QCs are back
Chris Finlayson announced:
The government has responded to concerns from the legal profession and will restore the title of Queen’s Counsel to recognise outstanding members of the independent bar, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.
Can’t say I’m too bothered either way. When or if we become a republic, the name will have to change – but any change should be part of an informed public debate and decision.
When QEII dies, all the QCS will then become KCs – that will be a lot of reprinting!
The title of KC/QC started in 1603 with Sir Francis Bacon.
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Tags: Chris Finlayson
June 18th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Perhaps the initials could be kept but the words changed
We had a guy at school everyone called QC but he wasn’t a Queen’s Council
June 18th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Well hasn’t that just put the icing on the cake? NZ is prospering, unemployment is at record lows, exports are at record highs, we have leapt in to the top two on OECD ranks for wealth and every child can now get the healthcare and education they need.
Qcs are back, knighthoods are back – glad to see National knows the priorities!
June 18th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
When this happens, can we at least replace the QC rank with a differently-named rank with the initials Q.C.?
June 18th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Don’t care either way about the title
But someone should get rid of scum like Peter Williams QC, Marie Dyhrberg QC and Chris Comeski QC
June 18th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Wasn’t aware that either Marie Dyhrberg or Chris Comeski had taken silk.
I for one am looking forward to a KC and the Sunshine Band revival!
June 18th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Well Graeme, the late lamented Rumpole used to suggest “Queer Customer”. I’d be all for that
I see Portia beat me to it, but I was going to ask whether, when I hire a KC, I get the Sunshine Band for free or whether the bloody lawyers will find a way to bill for them as incidentals?
June 18th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Not sure why the name has to change?
If we become a republic, do we also have to get rid of the Queen’s Chain and King Size beds?
June 18th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
This is good news, but perhaps not for the reasons you might think: before the dumb change in the name and the criteria, we were always able to call barristers of many years experience ’senior counsel’ without suggesting they had taken silk. When the appellation was changed from ‘QC’ to ‘SC’ we suddenly had to find a new name for those of great experience but who do not practice at the inner bar. As far as I know, the issue is still a matter of discussion!
So it makes life much easier for the tiny percentage of us to whom it actually means something!
Interestingly enough, and very technically, a barrister of no matter how many years experience but who hasn’t taken silk is still a ‘junior’.
I am also glad to see this go back primarily to the separate bar. Those who aspire to the inner bar should be required to make the step out of the comfort of the firm before getting silk
I make an exception for the legendary Prof John Burrows QC, a wonderful man and an exceptional legal mind.
June 18th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
“When the appellation was changed from ‘QC’ to ‘SC’ we suddenly had to find a new name for those of great experience but who do not practice at the inner bar. As far as I know, the issue is still a matter of discussion!”
How about, “old buggers”?
June 18th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Now if we could just have a real air force back again – it’ll be like we never had a Labour Government.
June 18th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Agree with your Lawrence, a real air force would be most welcome.
This is a good move but definitely just a step on the long road back to good governance.
June 19th, 2009 at 7:26 am
The change to SC was part of a cynical secret agenda to remove Her Majesty from everything possible and reduce her role to absolutely nothing and then simply push her aside. I am glad these have been restored and to have it largely limited to people who practice on their own account, take on difficult cases and have a long track record of profession competence, integrity and good character. They are the pool from which our High Court Judges are drawn, whom have to hold the balance between to the state and the individual.
June 19th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Yes As a Monarchist and proud to be of English grandparentage I appauld the AG
Now to complete the treble lets get rid of that activist and baised Supreme Court and let the Judical Committee of the Privy Council be our final Court
Then and only then will we have access to some of the finest legal minds rather than the cabal of closed minded protectionist that we have at present