Amendments to the Senior Counsel Protocol

04/06/2010

The Bar Council has agreed upon amendments to the Senior Counsel Protocol in the course of considering the Review of the Protocol conducted by the Hon R V Gyles AO QC. A copy of the revised protocol is attached. The substantive amendments are as follows:

• A new clause 6(g) (vi) has been added to indicate that “experience and practice in mediation” is one of the areas of practice which comes within the category of “perspective and knowledge of legal practice acquired over a considerable period” under clause 6 (g);

• A new clause 9(d) has been added to specify that an appropriately qualified person who is not a practising barrister be added as a member of the Senior Counsel Selection Committee; and

• A new clause 12a has been added to provide that applicants must provide certain details in respect of cases, including contesting interlocutory applications (but excluding directions hearings) in which they have recently appeared.

These changes will apply in respect of the 2010 Senior Counsel Selection process.

I am also pleased to advise that The Hon Keith Mason� AC QC has agreed to serve on this year’s Committee as the non-practising representative provided for in the revised Protocol.

Applications for appointment as senior counsel will open on 1 July 2010 and will close on 31 July 2010. On **Wednesday, 9 June at 5.00pm **in the Bar Association Common Room, I will conduct a seminar for members of the bar who wish to have more information about the process of applying for and the appointing of senior counsel. I will discuss the Senior Counsel Protocol and answer members’ questions about the process at this seminar.

All interested members are welcome to attend.

**Tom Bathurst QC President

4 June 2010**