A silk-lined future?

The messages emanating from last week's round of QC appointments are as mixed as ever.

Firstly, congratulations to the two successful solicitors, who take the total for that side of the profession to eight, including the solicitor-general.

While our admiration goes to the two new solicitor QCs (and commiserations to the six unsuccessful candidates), we should register disappointment that the number of solicitor applicants was so low - four down on last year.

But it is obvious why so few put themselves forward.

Applying for silk is daunting enough for barristers; it must be nerve-racking for solicitors.

The assessment and selection procedure is still a mystery.

It appears to be designed by barristers, for the benefit of barristers, adjudicated over in patronising fashion by a Lord Chancellor, who, of course, spent a career in practice at the bar.

And the still relatively secretive nature of the decision-making process is not only deterring solicitors.

Women barristers, too, appear reluctant to apply for silk - the figure dropped this year compared with last - while applications from ethnic minorities were constant, but low.

The bar continues to defend the silk system.

But in the face of increasing scepticism regarding its value - not least from the Office of Fair Trading - it remains to be seen whether the vast majority of the legal profession and their clients will continue to support it.