Senior counsel

The title of Senior Counsel or State Counsel (post-nominal letters: SC) is given to a senior lawyer in some countries that were formerly part of the British Empire. "Senior Counsel" is used in current or former Commonwealth countries or jurisdictions that have chosen to change the title "Queen's Counsel" to a name without monarchical connotations, sometimes (but not always) because the British monarch is no longer head of state, such that reference to the Queen is no longer appropriate. Examples of jurisdictions which have made the change because of the latter reason include Mauritius, Zambia, India, Hong Kong, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Singapore, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. Jurisdictions which have retained the monarch as head of state, but have nonetheles opted for the new title include some states and territories of Australia, as well as Belize.[1]

Just as a junior counsel is "called to the [Outer] Bar", a Senior Counsel is, in some jurisdictions, said to be "called to the Inner Bar". Senior Counsel may informally style themselves as silks, like their British counterparts. This is the case in the Republic of Ireland, Australia, Hong Kong and South Africa.

A second usage, prevalent in the United Kingdom itself (which retains the separate and distinct Queen's Counsel title for barristers) refers to a solicitor who is senior and autonomous, but is neither a partner nor on the career path to partnership.

Dress
An example of dress in court

In Hong Kong, Senior Counsel (both men and women) must wear the black robe and silk gown together with a wig when appearing in open court.[2]

In the Republic of Ireland, Senior Counsel wear a silk gown which differs from that of a Junior Counsel. The wig is optional in the Republic of Ireland.

Australia

The rank of Senior Counsel has also been introduced in most states and territories of Australia, even though the Queen remains head of state. Between 1993 and 2008 all Australian jurisdictions except the Northern Territory replaced the title of Queen's Counsel with that of Senior Counsel. However, in 2013 Queensland restored the rank of Queen's Counsel and there was talk of other Australian states following suit.[3] On 3 February 2014, the Victorian Attorney-General announced that the rank of Queen's Counsel would shortly be reinstated in the State of Victoria, with existing and future Senior Counsel having the option to apply to be issued with letters patent appointing them as Queen's Counsel;[4] some 89% of barristers entitled to be called Senior Counsel were reported to have applied for letters patent to become Queen's Counsel.[5] On 18 February 2019, the South Australian Government restored the rank of Queen's Counsel.[6] The formal difference appears to be that QCs receive a warrant signed by the relevant state Governor, who is the formal representative of the Sovereign, whereas SCs receive a certificate issued by the relevant Bar Association or bureaucracy such as by the judicature of the State Supreme Court as the case may be.

Hong Kong

"Senior Counsel" (Chinese: 資深大律師[7]) replaced QC in the law of Hong Kong after the transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China in 1997. Queen's Counsel who had been appointed QC in HK or British Queen's Counsel who had been admitted to practice in Hong Kong generally prior to the handover became senior counsel automatically.[8]

Queen's Counsel from England or other senior counsel from other jurisdictions are not accorded any precedence if they are admitted generally in Hong Kong. However, visiting Queen's Counsel from another jurisdiction who have been admitted for a specific case are entitled to use the title, and to be accorded the status, of Senior Counsel for the purposes of those proceedings.[9]

