Nominations for the prestigious King’s Counsel (KC) designation, which honours lawyers in British Columbia for their outstanding contributions to the legal profession, will begin on Aug. 12, 2024. Lawyers, peers, and members of the legal community will have until Oct. 4, 2024, to submit their nominations.
The King’s Counsel designation is a mark of excellence within the legal community, recognizing those who have demonstrated exceptional merit in the practice of law. To be eligible, nominees must have been members of the British Columbia bar for at least five years and must be held in high esteem by their peers for their professional integrity and character.
The KC designation is awarded annually by the lieutenant governor of British Columbia, following the recommendation of the attorney general. The process is governed by the King’s Counsel Act, which stipulates that no more than 7% of practising lawyers in the province can hold the title. As of now, there are 14,378 practising lawyers in B.C., with 497 currently bearing the KC designation.
Applications for the 2024 designation will be reviewed by an advisory committee, which consults with the attorney general. The committee includes the chief justice of British Columbia, the chief justice of the Supreme Court of B.C., the chief judge of the Provincial Court of B.C., and two members of the Law Society of B.C. appointed by the benchers.
The King’s Counsel designation is one of the highest honours a lawyer in British Columbia can receive, symbolizing not only legal expertise but also the trust and respect of the broader legal community.
For more information about the nomination process and the nomination form, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/for-legal-professionals/kings-counsel
