellor, Liz Truss, said: ‘I want us to tap into all the talents of our society and today’s appointments are a step in the right direction. The number of women and BAME candidates applying and being successful is moving in the right direction.’
She added: ‘There is more to be done, but my message is clear – when you widen the pool of talent from which lawyers and judges are drawn, you make the justice system stronger.’
Helen Pitcher OBE, Chairman of the QCA Selection Panel, said she would like to see more female applicants and that research to identify barriers which deter women from applying would be published later this year. (See also 'QC Q&A', Counsel, February 2017)
The new QCs will formally become Silks at the ceremony on 13 February.
The Bar Council continues to call for investment for the justice system and represent the interests of our profession both at home and abroad
By Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
AlphaBiolabs has made a £500 donation to Sean’s Place, a men’s mental health charity based in Sefton, as part of its ongoing Giving Back initiative
Q&A with Tim Lynch of Jordan Lynch Private Finance
By Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Little has changed since Burns v Burns . Cohabiting couples deserve better than to be left on the blasted heath with the existing witch’s brew for another four decades, argues Christopher Stirling
Six months of court observation at the Old Bailey: APPEAL’s Dr Nisha Waller and Tehreem Sultan report their findings on prosecution practices under joint enterprise
The Amazonian artist’s first international solo exhibition is wholly relevant to current issues in social and environmental justice, says Stephen Cragg KC
Despite its prevalence, autism spectrum disorder remains poorly understood in the criminal justice system. Does Alex Henry’s joint enterprise conviction expose the need to audit prisons? asks Dr Felicity Gerry KC
It’s been five years since the groundbreaking QC competition in which six Black women barristers, including the 2025 Chair of the Bar, took silk. Yet today, the number of Black KCs remains ‘critically low’. Desirée Artesi talks to Baroness Scotland KC, Allison Munroe KC and Melanie Simpson KC about the critical success factors, barriers and ideas for embedding change
