What Is Silk in British Law? King's Counsel and "Taking Silk" Explained

Last reviewed: October 6, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Appointment rules differ between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and are reviewed each year, so check the official body for the current process.

If you've watched a British courtroom drama or read about a big trial in London, you've probably heard someone called "a silk" or seen "KC" after a lawyer's name. It's a real title with a formal selection process behind it, and it's easy to understand once it's laid out.

Short answer: In British law, a "silk" is a King's Counsel (KC), a senior advocate formally recognized for excellence in advocacy. The nickname comes from the silk gown KCs wear in court, and being appointed is called "taking silk." The title was Queen's Counsel (QC) until Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, when it changed automatically to King's Counsel.

Why it's called "silk"

Barristers in England and Wales traditionally wear gowns in the higher courts. Junior barristers wear a gown made of black cloth, traditionally called "stuff." When a barrister becomes a KC, they wear a gown of a different design made of silk, which is where "taking silk" and "silks" come from. As the Bar Council puts it, "A limited number of senior barristers receive 'silk' - becoming King's Counsel - as a mark of outstanding ability."

Every barrister who is not a KC is technically a "junior," however experienced they are. In a big case you'll often see a KC "leading" a junior barrister.

From QC to KC in 2022

The title follows the monarch. During Queen Elizabeth II's reign senior advocates were Queen's Counsel. After her death on 8 September 2022, the Bar Council told the profession: "We have been advised by the Crown Office that the title QC changes to KC with immediate effect." Existing QCs didn't need to reapply or receive new letters patent; they simply became KCs.

How someone takes silk in England and Wales

Appointments are run as an annual competition by King's Counsel Appointments (KCA). In summary, based on KCA's published guidance:

1. Who can apply. Barristers and solicitors with rights of audience in the higher courts of England and Wales. According to the Law Society, solicitors with higher rights have been eligible since 1995.
2. The standard. Applicants must show the five competencies in KCA's Competency Framework "to a standard of excellence": understanding and using the law; written and oral advocacy; working with others; diversity action and understanding; and integrity.
3. Evidence. The application lists significant cases, normally twelve from the past three years, and names judges, fellow practitioners and clients who can assess the applicant's work. KCA contacts those assessors directly.
4. Interview. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed.
5. Recommendation and appointment. The independent Selection Panel recommends candidates to the Lord Chancellor, and the King approves the appointments.

Applying isn't cheap. For the current competition KCA lists an application fee of £2,730 (£2,275 + VAT) and an appointment fee of £4,800 (£4,000 + VAT) for successful applicants, with reduced fees for lower earners. In January 2026 the government announced 96 new KCs and 8 Honorary KCs. Honorary KC is a separate award for people who have made a major contribution to the law outside the courtroom.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

The UK has three separate legal systems, and each appoints its own King's Counsel:

• Scotland. According to the Judiciary of Scotland, "The appointment of King's Counsel is made by His Majesty the King on the recommendation of the First Minister, who seeks nominations for that purpose from the Lord Justice General." Advocates (Scotland's equivalent of barristers) and solicitors with rights of audience in the supreme courts can apply. The Lord Justice General consults other judges, the Lord Advocate, the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates and the President of the Law Society of Scotland.
• Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission (NIJAC) runs the KC process, and it says barristers and solicitors with sufficient experience and knowledge can apply.

"Senior Counsel" and equivalents elsewhere

Several common law countries have a similar senior rank:

• Ireland uses Senior Counsel (SC). The Irish government grants a "Patent of Precedence" on the recommendation of an independent Advisory Committee chaired by the Chief Justice. For a barrister, it means being called to the "Inner Bar" and using the title Senior Counsel; since the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, solicitors can apply too.
• Other common law countries have their own senior ranks, some called "Senior Counsel" and some "King's Counsel." The rules and appointing bodies differ from place to place.

The United States has no equivalent rank. American lawyers are admitted to a state bar (see what does bar stand for in law), and some states certify specialists in particular fields, but there is no "silk." A US firm's senior lawyers are usually partners, which is a business role rather than an honor; see what is a law firm partner.

What it means if your case has a KC

If you're involved in a UK case, a KC is usually instructed for serious or complex matters, often working with a junior barrister and a solicitor. Expect higher fees. Ask your solicitor whether a KC is genuinely needed, and what the cost will be, before agreeing.

Sources

• King's Counsel Appointments, home page, Applicants guidance, Competency Framework 2026, FAQ 2026 and Fees
• GOV.UK, New King's Counsel and Honorary King's Counsel welcomed by Lord Chancellor (23 January 2026)
• Bar Council, About barristers
• Bar Council, Chair of the Bar on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
• The Law Society, Becoming a King's Counsel (KC) as a solicitor
• Judiciary of Scotland, King's Counsel
• Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission, KC
• Legal Services Regulatory Authority (Ireland), Patents of Precedence – Senior Counsel Update July 2025