Judicial Appointments and Silk
This page provides relevant information to the Bar about Judical Appointments and Silk
Judicial Appointments
The Judicial Appointments Commission was launched in the spring 2006.
The Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice and the Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission are committed to ensuring a judiciary of the highest calibre, with candidates drawn from the widest possible range of available talent.
The Bar Council is committed to working with the Judicial Appointments Commission to achieve its aims.
The Chairman of the Bar is a member of the Judicial Appointments Commission’s High Level Policy group and the Bar Council is represented on the Diversity Forum by Ingrid Simler QC and Julian Picton QC.
All details of the Judicial Appointments Commission’s selection exercises, consultations and other information such as the competency framework, eligibility criteria and good character guidance can be found on the Judicial Appointments Commission website.
This document explodes some myths and then provides questions and answers to give further information on the JAC’s selection processes and policies. Much more can be found on the Judicial Appointments website.
Step Up to a Judicial Career
Click here to dowload the Ministry of Justice booklet called 'Step Up to a Judicial Career'.
Outreach Events
Information on outreach events can be found on the JAC website. The Bar Council held an event in June in advance of the Recorder competition on the Midland Circuit. The aim was to encourage more women and ethnic minority barristers to apply to become Recorders.
The UCL’s Judicial Institute is running the first course for legal practitioners on becoming a judge over the weekend of 12-13th November. This follows up one of the recommendations of the Report of the Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity chaired by Baroness Neuberger. The course fee is £500 but information on bursary’s available is provided in the following brochure.
Bar Council contact: Pamela Bhalla
JAC Newsletter
Judging Your Future is the JAC e-Newspaper. It contains news about current and forthcoming selection exercises. It also includes information about the judicial appointments and latest developments.
Work-Shadowing
The Directorate of Judicial Office is responsible for the administration of the work-shadowing scheme. Details can be found on their website.
Circuit Diversity Mentors
At the request of the Chairman of the Bar each Circuit has appointed a Diversity Mentor as the first point of contact for barristers interested in applying for a judicial appointment or Silk. The role of the Diversity Mentor is to encourage suitably qualified members of Circuit to apply for a judicial appointment or Silk and to provide them with all the necessary information. The Diversity Mentors are South East Circuit: Frances Oldham QC, Martin Forde QC, Midlands Circuit: Nirmal Shant QC, Satinder Hunjan QC, Western Circuit: Jane Miller QC, Wales and Chester Circuit: Ruth Henke QC, Andrew Keyser QC, North Eastern Circuit: Bryan Cox QC and Northern Circuit: Nicholas Clarke QC.
Silk
The process for the award of Queen’s Counsel was agreed between the Bar Council and the Law Society and approved by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Falconer) in 2004. The Selection Panel carried out an initial competition under the new arrangements in 2005-06 and now conducts competitions on an annual basis. For further information about application and selection for Queen’s Counsel see the QC Appointments website.
Click here for myths about QC Selection System.
