Irvine gives impetus to crime solicitors' wig hope

Solicitors could soon be allowed to wear wigs in the Crown Court, after the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, last week indicated that he wants to see equality of arms between criminal advocates.The move would be strongly resisted by the Bar but welcomed by many criminal law specialist solicitor-advocates who have long maintained that the rules prohibiting them from wearing wigs has put that branch of the legal profession at a disadvantage.Speaking at a post-election briefing last week, Lord Irvine said there was a strong argument for there to be 'equality between barristers and solicitors in the criminal courts'.

He conceded that juries and witnesses in the Crown Court might make value judgments about advocates on the basis of their court dress.In contrast, Lord Irvine described the wearing of wigs in the civil courts as an anachronism that could be abolished.

The Crown Court is different, he maintained, saying that a higher degree of 'solemnity and anonymity' is required.

This is to be a court dress consultation.

Lord Irvine confirmed that a review of competitiveness in the law would be high on his second-term agenda, highlighting the Bar's direct access rule, the position of QCs, and multi-disciplinary partnerships, as areas for attention.Lord Irvine referred to the recent Office of Fair Trading report which described QCs as a deterrent to competition.

Nonetheless, he suggested that solicitors might object to the rank disappearing: 'Smaller solicitors up and down the country who value highly access to QCs would be very opposed to the abolition of the rank on competitive grounds'.However, Lord Irvine said it was ultimately 'up to the Bar to justify the rank of QC as being in the public interest'.

He backed the rank and appointment system, but said that if there were a good case for change he might shift his position.Lord Irvine also indicated that he could change his position on judicial appointments.

He said Sir Colin Campbell, the new judicial appointments commissioner, will report in a year.

At that stage, Lord Irvine will decided whether the position should evolve from being 'a supervisory role to an advisory role'.

In addition, the Lord Chancellor said the long wait for the six-month overdue Auld review of the criminal justice system was nearly over.

He predicted that Lord Justice Auld would report later this month.

However, it is unlikely the report will be published before September.Jonathan Ames