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South Australia to reinstate title of QC
In an effort to offer greater flexibility to senior members of the legal sector, the South Australian government will reintroduce the Queen’s counsel title.
Jerome Doraisamy
Since 2008, barristers in South Australia taking silk have been appointed with the title of senior counsel, after the then state government ceased the appointment of QCs, in line with other state and territory jurisdictions that had discontinued its use.
“I understand there is some confusion and misunderstanding in the broader community about the use of the term [senior counsel], which is less well known and regarded than the QC title which is universally recognised. This is one of the reasons why the sector has called for this reform,” she said.
“The sector is also concerned that the title of [senior counsel], or SC, is not as well known in the Asia-Pacific region, which makes it harder for those lawyers competing for international briefs. In addition to this, the SC title is easily confused with the title of [special counsel], which applies to a number of in-house counsel within some businesses.”
Under a bill to be introduced to the State’s Parliament this week, A-G Chapman noted that the Supreme Court will still appoint legal practitioners as senior counsel, however, “anyone who has been – or will be appointed an SC – will be able to apply to the Attorney-General to make a recommendation to the [governor] that they be appointed as QC”.
“This will give those lawyers who have been distinguished enough to earn this title the flexibility to choose the title they feel is most appropriate to their work,” Ms Chapman said.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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