Appointment of King's Counsel in Scotland 2024 Report by Keith Connal, Independent Observer

Appointment of King's Counsel and Honorary King's Counsel in Scotland 2024.


Introduction

The appointment of King’s Counsel in Scotland is made by His Majesty the King on the recommendation of the First Minister, who seeks nominations from the Lord Justice General. The Lord Justice General invites applications from suitably qualified advocates and solicitor advocates.

The application process and assessment criteria are set out in a Guide for Applicants, which was amended for the 2024 round. The Guide is available from the Judiciary of Scotland website.

The role of the Independent Observer appointed by the First Minister is to provide assurance that the appointment process is fair and transparent, by reviewing all applications, assessments, references and other relevant documents and discussing the process and outcome with the Lord Justice General.

Contact

Email: Diane.morrison@gov.scot

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