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More than 100 barristers and three solicitors were appointed to the hallowed rank of Silk.
Of the 237 applications, 107 were made up, a success rate of 45%.
Among those appointed, 25 were women, from the 48 who applied – the same number appointed last year. They included Justine Thornton, the wife of former Labour leader Ed Miliband, and Marina Wheeler, Boris Johnson’s wife.
Nine applicants who declared an ethnic origin other than white of the 32 who applied were sucsessful, compared with 10 out of 24 the previous year.
Nine applicants aged over 50 were appointed, the same as last year. The youngest successful applicant was 34 and the oldest was 57.
Overall, the figures released by the QC Selection Panel showed that applications for the quality mark have dropped dramatically, by more than half, over the past 20 years.
At the same time, the Queen approved the appointment of eight new honorary Queen’s Counsel: Professors Robert Blackburn, Adrian Briggs, Sara Chandler, Jonathan Harris, Ian Scott, and Clive Walker; international child specialist solicitor Anne-Marie Hutchinson and legal journalist Joshua Rozenberg.
The new QCs will formally become Silks at a ceremony before the Lord Chancellor later this month.
More than 100 barristers and three solicitors were appointed to the hallowed rank of Silk.
Of the 237 applications, 107 were made up, a success rate of 45%.
Among those appointed, 25 were women, from the 48 who applied – the same number appointed last year. They included Justine Thornton, the wife of former Labour leader Ed Miliband, and Marina Wheeler, Boris Johnson’s wife.
Nine applicants who declared an ethnic origin other than white of the 32 who applied were sucsessful, compared with 10 out of 24 the previous year.
Nine applicants aged over 50 were appointed, the same as last year. The youngest successful applicant was 34 and the oldest was 57.
Overall, the figures released by the QC Selection Panel showed that applications for the quality mark have dropped dramatically, by more than half, over the past 20 years.
At the same time, the Queen approved the appointment of eight new honorary Queen’s Counsel: Professors Robert Blackburn, Adrian Briggs, Sara Chandler, Jonathan Harris, Ian Scott, and Clive Walker; international child specialist solicitor Anne-Marie Hutchinson and legal journalist Joshua Rozenberg.
The new QCs will formally become Silks at a ceremony before the Lord Chancellor later this month.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts
For one night only at Middle Temple Hall (Sunday 26 July 2026) – Abigail Bright introduces the famed annual fundraising theatrical event. This year, Martin Shaw and Jason Watkins perform John Mortimer’s The Dock Brief, a mixture of farce and pathos and all in support of the work of the Kalisher Trust in its 30th year
