First 'developed' solicitor-advocates qualify

Two assistants at City firm Herbert Smith have become the first to qualify as solicitor-advocates via the development route that was opened last year.Intellectual property (IP) lawyer Joel Smith and employment specialist Jane Swann qualified for higher rights of audience on 19 November and 1 December respectively, having completed the requirements in the Higher Courts Qualification Regulations 2000 - including a 12-month portfolio of experience - that became effective in October last year.'We urge all litigators at the firm to qualify as a solicitor-advocate,' said Herbert Smith partner Bill Moodie, head of the IP department.'Clients want our services in the best and most cost-effective way and we want to offer them the complete package.

Solicitor-advocates can offer this and I believe the training makes them better overall practitioners.'Mark Humphries, head of advocacy at Linklaters and former chairman of the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates, said: 'I think these two solicitors will be the first of many.

We have 47 lawyers currently going through the development route and I think in the next five years we will see more litigators take and use the qualifications.' 'I fear to say it, but this may affect the amount of advocacy work that is available for barristers,' he added.

'Law students nowadays believe a lawyer is a lawyer and want to possess all the skills.'

By Andrew Towler