Vic AG squibs making a firm decision on the future of queen's counsel ... Bar asked to consult and report ... What exciting new viewpoints will be uncovered?
Vic AG squibs making a firm decision on the future of queen’s counsel … Bar asked to consult and report … What exciting new viewpoints will be uncovered?
Marty has decided that all the new silks appointed last November by the CJ will have the option of trading in their SCs for royal baubles.
That’s fair enough, since the new silks were announced just three days before the election, which saw Pakula & Co sweep out the queen-hugging Naphthaline Tories.
Of the 18 announced late last year none have received letters patents, as at Friday, Jan. 30.
In the next breath, Marty announced that before any further QCs are appointed (from end of this year onwards) the bar has to come up with a “comprehensive review of the reintroduction of queen’s counsel”.
This will include, “broad ranging consultation with its members, the legal profession as a whole, and the wider community”.
That’s just dandy. Can you possibly predict the findings that the frippery-loving VicBar is going to reach in this report, the same bar that saw 90 percent of SCs convert to QCs in 2014? Marty explains:
“I’m mindful that constantly changing the government’s position on QCs has the potential to damage an important institution.I look forward to receiving advice from the bar that takes into account the views of as many of its members as possible, and considers the persecutive of the whole community.”
The last bit suggests that the public interest should be considered.
All this seems like shorthand for the Labor government not doing anything much. If the AG was serious about protecting an important institution from damage (inflicted on itself) he would do what the Fahey Liberal government did in 1992, and legislate to do away with official systems of lawyer status and preferment.
“Last QC I briefed here in Qld was as weak as water and charged handsomely for going through the motions. Out here in the ‘burbs most QCs or SCs are overpriced. I prefer an experienced barrister (although I will give young up and comings a go for the right case) who is lean (quite literally- overweight barristers are a sign of complacent long lunch, lets settle this thing, as opposed to being ready will and able to scrap), flexible on fees and paid in 7 days. Most of all – must read the brief before conference/trial. That last one seems to be a bit of a deal killer for many barristers, both senior and junior it would seem. Call themselves what they want – the letters mean nil to me. I judge on performance – not counsel who expect their “fearsome” reputations to precede them. No disrespect to any posters who I do not know – just sharing my 2 cents on the relevancy of the QC/SC title to my reality as a suburban solicitor.”
With the outcry that accompanied Tony Abbott’s trinket to Phil the Greek one would have thought that the wide brown land is no longer in need of monarchical sanctification.
As my mother used to say – “grow up”.