What does it mean for a barrister to take silk?
Asked by: Dr. Wilson Bayer PhD | Last update: November 11, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (20 votes)
A Silk in the British legal system is a lawyer or barrister of high rank appointed by the queen or king to honorific title recognized by the court system to work in the name of the monarchy. The term originates from the silk garment worn by the person that assumes this position.
What is silk for a barrister?
A silk is a king's (how old is the show Silk? it's probably a queen's) counsel, i.e. KC (or QC), which is basically a senior barrister.
What does it mean to take the silk?
As members wear silk gowns of a particular design, appointment as King's Counsel is known informally as taking silk and KCs are often colloquially called silks. Appointments are made from within the legal profession on the basis of merit and not a particular level of experience.
What does take silk mean in the UK?
Becoming a King's Counsel, previously a 'Queen's Counsel' during the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, is known as 'taking silk' or becoming a 'silk lawyer' due to the silk gowns that King's Counsel wear in court, as opposed to the wool gowns worn by junior barristers.
What happens on Silks Day?
Silks day involves a ceremony at Westminster before The Lord Chancellor and another at the Royal Courts of Justice before The Lord Chief Justice and all the presiders. You are asked “do you move” and you do – to the front row – and to the beginning of a new stage of your career.
Applying to take silk? What to consider when applying for QC status
How long do silks last?
When it comes to durability, the truth is that silkworm silk fabrics can last a lifetime and beyond. It can last even longer than your lifetime, which explains why silk is found in so many heirloom textile pieces. Properly cared for, including being hand washed, silk fabrics can maintain their quality for generations.
What is the function of the silks?
The silks that emerge from the ear shoot are the functional stigmas of the female flowers of a corn plant. Each silk connects to an individual ovule (potential kernel). A given silk must be pollinated in order for the ovule to be fertilized and develop into a kernel.
How much do barristers earn in the UK?
Self-employed barristers with more than ten years' experience earn between £100,000 to £300,000 depending on their area of practice. A small percentage of barristers at the top end of the profession earn between £500,000 to £1million. Employed barristers can expect to earn from £90,000 to in excess of £150,000.
What does it mean to take silk in Ireland?
After about 10 to 15 years of practising as a Junior Counsel, a barrister may apply to become a Senior Counsel. This is sometimes called "taking silk" because the Senior Counsel's gown was traditionally made of silk. A Senior Counsel may have the letters SC after their name.
What does QC stand for in English law?
abbreviation for Queen's Counsel: a British lawyer of high rank who is allowed to represent a person in court, or the title given to such a lawyer when a queen is ruling: A QC is a senior barrister. Charles Gordon, QC. Compare.
Why are British lawyers called barristers?
Barristers are basically lawyers who take cases to trial, and the only kind authorized to work in Britain's High Courts. The word originated in the organization of medieval law schools, which had a physical bar that separated novice students from lecturers and more advanced students.
What is a silk English slang?
hit the silk, Slang. to parachute from an aircraft; bail out. take silk, British. to become a Queen's or King's Counsel.
What is the colloquial term for Queen's Council lawyers?
It is worth to add that Queen's Counsel gown gives rise to the colloquial reference to them as “silks” and to the phrase “taking silk” referring to their appointment.
Is a barrister the same as a lawyer?
In general, the terms lawyer and attorney are used interchangeably in the United States and Canada, while solicitor and barrister are more common in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries.
Who wears barrister wigs?
Barristers in England and Wales are known for their distinctive court attire, which includes a white powdered wig. This may seem like an odd fashion choice to modern audiences, but the wig is actually steeped in history and tradition.
What do barrister clothes mean?
Along with the wig, the main part of a barrister's uniform is their black robe. Up until the 14th Century, men of learning wore robes as signs of their status.
Who is the highest paid barrister in Ireland?
- Michael Bowman SC €772,911.
- Keith Spencer BL €765,954.
- Dominic Stuart McGinn SC €486,183.
- Seamus Clarke SC €481,228.
- Colman Cody SC €445,020.
- Padraig Dwyer SC €439,284.
- Colm Smyth SC €390,949.
- Mark Nicolas SC €360,737.
Why is it called taking silk?
Being appointed as King's Counsel is sometimes referred to as 'taking silk' due to members wearing a particular silk gown, and is perceived as an excellent honour to achieve in a barrister's career. Once given the right to wear a silk gown, a King's Counsel then also has precedence over other barristers in the Court.
How long does it take to become a barrister in Ireland?
To practice as a Barrister in Ireland you need to complete the Barrister-at-Law degree at King's Inns. It is a one-year full-time, or two year part-time degree and admission is by an entrance examination, which you can do if you have a law degree.
What country pays barristers the most?
- Australia – Average Annual Salary (AUD 119,278) ...
- New Zealand – Average Annual Salary (NZD 84,047) ...
- Netherlands – Average Annual Salary (EUR 65,000) ...
- Ireland – Average Annual Salary (EUR 77,148) ...
- Switzerland – Average Annual Salary (CHF 140,000)
How long is the barrister course in the UK?
It takes one year to complete a Bar course if you study full time, but two-year, part-time options are available. The amount of time you spend in the classroom will vary but on full-time courses you can expect between 10 and 16 hours a week.
What is the difference between barrister and barista?
A barrister is an old fashioned term for lawyer and barista is an Italian word for bar tender which has been taken over to mean coffee servers as well. Barrister is still in current use in modern English, where it refers to a particular type of lawyer.
Why are they called silks?
Most senior judges once practised as KCs or SCs. Senior counsel are also colloquially known as “silks.” This is because their robes include a gown made of silk – junior counsel wear gowns made of cotton. The only difference between a KC and SC is the name.
What does corn silking mean?
Corn silk is part stigma and part style, providing a female flower surface to which pollen grains can adhere and defining the path through which the pollen must travel. The stigma is the very tip of the corn silk, which has a larger number of hairs to help pollen to adhere to it.
Who should not drink corn silk tea?
Diabetes: There is some concern that large amount of corn silk might lower blood sugar. This could interfere with blood sugar control in people who have diabetes. High blood pressure or low blood pressure: Large amounts of corn silk might interfere with control of these conditions.