Applications for the appointment of Senior Counsel (SC) are now open.
The appointment of Senior Counsel recognises a legal practitioner’s skill, integrity, independence and standing in the profession. Senior Counsel, or Silks as they are colloquially known, are highly regarded advocates and leaders in their fields.
Those who are appointed Senior Counsel have earned the recognition through the diligent performance of their duties to the courts and their clients.
Applications for appointment
Applications for the appointment of Senior Counsel (2024) open on 18 March and close at 5pm on Friday 12 April 2024.
People who are admitted to practise as an Australian lawyer and as an officer of the Supreme Court of Victoria, and who practise exclusively or substantially as Counsel, are eligible to apply to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to be appointed to the office of Senior Counsel.
It is the expectation of the profession and the judiciary that Senior Counsel adhere to the highest standards of legal excellence and integrity and provide outstanding service to the administration of justice.
Applications will be reviewed and, following wide consultation with the Victorian Bar, the broader profession, the Legal Services Commissioner and the judiciary, the appointment of new Senior Counsel will be announced later in the year.
Further information for applicants is available on the Silks application portal.