Legal practitioners who wish to be granted patents of precedence, allowing them to use the title of senior counsel, must submit their application by 5pm on Thursday 16 February 2023.

The applications are considered by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority’s (LSRA) advisory committee on the grant of patents of precedence, which makes recommendations to the government.

In 2022, more women than men were granted patents of precedence for the first time. Of the 28 barristers and six solicitors who were made senior counsel, 20 were women and 14 were men.

More information about the application process is available on the LSRA website.