Ireland

The Irish Free State came into existence in December 1922 as a dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations. John O'Byrne was the sole King's Counsel (KC) appointed after independence, in June 1924 when he was Attorney General of Ireland.[10][11] Shortly after the Courts of Justice Act 1924 came into effect, Chief Justice Hugh Kennedy, in conjunction with the Bar Council of Ireland, revived the issue of patents of precedence, which had been used in the 18th and 19th century as an alternative to a patent as KC, but had fallen into disuse from 1883 as the strictures formerly associated with the rank of KC were abolished.[11] The Free State patent wording was based on that issued to Daniel O'Connell;[11] the recipient would be styled "Senior Counsel" (SC) (Irish: abhcóide sinsir[12]).[13] According to the view held at the time, the "privilege of patent" was part of the royal prerogative within the Free State.[n 1] The early patents were issued under the Free State's [internal] Great Seal by the Governor-General as the King's representative, on the advice of the Executive Council (government).[15] On 14 July 1924 the Chief Justice called the first recipients to the "within the bar" and bestowed their patents.[10][15] The form of the 1924 patent omitted the appointment as "one of our counsel learned in the law" from the KC patent, but retained its grant of "precedence and preaudience" to rank next after the previously appointed KC or SC.[15] The Constitution (Amendment No. 27) Act 1936 abolished the office of Governor-General and the Executive Powers (Consequential Provisions) Act 1937 was held to have transferred the royal prerogative to the Executive Council (government).[16][n 1] Although the 1937 Constitution of Ireland created the office of President of Ireland, it was still the Taoiseach as head of government who signed patents of precedence under the Executive Powers (Consequential Provisions) Act 1937.[17][18]

The title "K.C." continued to be used by many Senior Counsel, both those created before July 1924 and those after.[13] In 1949, shortly before the coming into force of the Republic of Ireland Act 1948, which created the Republic of Ireland and broke the final link with the British Crown, Frank Aiken asked John A. Costello during Taoiseach's questions "whether, in view of the fact that certain members of the Inner Bar who received their patents as senior counsel continue to describe themselves as king's counsel, he will introduce a bill entitled an act to declare that the description of a senior counsel shall be senior counsel"; Costello said he had "no intention of wasting public time and money" on the idea.[19] As late as the 1960s, R.G.L. Leonard (made KC before 1922) was described in the official Irish law reports as "Queen's Counsel",[20] reflecting the British change from King to Queen in 1952.

The Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 provides for the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) to establish an Advisory Committee on the grant of Patents of Precedence. The committee comprises the Chief Justice, the Presidents of the Court of Appeal and High Court, the Attorney General, heads of the Bar Council and Law Society of Ireland, and a lay member appointed by the Minister for Justice. The relevant part of the 2015 act was commenced in 2019. It allows the bestowal of the title "Senior Counsel" on solicitors. The LSRA advisory committee replaces an earlier advisory committee which had no statutory basis, and no solicitor or lay member.[18] The 2015 act also specifies the criteria for both solicitors and barristers:[21]

(a) has, in his or her practice as a legal practitioner, displayed—
(i) a degree of competence and a degree of probity appropriate to and consistent with the grant to him or her of a Patent,
(ii) professional independence, and
(iii) one or more of the following:
(I) a proven capacity for excellence in the practice of advocacy;
(II) a proven capacity for excellence in the practice of specialist litigation; or
(III) specialist knowledge of an area of law;
(b) is suitable on grounds of character and temperament;
(c) is in possession of a tax clearance certificate that is in force;
(d) is otherwise suitable to be granted a Patent.

It is still the government which grants the patent of privilege and the Chief Justice who calls patentees to the Inner Bar.[18] Of about 2300 barristers registered with the Bar Council of Ireland, about 325 are SCs.[22]

New Zealand

The title "Senior Counsel" was briefly established in New Zealand from 2007 until 2009. It was abolished by the following government in favour of restoring the title of Queen's Counsel on the basis of the respect felt accorded to those appointed Queen's Counsel. Those appointed as Senior Counsel have been given the option of becoming Queen's Counsel or remaining as Senior Counsel.

Singapore

"Senior Counsel" (Chinese: 高级律师[7]) is used in the law of Singapore.[23] There is no independent bar in Singapore and senior counsel practice as members of law firms.

South Africa

"Senior Counsel" (in Afrikaans Senior Advokaat) replaced QC in South Africa after the union became a republic in 1961, with appointments being made by the state president until 1994, when the office was succeeded by that of president. A judge in the High Court in the province of Gauteng ruled that under the 1993 constitution, the president did not have the power to grant Senior Counsel status.[24] This judgment has been overturned by the Supreme Court of Appeal and also the Constitutional Court. See Advocate#South Africa.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the position of senior counsel (lowercase) is used to denote an experienced solicitor (who need not be an advocate), who is not on the path to partnership. This position is therefore analogous to the American title of counsel, and is not directly comparable to the position of Queen's Counsel/Senior Counsel, which is held by barristers.

