The 2025 Competition
Applications for the 2025 KC Competition are now open and will close on 25 April 2025 at 5pm.
Click here to register.
Further information:
FAQ and Mythbusting
Multi-Factor Authentication Guide
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As of 2024 KCA has updated its approach to diversity monitoring. Historical statistics are still available here.
The award of King’s Counsel is for excellence in advocacy in the higher courts. It is made to advocates who have rights of audience in the higher courts of England and Wales and have demonstrated the competencies in the Competency Framework to a standard of excellence.
King’s Counsel are appointed from amongst practising advocates – both barristers and solicitors. They are appointed because they have demonstrated excellence in advocacy in difficult cases in the higher courts of England and Wales, or in tribunals or arbitrations.
More information about barristers can be found at barcouncil.org.uk, and about solicitors at lawsociety.org.uk.
The King’s Counsel Selection Panel is responsible for recommendations to the Lord Chancellor on appointment of King’s Counsel. However, King’s Counsel Appointments does not deal with complaints about KCs. Those are dealt with by the Legal Ombudsman; or by the Bar Standards Board for barristers or the Solicitors Regulations Authority for solicitor KCs.