Annual nominations for the Queen’s counsel (QC) designation are now open and will be accepted until July 17, 2020.

The honorary QC designation recognizes British Columbia lawyers for distinctive merit and exceptional contributions to the legal profession. Successful candidates will have demonstrated professional integrity and good character, and must have been a member of the British Columbia bar for at least five years.  The designation is bestowed annually by the lieutenant governor on the endorsement of the attorney general.

For information and the nomination form, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/for-legal-professionals/queens-counsel

Quick Facts:

• In 2019, 26 QCs were appointed from 163 nominations.
• No more than 7% of practising B.C. lawyers can be appointed as Queen’s counsel.
• All applications are reviewed by an advisory committee, which recommends deserving candidates to the attorney general. The committee includes:
  • the chief justice of British Columbia;
  • the chief justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia;
  • the chief judge of the provincial court;
  • two members of the Law Society appointed by the benchers;
  • the president of the Canadian Bar Association, B.C. Branch; and
  • the deputy attorney general.
• There are 12,651 practising lawyers in B.C., of whom 501 have the B.C. Queen’s counsel designation.