Announced this morning, a six-year record-making 113 lawyers have been elevated to silk this year out of a total pool of 254 applicants. The percentage of successful applicants this year is 44.5 per cent, slightly down on last years’ 45 per cent success rate. However, there were more new QC applications this round than there have been in any year since 2009/10, when 129 candidates were made up out of a total pool of 275. This year’s pool also reflects considerable progress in diversity, with 31 out of 56 women applicants making silk compared to last year’s 25 out of 48. Additionally, 16 lawyers from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds were made up this year, as well as eight out of the nine applicants who openly identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Sources: The Lawyer; Legal Business