Solicitors have been invited to nominate themselves or other legal professionals for honorary Queen’s Counsel (QC).

The honorary counsel will be appointed alongside the new substantive QCs in spring 2010.

Honorary silk is available to all practising lawyers, whether in private practice, working as an employed lawyer or in public service, who have made a major contribution to the law of England and Wales. This could be a contribution to the development of the law, or to people’s understanding of and ability to use it, or its promotion.

The award is normally made for an achievement outside a lawyer’s usual practice which also brings a significant degree of public benefit, and which has not been recognised through other forms of honours.

Non-lawyers may also be put forward for nomination.

Nominations will close on 11 September 2009. A nomination form and further details can be found at http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/announcement080609a.htm.