Keith Connal, independent observer, recorded in his report on the appointment of new silks that, this year, 25 application were received, with three being from solicitor advocates, and that a total of 16 applicants were nominated: 14 advocates and two solicitor advocates, bringing the success rate up to 64 per cent.

Last year, 28 applications were made: 23 from advocates and five from solicitor advocates. Eleven were successful – nine advocates and two solicitor advocates.

In 2024 the success rate was 56 per cent; in 2023 it was 60 per cent and in 2022 it was 64 per cent.

Of the advocate applicants this year, eight were female, or 36 per cent, and of the solicitor advocate applicants one was female. None of the solicitor advocate applicants who applied last year were women.

Five of the eight female advocates who applied have been nominated (63 per cent) and of the 14 male advocates who applied, nine are being nominated (64 per cent). As for solicitor advocates, the sole female applicant is being nominated, in addition to one of the male applicants.

Figures from the lord justice general’s office show that the average success rate amongst members of the Faculty of Advocates has been 56 per cent for female applicants and 51 per cent for male applicants.

There are 149 practising King’s Counsel in Scotland, of whom 38 are female (25.5 per cent). The percentage of practising advocates that are women stands at 29.5 per cent. 

Mr Connal states in his report: “Based on the information available for this year’s round and taking account of figures from recent rounds, I am satisfied that there is no obvious bias for or against male or female applicants. There is insufficient information for conclusions to be drawn in relation to other protected characteristics.”

The report states that the Lord Justice General, Lord Pentland, said he considers public service by aspiring King’s Counsel to be important, which includes time in Crown Office.

Yet this information is not included in the Guide for Applicants.

“I suggest that consideration be given to adjusting the criteria in Section 3 to indicate that public service in some form is desirable though not essential,” writes Mr Connal.