Forty British Columbia lawyers have been appointed the honorary title of Queen’s counsel, or QC, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton announced.

Appointees include lawyers who specialize in First Nations law, criminal law, commercial litigation, family law and mediation. The appointees have distinguished themselves by their commitments to continuing legal education, community volunteerism and mentorship of new legal professionals.

The QC designation is conferred each year on members of the legal profession to recognize exceptional merit and contribution. Successful candidates are nominated by their peers and have been members of the B.C. bar for at least five years.

After the call for nominations in August, an advisory committee reviewed applications and recommended candidates to the Attorney General. The appointments were made by cabinet through orders-in-council.

Details on the QC appointees are located here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/AG-QCappointments.pdf 

Quote:

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton –

“The recipients of the honour of the QC designation have enriched the justice system with their contributions to the practice of law. They have demonstrated professional integrity and dedication to their profession and have made valuable contributions as volunteers to communities across the province. This is a highly coveted honour, particularly because the recipients are nominated by their peers.”  

Quick Facts:

• The first Queen’s counsel was in 1594 when Queen Elizabeth I reserved Francis Bacon as her legal advisor.
• There were 179 nominations for this honour this year in B.C.
• Only 7% of practising B.C. lawyers can be awarded the designation of QC.
• Currently there are 489 QCs out of 11,245 practising members of the bar.
• The advisory committee for Queen’s counsel appointments includes:
  • The Chief Justice of B.C.
  • The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of B.C.
  • The Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of B.C.
  • The president of the Law Society of B.C. (LSBC)
  • The president of the Canadian Bar Association British Columbia Branch (CBABC)
  • A Law Society of B.C. member appointed by the benchers (directors) and
  • B.C.’s Deputy Attorney General