Solicitor-advocates expect go-ahead on wigs

The fight for solicitor-advocates to have the right to wear the same court dress as barristers seems to be turning in their favour.The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, has consulted members of the judiciary and external bodies such as the Bar Council and Law Society on the issue, and early indications are that imminent reform may grant solicitor-advocates the right to wear wigs and robes in the courtroom.A well-placed source close to the consultation group told the Gazette: 'From all the indications, reform is on the way.

The fact that the process is going on, and in such depth, indicates that the outcome will be positive for solicitors.

I will be very surprised if I am talking to you in a month and a change hasn't occurred.'A spokeswoman for the Lord Chancellor's Department said the preliminary consultations were scheduled to end this week.

A discussion group, to be chaired by Lord Woolf, will convene to discuss the findings.Currently solicitors are not allowed to wear wigs in court and have different robes from their barrister equivalents - leading to fears by many that this may work against them in court.A Law Society spokesman said: 'We believe there is no justification for artificial distinctions in dress or in terms of address between the different professions.

We favour abolition of wigs, but if barristers are to be permitted to continue to wear wigs, or gowns, solicitor-advocates should be entitled to do so in order to ensure equality of dress code.'Christopher Fraser QC, deputy chairman of the public affairs group of the Bar Council said: 'We have sent our response to the Lord Chief Justice indicating that if solicitors wish to wear wigs that is fine with us.'See Editorial

By Andrew Towler