§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 22 January (WA 97), whether by parity of reasoning the system of appointment of Queen's Counsel should be extended, in the interests of consumers, to the appointment of junior counsel; and, if not, why not. [HL1301]
§ The Lord ChancellorIf the noble Lord is referring to admission to the Bar, then this process is already managed excellently by the profession itself. Governmental involvement would not only be 77WA inappropriate, as with entry to any independent profession, but would provide no added benefit to consumers. My role in the appointment of Queen's Counsel, however, is justified because it helps consumers make the best use of the advocacy services available to them. It provides a quality mark which distinguishes those barristers or solicitor advocates who possess outstanding advocacy, legal and professional skills and are specialists in their chosen field.
If the noble Lord is instead referring to the appointment of junior counsel to act on behalf of the Government, then such a system already exists. My right honourable and learned friend the Attorney-General appoints two First Junior Treasury Counsels (one Common Law and one Chancery) and four panels of junior counsel to advise and represent the Government in civil cases and seven junior Treasury Counsel to do likewise in criminal cases.