Three out of four solicitor applicants for Queen’s Counsel (QC) were successful in the latest appointment round, it was announced today (19 February). And women continue to outperform men overall, with 55% of all female applicants successful in 2008/09 compared to 40% of men.

Some 247 advocates applied for silk in the latest competition - a sharp fall on previous years - of whom 104 (42%) were appointed. This compares with 98 appointments (29%) from 333 applications in 2007/08.

Only four solicitors applied, compared to six and 12 respectively in the two previous years, but the success rate of 75% was the highest yet for solicitors. The previous high was 33%, in both 2006/07 (four) and 1997 (two).

The selection process for appointing silks, previously carried out by the Department for Constitutional Affairs, now the Ministry of Justice, was suspended in 2003 while new competition procedures were put in place. The new selection scheme was developed by the Bar Council and the Law Society.

Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, interim chairman of the independent QC Selection Panel, said: ‘It is encouraging to see that a wide variety of advocates are among those whose appointment is announced today. There are no quotas, and we treat all applications in the same way, but the range of appointments reflects the openness and fairness of the selection process.’

She added: ‘On this occasion, the panel made two significant improvements to the scheme, firstly by inviting applicants to describe the nature of their particular practice in their self-assessment and secondly by looking specifically at both preparation for, and resolution of, disputes in relation to written and oral advocacy.’

Sixteen women were successful this time, of 29 who applied. Butler-Sloss said: ‘For the third year running, the success rate for women applicants is significantly better than for men. It is particularly disappointing therefore that fewer women seem to be applying for silk, resulting in fewer appointments.’

Singling out solicitors for special mention, she continued: ‘This year only four solicitor advocates applied, but of these three (75%) have been appointed. Again I hope this will encourage solicitor advocates with the appropriate experience to apply in the future.’

Only two employed barristers applied in 2008/09 and both were successful.

There were four appointments of applicants declaring an ethnic origin other than white - 27% of the 15 who applied.

Butler-Sloss said: ‘I would encourage suitably qualified applicants from under represented groups to apply.’

The three solicitors awarded silk are Judith Gill at magic circle firm Allen & Overy, Peter Rees at US firm Debevoise & Plimpton and Romano Subiotto from US firm Cleary Gottlieb. All three have international practices. Gill specialises in international commercial arbitration, Rees in litigation and international dispute resolution, and Subiotto in European anti-trust lawand arbitration.