Advocates of change

The bar's dismissive attitude towards solicitor-advocates will not be appropriate in future

The growth of the solicitor-advocacy side of the profession has been slow but steady.

The total number of practitioners with a form of higher court rights of audience is approaching 1,800, about 16% of the practising bar.

For some time senior barristers have subtly dismissed the threat from these newer high court advocates by suggesting that solicitors were not widely interested, so the bar was not threatened.

This week we may be seeing the beginning of a new mood.

One of the most influential and high-powered litigation law firms in the City has said outright that in the past its solicitors were over-reliant on barristers.

Herbert Smith is targeting interlocutory hearings for its team of 31 in-house solicitor-advocates.

It will be interesting to see whether a domino effect kicks in, with first Herbert Smith extending its policy to other forms of higher court work, and then its City and commercial counterparts possibly following suit.

Nobody is writing the bar's obituary.

But its leadership would be well advised to take note that a dismissive attitude towards solicitor-advocates will not be appropriate in the near future.

The whole shape of the legal profession in the UK is evolving - developments from the Institute of Legal Executives this week highlight increasing competition facing the solicitor branch as ILEX has applied to extend legal executives' rights of audience.

Successful lawyers of the future will be those who adapt to change and thrive on competition.