It is HARD to remember now what led me to apply for the civil higher rights of audience qualification - was it really an ambition to appear in the High Court or Court of Appeal? Or was it a lifetime of flogging round the county courts of the country, opposed by counsel, some of whom w ere excellent but a few of whom were plainly not, sparking the resentful thought of their superior rights of audience? Was it a residual judicial attitude (albeit much improved of recent years) that solicitor advocates are second best? Or was it purely personal satisfaction?Whatever, January 1994 saw the start of a process which was to last throughout the year, as I submitted the application form.

The hardest part was to overcome the 'experience threshold', to prove that my range of advocacy over the previous two years enabled me to join the starting line-up.

I believe that many people were unable to get beyond this stage, but nonetheless I would advise anyone considering applying that they should not hesitate to do so.

There seems to be some flexibility in interpreting the rules.Around March, I was delighted to find that I had been accepted.

It seemed easy so far, but I should have known...After a gap, the next hurdle was the examination in June.

I thought it would be a breeze.

After all, I was in court week in week out, and I must know everything about court procedure and ethics.

In an attempt just to show willing, I enrolled for a College of Law course (on a Saturday, for heaven's sake!) which was said to prepare you for the exam.

It was just as well that I did.

The depth and range of the requirements, and the sensible source materials which needed to be studied, were explained to us.

Just in time I was able to put aside my complacency and get down to the necessary study.The course was also a first intriguing opportunity to meet some of my fellow seekers.

They seemed to be almost all from Clifford Chance.I believe that about 25 people took the test in June, either at Manchester or in London.

The most frequent comment by candidates at the Manchester centre, which I attended, were: 'When I took my Law Society finals years ago, I vowed I would never take another exam, so what am I doing here? - and as a volunteer!'The results were published in August and showed that just 13 people has passed, which was disappointing.

I do not think the exam was really that difficult but perhaps there was insufficient understanding of just how thoroughly the Civil Evidence Acts, RSC ord 18, and the Law Society code for advocates required study.That just left the training courses.

There was a four day weekend in November and a three day weekend in December, comprising a mixture of written and oral exercises.

A couple of weeks before the first course a thick folder of papers arrived and it was clear that much intense study and preparation were required.

It was also clear that a great deal of work had gone into the preparation of the courses, with the 'pretend cases' set out in the papers in incredible detail including pleadings, correspondence, experts' reports, etc.I was very nervous arriving on the first day.

I did not know what standard was required for a pass.

I knew I could perform as well as some of the counsel I had seen, but there again I have watched advocacy performances by other barristers of a breathtaking brilliance to which I know I can never aspire.

Which was the required standard? It turned out to be somewhere in between.There were 12 solicitors on the course.

Five were from Clifford Chance, and two from Hempsons, the medical negligence defence specialists.

That left me and four other assorted persons to represent the whole of the rest of the country.

There was only one woman.One of the great things about the seven intensive days spent together was the feeling of fellowship which grew among the 12 of us, helping each ot her with tips for the next session, willing each other to succeed.

The friendship which grew between the provincials and the Clifford Chance brigade certainly broke down some pre-conceptions on both sides.

We were all in this together.We were put through our paces - ord 14 applications, opening speeches, examining and cross-examining witnesses, closing speeches, appeals, etc.

The Law Society had gone to the lengths of bringing two real, live consultant neurologists, fully briefed, to be examined and cross-examined in the personal injury trial - which was certainly a challenge.

The course tutors, a variety of judges, Law Society Council members (including the President), barristers etc, seemed caught up in the pioneering spirit of it all too, and became a part of the fellowship.At long last, on the Sunday before Christmas, we learned that we had passed, and became the first solicitors to acquire a higher court (civil proceedings) qualification.

It was a great feeling, overwhelmingly one of increased self-confidence.Of course it has been hard work, but most certainly worthwhile.

The small numbers involved were a disappointment to the Law Society; however my closing message to all those vaguely thinking of signing up in the future is 'give it a try!' There was not a single matrimonial specialist on the course, surely a likely area for future recruitment.