Appointment of Queen’s Counsel in 2016

The Attorney-General announced today that an appointment round for Queen’s Counsel will take place in 2016. 

Appointments of Queen’s Counsel are made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Attorney-General and with the concurrence of the Chief Justice. The Governor-General retains the discretion to appoint Queen’s Counsel in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the law in fields other than advocacy.

The Chief Justice and the Attorney-General have issued Guidelines for Candidates. The Guidelines (and an application form) are available at www.crownlaw.govt.nz and set out the criteria for appointment and other information about the appointment process. 

The regulations set a fee of $500.00 for applicants, reflecting the costs of the appointment process.

Applications for appointment as Queen’s Counsel open on 15 February 2016. Applications using the application form should be sent electronically to the Solicitor‑General no later than 15 March 2016.

The Solicitor-General will consult with the New Zealand Law Society and the New Zealand Bar Association regarding the candidates.

It is expected appointments will be made in late May 2016.