Silks by numbers: the 2020 roll call

Some 114 lawyers attained the prestigious grade of Queen’s Counsel this week, while ten were appointed Honorary QCs in the latest silk list―including the first Chartered Legal Executive QC, former CILEx president Millicent Grant (pictured).

The new silks include 30 women, out of 52 who applied, and 22 black and ethnic minority (BAME) applicants out of 42 who applied, compared to 13 BAME QCs in last year’s round. Four solicitor advocates were successful, of nine who applied.

The youngest successful applicant is 37 years old, and the oldest is 60. Some 26 applicants aged over 50 were appointed.

Sir Alex Allan, Chair of the Selection Panel, said: ‘I congratulate each one of them.  

‘The selection process is a rigorous and demanding one. We remain concerned that the number of female applicants remains comparatively low, but I am pleased that of those women who did apply, almost 60% were successful. I was also pleased to note that a record number of 22 BAME applicants were appointed.’

In total, 258 lawyers applied for silk, of which 181 reached the interview stage. The next round is expected to start next month.

Honorary QCs are awarded to those who have made a major contribution to the law outside the courts. CILEx board member Millicent Grant was the first person from a BAME background to lead a legal professional body and has championed the advancement of Legal Executive Lawyers in the legal profession and judiciary, as well as diversity and social mobility throughout her career to date.

Grant said: ‘I am a big believer that there is more than one route into the law and that CILEx, with its diverse membership, has an important role to play in bringing people from a range of different backgrounds into the legal profession.’

The new QCs will formally become silks at a ceremony on 16 March.