New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-09
60. c."
MOTIFS on QUEENS COUNSEL. MEMBERS
OF THE BAR AND SOLICITORS
HANY QUAINT CUSTOMS AND RULES DATING
FROM OLDEN TLlEs

SCI which has lust been conferred by the Lord
High Chancellor Of England upon Lord Robert
Cecil the lawyer son Of Lord Salisbury some
people appear to imagine that II is akin TO mem
bership Of the Prvy Council while others again
have an idea that 1t s a post Of emolument
and great dignity which Lord Robert owes TO
the fact that his father is Prime Minister Of the
British Empire This misconception, as well as
the fact that the British Government is about
to submit to Parliament legislation with view
to restricting the operations of lawyers in the
direction % banking money broking and other
phases OF finance render a brief sketch Of some
OF the pecul.arities Of the legal profession IN
Great Britain both timely and interesting. all
the more as there is no other institution that
has retained to so extensive degree the
quaint pecuHaritles Of olden times
To begin with the appointment OF queen
Counsel carries with il Nc .pecies Of emolument
from the Crown. 1t is merely dignity, entail
ing certain privileges and quite number OF
obligations, which is granted to barr sters VINO
have been a number Of years engaged III rep
utable practice and at their demand Inc OIL
gin Of the office which is in the gilt OF the
Lord High Chancellor, dates back to the days Oh
King Charles II. when it became the practice
70 appoint certain legal Court favorites as Couh-
Sci Of the King who as such had q right Of pre-
ing the reigns of Queen Victonas uncles and
grandfather, they were designated by the mys-
tic letters of * g" appended TO their names.
but since Victoria has been on the throne the
letters have been changed TO @. c." standing
for Queens Counsel"
They are distinguished from the ordinary bar
rister by the fact that they occupy IN court
space partitoned off between the bench and
that part Of the hall where the less exalted
members Of the bar are obliged TO sit Ihey
receive three or four times the amount OF pay
that is accorded to lawyers who have not at
tanned the euinence OF senior" and enjoy
both official and social precedence, which -
highly priced Precisely in the same way that
the Queens Counsel is debarred by etiquette
and usage from accepting briefs entaillng an
appearance in any Of the lower courts in the
same way it is impossible for plaintiff or a
defendant TO secure a satisfactory hearing from
the higher tribunals except through Queens
Counsel who invariably exacts big fee for
himself. and Will never undertake a case unless
briefed with Junior" who does all the hard
work and drudgery working W the law and
the precedents in the matter with which ne
Grams his senior" usually just before the lat
ter appears in court
QUAINT COSTUME OF a Q Q
between the Queens Counsel and the ordinary
barrister which ale worthy Of being noted
No member Of the bar can plead before any Of
the higher courts or even asszes with
ont being ar-ayed IN the prescribed cos
tune The chief features Of which are a
white eoats-hair bob Wig and a black
gown In the case Of tho junior. the latter ROBE
is OF stuff or bombaz.ne. while the queen >
Counsel wear silk That is the meaning Of the
expression taking silk" which is used IN re-
cording the appointment Of lawyer 20 the rank
of Queens Counsel The junior j. permitted 10
wear what clothes he likes beneath his stuIi
gown. providing the coat is dark. but me senior
"a forced 10 array himself In very quaint ana
uncomfortable costume beneath his SILK robe
The fun dress which has Invariably 70 be- worn
by the Queens Counsel when pleading before
the House of Lords or before the Priyy Council
consists of a blac6 cloth court coat cut IN the
fashion Of the reign Of queen Anne. black waist
coat and knee brooches black silk STOCKINGS
black shoes. with gold or silver buckles full
bottomed wig Of white goats hair. falling down
mon the shoulders. lace rufiles at neck and
wrist and above all this the black gown % SILK
with deep square collar or cape, and long mar
-ow streaming sleeves hanging from the FL
bows and almost touching the ground. on or
d;,arv occasions small bob wig. similar %
.ts+ Of the Junior is worn. and. while the queen
Anne black coat is retained black trousers 'aNe
the place Of the knee breechas and SIX STOCK
,rcs while two cambria bands az the throat
ore substituted in lieu Of the lace ruiiirS Nhe"
Queens Counsel are in mourning. either private
or official. the sleeves Of the coat are adorned
With broad white lawn cuffs res' hlnS iio'" .n'
wrist almost 10 the elbow Wmch A'' '@u"
"vyeepers The Judges are very P'' ''-
s-ss ~ the members Of the bar