It is true that High Court solicitor-advocates cannot wear wigs, which puts them at a disadvantage, but there is no reason why they should walk around wearing ushers' gowns (see [2006] Gazette, 16 March, 8).

A practice direction by the then-Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, (variation to practice direction (court dress) (1994) 1WLR 1056, 19 July 1994) states that counsel wear a short wig and 'stuff gown with bands', and that solicitors and other advocates authorised under the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 wear a 'black stuff gown and bands but no wig'. As the stuff gown worn by barristers is also black, there does not appear to be any difference between one stuff gown and another, and solicitors are entitled to wear the same gowns as barristers. I have worn my 'barrister's' black stuff gown in the Crown Court on many occasions and have never been challenged by a judge on the basis that my stuff gown should not be a 'barrister's' stuff gown.


Brian Woodhams, solicitor-advociate, Liverpool