Just one solicitor was among the 129 Queen’s Counsel appointments announced by the lord chancellor today in the fourth competition run by the independent selection panel.
George Trinick, energy partner at national firm Eversheds, was the only solicitor of the 10 who applied to be appointed. Only four solicitors applied for QC status in the previous year, but three of these were appointed.
Of the 275 applicants, 47% were appointed overall. Just under half of the 35 candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds who applied succeeded in their applications. This represented a higher success rate for ethnic minority candidates than in the previous four rounds.
Statistically, women were less successful this year than last time round, although a greater number were appointed, with 20 of the 46 who applied succeeding (43%), compared with 16 out of the 29 appointed last year (55%).
The appointments were made following consideration by the independent selection panel, which took over the role from the Department of Constitutional Affairs in 2004.
Chair of the panel Dame Joan Higgins said she was pleased to see such a wide variety of advocates among the new appointments, but disappointed not to be able to recommend more solicitors or employed advocates.
She said: ‘I am encouraged that the proportion of successful applicants from an ethnic minority background broadly matches that for white applicants. I am also pleased that the number of successful women applicants remains high.’
Higgins said the panel had no quotas and treated all applicants in the same way, assessing them all against a common competency framework and standard of excellence.
Alongside the advocates appointed QC, the Queen has approved the appointment of five honorary silks, recognising their contribution to the law outside of practice in the courts.
Those appointed include solicitor Peter Freeman, recommended for his work as chairman of the Competition Commission and his academic work in the field of competition law.
Barrister and academic Professor Graham Zellick was recommended for his work developing prison law and prisoner rights.
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