Applications for Senior Counsel

The application process for 2025 is now open. The 2025 Application Form and Applicant Guidance are available to download from this page.

The deadline for receipt of completed applications (including references) is 5p.m. on Friday 4 April 2025.

The Advisory Committee on the grant of Patents of Precedence was established under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 on 2 April 2020.

The Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the Government to grant a patent to a legal practitioner (solicitor or barrister). The Legal Services Regulatory Authority provides clerical and administrative assistance to the Advisory Committee.

Membership of the Advisory Committee is set out in the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015.

The Advisory Committee consists of:

• The Chief Justice (Chairperson of the Committee)
• The President of the Court of Appeal
• The President of the High Court
• The Attorney General
• The Chair of the Bar Council
• The President of the Law Society
• Lay member – to be confirmed

Applications should be made electronically by email to [email protected] the closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 4 April 2025.

Please submit the following:

• A completed application form including a signed and dated declaration;
• A Tax Clearance Certificate or Tax Reference Number plus Tax Clearance Access Number (or equivalent if outside the State) that is in force;
• Two references only, one of which is to be from a current or former judge and one from a legal practitioner (references must be sent directly by the individual referees to [email protected] for the attention of the Secretary to the Committee) and
• Links to or pdf versions of any articles or publications relied upon as part of an application.

In advance of submitting an application, applicants are asked to contact the LSRA at [email protected] which will allow the LSRA to facilitate applicants in ensuring their application is received (note that for large size files, applicants may get bounce back on their emails if attachments are too large). In this regard, arrangements may be made by the LSRA to facilitate uploading of applications to a secure portal.

Any general queries in relation to the Guidance or Application form can be directed to the Secretariat to the Advisory Committee by email to [email protected].