Lawyers hoping to become Queen's Counsel will have to stump up £1,800 just to apply, amid fears that the high cost of the revised scheme could impact negatively on diversity, it emerged this week.

Announcing the launch of the 2005/6 competition, Sir Duncan Nichol, the chairman of the independent selection panel, revealed that a successful candidate will pay a further £2,250 plus £165 for letters patent under the self-financing scheme. The total amount payable is almost six times as much as the £720 outlay under the previous system.


Sir Duncan said he hoped the new system would produce a larger pool of applicants from under-represented groups, particularly women, black and ethnic minority lawyers and lawyers with disabilities.


He encouraged applications from solicitors and employed lawyers as well as barristers in private practice, but stressed that recommendations would be made on merit alone.


Applicants will be considered against seven competencies: integrity; understanding and using the law; analysing case material to develop arguments and focus the issues; communicating arguments; responding to unfolding cases; working with the client; and working in a team.


Sir Duncan said: 'We have been striving very hard to keep the gateway fee at a level which will not deter applicants.'


But one top criminal law silk said: 'For publicly funded practitioners, it is a substantial sum and may have an effect on diversity as a large proportion of black and minority ethnic candidates carry out such work.'


Peter Herbert, chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers, agreed: 'It is hard to argue you are increasing diversity with a scheme that will economically disadvantage those already disadvantaged, who tend to be members of minority groups.'


The awards are expected to be announced early next year.