Original: Queen 's Counsel ( postnominal QC ) , known as King 's Counsel ( postnominal KC ) during the reign of a male sovereign , are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of '' Her ( or His ) Majesty 's Counsel learned in the law '' .
Simplified: Queen 's Counsel ( postnominal QC ) , during the reign of a male sovereign known as King 's Counsel ( KC ) , are senior lawyers in various Commonwealth countries .