King's Counsel

A King's Counsel (post-nominal initials KC) is a senior lawyer, usually a barrister, appointed by the monarch (or their vice-regal representative) of some Commonwealth realms as a "counsel learned in the law". When the reigning monarch is a woman, the title is Queen's Counsel (QC).

The position originated in England and Wales but is now to be found in other Commonwealth realms. Some jurisdictions have retained the designation, while others have either abolished the appointment or renamed it so as to remove its monarchical nomenclature – for example, to "Senior Counsel" or "Senior Advocate".

Appointment as King's Counsel is an office recognised by courts. KCs in the UK have the privilege of sitting within the inner bar of court. As members wear silk gowns of a particular design, appointment as King's Counsel is known informally as taking silk and KCs are often colloquially called silks. Appointments are made from within the legal profession, sometimes after an application process administered by a legal professional association (eg, the local bar council). This process is designed to yield appointees based on merit and, it is said, not a particular level of experience. Nevertheless, successful applicants are normally barristers (or, in Scotland, advocates) with at least 10-15 years of experience.

In most Canadian jurisdictions, the designation is regulated by statute, such as the King's Counsel Act of British Columbia, that requires the candidates to have a minimum five years of experience, and to have made an outstanding contribution to the practice of law with high professional standards and good character and repute.