Queens Counsel article
am 27.07.2006 von http://transblawg.eu
In The Big Question: Should we abolish Queen’s Counsel? the Independent gives a lot of information on the phenomenon. Fiona Woolf, the new president of the Law Society (which represents solicitors) has suggested replacing the QC qualification with qualifications for specialist lawyers - rather like the German Fachanwalt.
The rank of Queen’s Counsel dates back over 400 years. The very first person to attain the rank was Francis Bacon, appointed by Elizabeth I in 1594 as a political manoeuvre to prevent him acting against the Crown.
This means that the first QCs really were QCs, not KCs!
The Office of Fair Trading investigated the legal professions in 2001. It concluded that the rank of QC offered the consumer “questionable value” because it permitted barristers to double their earnings overnight. Some barristers are known to even tell their clerks to treble their earnings as soon as the “silk” letter drops through their letter box.
QCs are allowed to wear gowns made of silk. They aren’t always silk, though. The Wikipedia article has two pictures. One shows Cherie Blair in a full-bottomed wig - as it says, this is ceremonial dress, not everyday dress. The other shows Robert McCall KC in the standard outfit.
[The QC] also replaces the black stuff gown of a junior barrister with a …
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About Queens Counsel
Weblawg.de / ... The QC system was suspended three years ago by the then Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg, after concerns were raised about its fairness. Last week the first new QCs since then were appointed under a resumed and reformed process. Only four…
Full-bottomed wigs / Allongeperücken
Transblawg / Further to the last entry, Ede & Ravenscroft, who supply court dress, have an FAQ: Q: What is the difference between the judge’s bench wig and the judge’s full-bottomed wig? A: Judges wear the bench wig when they are sitting in cou…
Court dress simplified/Richterbekleidung vereinfacht
Transblawg / The Solicitors Journal reports that from January 2008, judges' clothing in England and Wales is to be simplified and their dress allowance reduced. This was announced on July 12. Media release here. Judges will no longer wear wigs, wing collars…
Wigless judges/Richter verzichten auf Perücke
Transblawg / From October this year, judges in civil cases in England, including family cases, will be wearing no wigs and new robes by the fashion designer Betty Jackson. Barristers and criminal-law judges will be keeping their wigs. Some say it makes it…
Judicial dress again/ Richterroben
Transblawg / Following the recent entry on changes to court dress in England and Wales, RA-Blog gives a link to a page with pictures of judicial dress all over the world. It's not quite accurate when referring to England and Wales - not surprisingly, since t…
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