Time was that lawyers aspired to become high court judges and Queen’s Counsel. Yet for the most successful practitioners achieving that status now results in a drop in income and a restriction of work. Many will still apply on the basis that the status has some cache; but the cache will in time be lost as the positions hold no attraction for the best.
Ruthie applauds the change in selection procedure for Queen’s Counsel, which whilst imperfect is still fairer and more transparent than the previous secret soundings. The change to permit Queen’s Counsel to undertake work without a junior is also welcome. Ruthie does however wonder whether the status of Queen’s Counsel will remain a benchmark of ability if the position is not attractive to the best.
Ruthie can’t help getting the feeling that the legal profession generally is undergoing a recession. Firstly the demise of legal aid, followed by the threatened lifting of the small claims limit and the introduction of home buyers packs, mean less work for lawyers. Ruthie has sensed a steady decline in overall legal work over the last ten years.
All rather demoralising for the thousands still accruing huge debts in order to qualify.
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