A Message from the President

09/10/2009

**Senior Counsel Protocol **

Members will have received a letter from Greg Curtin concerning the Senior Counsel Protocol.ï¿½

Unfortunately, a number of the assumptions Mr Curtin makes are inaccurate and to the extent that he infers that he has any knowledge ofï¿½ what any person may have said about his own applications, no such information was ever given to him by a member of the Silk Selection Committee.ï¿½ No process could ever work unless the confidence of those who are consulted is respected .ï¿½

In addition, it must be said that senior counsel are not elected; they are selected after an extensive consultation process.ï¿½ Therefore, the use of such language as "votes" and "voting" is inappropriate.ï¿½ï¿½

The Senior Counsel Protocol is under continuous scrutiny both from within and without the Bar Council.ï¿½ From time to time it has been varied as improvements are recommended. Furthermore, as Mr Curtin was informed, the Bar Council determined some time ago that it would conduct a further review of the Protocol and any proposals from members, including his own, would be put before the Council.ï¿½ All suggestions for improvement are always welcome.

Anna Katzmann SC President

ï¿½9 October 2009

If you no longer wish to receive In Brief, please notify the Bar Association's