Making the cut

Some chambers produce more silks than others. Or so it would seem from the last two rounds of the Queen’s Counsel selection process, where high-scoring chambers in 2006 have tended to repeat their success in 2008.

Essex Court

, for example, produced the most new silks in 2006 and 2008. Civil and commercial sets Brick Court Chambers, Maitland Chambers and , and criminal set , each provided three new silks this year, and also performed well in the previous round. After producing six new silks last time, 7 King’s Bench had two more in the latest round. So, what’s their secret? The highly sought after award is given to candidates who can demonstrate excellence in advocacy (written or oral) in the higher courts. As well as the prestige factor, the award paves the way to significantly higher earnings.

Gary Oliver, senior clerk at Blackstone Chambers, which produced three silks in the last round and three again this year,