Queen's Counsel

E117610

Queen's Counsel is a prestigious rank of senior barrister in some Commonwealth legal systems, recognizing exceptional advocacy and expertise in the law.

All labels observed (4)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf honorific
legal title
professional designation
rank of barrister
abbreviation QC
appliesTo advocate
barrister
associatedWith Commonwealth legal systems
English Bar
appellate advocacy
complex litigation
colloquialName taking silk
country Australia
Canada
New Zealand
United Kingdom
various Commonwealth jurisdictions
criterion exceptional advocacy ability
expertise in the law
professional integrity
seniority at the Bar
entails right to wear silk gown
field law
follows Barrister
hasFemaleForm Queen's Counsel self-link
hasGenderVariant King's Counsel
hasMaleForm King's Counsel
hasPrivilege ability to command higher fees
priority in court
hasRestriction traditionally required to appear with a junior barrister
historicalOrigin English Crown's appointment of royal counsel
honorificSuffix QC
jurisdictionType common law
language English
legalStatus officer of the court
regulatedBy independent selection panel (in England and Wales, modern era)
replacedBy King's Counsel
replaces King's Counsel
selectionProcess appointment by the Crown
merit-based competitive application (modern practice in several jurisdictions)
recommendation by Lord Chancellor (historically in England and Wales)
status prestigious
symbolizes recognition of excellence in advocacy
senior status at the Bar
timeQualified typically after at least 10–15 years' practice
typeOfAdvocate senior advocate
usedDuringReignOf Queen
wears silk gown
special court dress indicating seniority

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (20)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Julian Burnside positionHeld Queen's Counsel
Lord Irvine of Lairg legalCareer Queen's Counsel
Kenneth Clarke awardReceived Queen's Counsel
this entity surface form: Queen's Counsel (honorary)
Dame Anne Rafferty (former) positionHeld Queen's Counsel
subject surface form: Dame Anne Rafferty
this entity surface form: Queen’s Counsel
Queen's Counsel hasFemaleForm Queen's Counsel self-link
Lord Steyn positionHeld Queen's Counsel
Marina Wheeler hasProfession Queen's Counsel
Mark Carlisle positionHeld Queen's Counsel
Edmund Beckett Denison positionHeld Queen's Counsel
Peter Goldsmith legalProfession Queen's Counsel
Dame Sian Elias positionHeld Queen's Counsel
Dame Sian Elias hasTitle Queen's Counsel
Lord Hope of Craighead positionHeld Queen's Counsel
Bob Hepple awardReceived Queen's Counsel
this entity surface form: Queen’s Counsel
John Mortimer positionHeld Queen's Counsel
QC fullForm Queen's Counsel
QC abbreviationOf Queen's Counsel
Roma Mitchell title Queen's Counsel
Harish Salve awardReceived Queen's Counsel
this entity surface form: Honorary Queen’s Counsel (QC) in England and Wales