India

A member of the bar could be designated as a Senior Advocate upon a selection process that employs various criteria for designation. The said designation happens by the Supreme Court directly, or through the concerned state High Court. Senior advocates' gowns have a flap at the back to distinguish them from junior counsels.

Similar titles

Other jurisdictions have adopted similar titles:

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References

Footnotes
  1. This view was subsequently rejected by the Supreme Court of Ireland in 1972 and 1988 rulings that the 1922 constitution had abolished the royal prerogative; these decisions in turn have been criticised by jurists.[14]

Citations
  1. Michael Young, SC, dead at 61, Amandala, October 22nd, 2016
  2. "Code of Conduct Annex 11". Archived from the original on 3 October 2009.
  3. "States divide over restoration of 'Queen's Counsel' title". theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  4. "Victoria to give senior barristers option to become QCs" (PDF).
  5. "New Victorian silks given choice of QC or SC".
  6. "Govt to reinstate QCs, spurning Supreme Court judges".
  7. Translation Standardisation Committee for the Chinese Media, Singapore Archived 17 April 2004 at the Wayback Machine
  8. See the savings and transitional provisions contained in s. 2 of Schedule 2 to Ordinance No. 94 of 1997
  9. Legal Practitioner's Ordinance, S.31B
  10. Rice, Vincent (10 July 1943). "His Majesty's Counsel". The Irish Times. p. 3. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  11. "Current Events". Irish Jurist. 1 (2): 9. May 1935. ISSN 0021-1273. JSTOR 44505852.
  12. "I.R. Uimh. 68/1949 — An tOrdú Téarmaí Dlíthiúla Gaeilge (Uimh. 4), 1949". electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) (in Irish). 8 September 1949. Retrieved 8 April 2020.; de Bhaldraithe, Tomás, ed. (1959). "counsel". English–Irish Dictionary. Retrieved 8 April 2020 – via teanglann.ie.
  13. "Questions. Oral Answers — Irish Bar Senior Counsel". Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil) debates. Oireachtas. 24 February 1949. cols.493–5. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  14. Cahillane, Laura (2010). "The prerogative and its survival in Ireland: dusty antique or positively useful?" (PDF). Irish Journal of Legal Studies. 1 (2): 1–28. ISSN 2009-6410. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  15. "Calls to the Inner Bar". The Irish Times. 1 April 1926. p. 3. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  16. "Executive Powers (Consequential Provisions) Act 1937 s.2". electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB). Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  17. "Current Events; Patents of Precedence". The Irish Jurist. V (1): 1. Hilary Term 1939. JSTOR 44506045. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. Therese, Molloy Marie (3 July 2019). "Government Grants Admission to Inner Bar". merrionstreet.ie (Press release). Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  19. "Questions. Oral Answers. - Description of Senior Counsel". Dáil Éireann (13th Dáil) debates. Oireachtas. 23 March 1949. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  20. Hall, Eamonn (April 2005). "The ancien régime" (PDF). Law Society Gazette. Law Society of Ireland. 99 (3): 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  21. "Advisory Committee on the Grant of Patents of Precedence". Legal Services Regulatory Authority. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  22. "About Us". Law Library. Bar Council of Ireland. Retrieved 1 July 2020. The Bar of Ireland .. has a current membership of approximately 2,300 practising barristers ... There are approximately 325 senior counsel in Ireland
  23. "Senior Counsel Directory". Singapore Academy of Law. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  24. Court rules president cannot grant senior counsel status, Mail and Guardian, 9 February 2012
  25. "Advocate". banglapedia.org.
  26. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

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