The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is inviting nominations for the Queen’s Counsel Honoris Causa award. The honorary award recognises those in the legal profession who have made a major contribution to the law of England and Wales outside the courtroom.

What is the Queen’s Counsel Honoris Causa?

The Queen’s Counsel Honoris Causa (QC Honoris Causa) is an honorary award unique to the legal profession. Made by royal prerogative, the award recognises those in the profession who have made a major contribution to, and impact on, the law of England and Wales outside the courtroom.

The award is not a working rank and is separate to substantive QC appointments administered by Queen’s Counsel Appointments. Where someone is eligible to apply for substantive QC in their role, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) would not normally consider them for an Honorary QC award.

What is the QC Honoris Causa for?

The QC Honoris Causa is awarded to those in the legal profession who have had a significant, positive impact outside the courtroom either on the shape of the law of England and Wales, or on the profession.

According to the MOJ, this criterion can be interpreted broadly, either as:

• a major contribution to the development of the law of England and Wales – for example, by dedicated research, influencing case law/legislation and promoting initiatives
• to how it is advanced – for example, by positively impacting the shape of the profession

Examples

• Influencing legislation

Making an impact on the law by influencing legislation or case law – for example, through outcome of research, creating awareness or campaigning, pro bono work or other advocacy outside the courtroom.

• Social mobility and Diversity

Making a considerable impact on the legal profession – for example, through initiatives that have an impact on social mobility or diversity and increase the competitiveness of the sector.

• Innovation

Making an impact through a standout achievement or through innovation – for example, by breaking through into new territory, such as making an impact through work on Lawtech, innovation in legal education, or that promote UK legal services overseas.

• Academic work

Making an impact through outstanding academic work that makes a positive contribution to the law and/or legal system

You can see examples of previous successful nominees by viewing their case studies.

Who is eligible for the QC Honoris Causa award?

To be eligible for the award, the individual must be a qualified lawyer or legal academic and the nomination must be for achievement outside practice in the courts. In other words, an award would be made for non-advocacy work. The award is open to foreign qualified professionals. There is no residency requirement.

Examples of those eligible may include (but are not limited to):

• solicitors without higher rights of audience
• legal executives
• in-house lawyers, including Counsel
• non-practising lawyers
• legal academics

Holding a fee-paid judicial office in addition to normal practice would not exclude lawyers who meet the eligibility criteria above.

However, it should be noted that someone who has been honoured in the main honours system within the last two years, or who has been nominated for such an honour this year, would not be eligible to receive an Honorary QC award.

How are awards made?

Nominations are considered against the criterion by a panel of representatives from the legal profession, civil service, judiciary, and academia, which is chaired by MOJ.

The panel of representatives provide the Lord Chancellor with recommendations of appointable nominees. The Lord Chancellor, whose role is to ensure that the process has been carried out in a fair, open and transparent way, will then consider and decide the final recommendations. The recommendations are then referred to the Queen for agreement, who grants the awards under the royal prerogative.

How to nominate someone for the QC Honoris Causa award

Nomination forms must be completed and returned to MOJ by 12pm on 29 August 2022.

Please submit your nomination form using the digital form.

Anyone can make a nomination. You do not need to have a legal background or reside in the UK and you may nominate as many people as you like.

If you are unable to use the digital form, or have any other questions, please get in touch on HonoraryQC@justice.gov.uk.

See also

The Queen's Birthday Honours list 2022

Find out more

Honorary Queen's Counsel -  Nomination Form (GOV.UK)

Image: Getty Images

Publication date: 29 June 2022