Solicitor advocates have called for a refresh of their seemingly ailing brand amid evidence that the career benefits of the designation are declining.
Dwindling numbers are making use of their higher rights to appear in court, their specialist association has been disbanded and hardly any solicitor advocates now take silk.
These are among the claims made for this week’s feature on solicitor advocates, commissioned to mark the 30th anniversary of their creation.
The Solicitors’ Association of Higher Court Advocates – founded in the same year solicitors were permitted to acquire higher rights of audience – has been wound up following a members’ vote. SAHCA’s website was taken down this month.
Andrew Morris, a higher court advocate at ITN Solicitors specialising in criminal law, would like to see an Inn of Court or advocacy group step in to help with training.
This would help colleagues to ‘take on bigger cases and feel they will be more accepted on a level playing field with the bar’, he said. Morris also called for the ‘brand’ to be better promoted.
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