Number of practising solicitors having Higher Rights of Audience
Higher Rights of Audience is a qualification that allows a solicitor to act as an advocate in the higher courts in England and Wales. Solicitors can become qualified to represent clients in the criminal courts, civil courts or both.
The Solicitors' Higher Rights of Audience Regulations 2010 came into effect on 1 April 2010. They replace the Higher Courts Qualification Regulations 2000. The new regulations mean that there is now just one route to qualification in either civil or criminal proceedings. Solicitors who had already gained rights of audience qualifications under the previous regulations have been automatically passported onto the new scheme and retain their existing rights of audience.
The table below shows the number of practising solicitors that hold a Higher Rights of Audience qualification.
| Date(s) | Civil Only | Criminal Only | Both | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2024 | 2,922 (41%) |
2,897 (40%) |
1,357 (19%) |
7,176 |
| September 2024 | 2,907 (41%) |
2,889 (40%) |
1,351 (19%) |
7,147 |
| August 2024 | 2,905 (41%) |
2,889 (40%) |
1,348 (19%) |
7,142 |
| July 2024 | 2,886 (40%) |
2,883 (41%) |
1,346 (19%) |
7,115 |
| June 2024 | 2,875 (40%) |
2,881 (41%) |
1,345 (19%) |
7,101 |
| May 2024 | 2,858 (40%) |
2,875 (41%) |
1,343 (19%) |
7,076 |
| April 2024 | 2,851 (40%) |
2,871 (41%) |
1,339 (19%) |
7,061 |
| March 2024 | 2,837 (40%) |
2,863 (41%) |
1,338 (19%) |
7,038 |
| February 2024 | 2,822 (40%) |
2,863 (41%) |
1,333 (19%) |
7,018 |
| January 2024 | 2,800 (40%) |
2,861 (41%) |
1,332 (19%) |
6,993 |
| December 2023 | 2,789 (40%) |
2,861 (41%) |
1,319 (19%) |
6,969 |
| November 2023 | 2,838 (40%) |
2,930 (41%) |
1,346 (19%) |
7,114 |
| October 2023 | 2,851 (40%) |
2,967 (41%) |
1,353 (19%) |
7,171 |
| September 2023 | 2,843 (40%) |
2,963 (41%) |
1,351 (19%) |
7,157 |
| August 2023 | 2,832 (40%) |
2,959 (41%) |
1,350 (19%) |
7,141 |
| July 2023 | 2,825 (40%) |
2,960 (41%) |
1,349 (19%) |
7,134 |
| June 2023 | 2,798 (39%) |
2,954 (42%) |
1,348 (19%) |
7,100 |
| May 2023 | 2,782 (39%) |
2,948 (42%) |
1,344 (19%) |
7,074 |
| Apr 2023 | 2,773 (39%) |
2,945 (42%) |
1,344 (19%) |
7,062 |
| Mar 2023 | 2,802 (39%) |
2,965 (42%) |
1,351 (19%) |
7,118 |
| Feb 2023 | 2,775 (39%) |
2,954 (42%) |
1,347 (19%) |
7,076 |
| Jan 2023 | 2,764 (39%) |
2,943 (42%) |
1,344 (19%) |
7,051 |
| Dec 2022 | 2,741 (39%) |
2,933 (42%) |
1,338 (19%) |
7,012 |
| Nov 2022 | 2,798 (39%) |
3,002 (42%) |
1,374 (19%) |
7,174 |
| Oct 2022 | 2,804 (39%) |
3,017 (42%) |
1,388 (19%) |
7,209 |
| Sep 2022 | 2,783 (39%) |
3,010 (42%) |
1,389 (19%) |
7,182 |
| Aug 2022 | 2,769 (39%) |
3,002 (42%) |
1,386 (19%) |
7,157 |
| Jul 2022 | 2,749 (39%) |
3,004 (42%) |
1,387 (19%) |
7,140 |
| Jun 2022 | 2,742 (38%) |
3,003 (42%) |
1,388 (19%) |
7,133 |
| May 2022 | 2,729 (38%) |
2,999 (42%) |
1,385 (19%) |
7,113 |
| Apr 2022 | 2,715 (38%) |
2,988 (42%) |
1,382 (20%) |
7,085 |
| Mar 2022 | 2,695 (38%) |
2,982 (42%) |
1,382 (20%) |
7,059 |
| Feb 2022 | 2,677 (38%) |
2,982 (42%) |
1,378 (20%) |
7,037 |
| Jan 2022 | 2,714 (38%) |
3,049 (43%) |
1,392 (19%) |
7,155 |
| Dec 2021 | 2,700 (38%) |
3,048 (43%) |
1,390 (19%) |
7,138 |
| Nov 2021 | 2,708 (38%) |
3,061 (43%) |
1,392 (19%) |
7,161 |
| Oct 2021 | 2,714 (38%) |
3,087 (43%) |
1,408 (20%) |
7,209 |
| Sep 2021 | 2,694 (38%) |
3,082 (43%) |
1,403 (20%) |
7,179 |
| Aug 2021 | 2,667 (37%) |
3,075 (43%) |
1,402 (20%) |
7,144 |
| Jul 2021 | 2,644 (37%) |
3,072 (43%) |
1,400 (20%) |
7,116 |
| Jun 2021 | 2,635 (37%) |
3,067 (43%) |
1,397 (20%) |
7,099 |
| May 2021 | 2,611 (37%) |
3,058 (43%) |
1,393 (20%) |
7,062 |
| Apr 2021 | 2,599 (37%) |
3,053 (44%) |
1,385 (20%) |
7,037 |
| Mar 2021 | 2,591 (37%) |
3,097 (44%) |
1,407 (20%) |
7,095 |
| Feb 2021 | 2,564 (36%) |
3,098 (44%) |
1,410 (20%) |
7,072 |
| Jan 2021 | 2,564 (36%) |
3,098 (44%) |
1,407 (20%) |
7,069 |
| Dec 2020 | 2,536 (36%) |
3,140 (44%) |
1,433 (20%) |
7,109 |
| Nov 2020 | 2,551 (36%) |
3,171 (44%) |
1,446 (20%) |
7,168 |
| Oct 2020 | 2,533 (35%) |
3,160 (44%) |
1,444 (20%) |
7,137 |
| Sep 2020 | 2,509 (35%) |
3,141 (44%) |
1,440 (20%) |
7,090 |
| Aug 2020 | 2,505 (35%) |
3,152 (44%) |
1,441 (20%) |
7,098 |
| July 2020 | 2,481 (35%) |
3,153 (45%) |
1,440 (20%) |
7,074 |
| June 2020 | 2,450 (35%) |
3,085 (45%) |
1,393 (20%) |
6,928 |
| May 2020 |
2,432 (35%) |
3,079 (45%) |
1,393 (20%) |
6,904 |
| April 2020 |
2,425 (35%) |
3,077 (45%) |
1,391 (20%) |
6,893 |
| March 2020 | 2,415 (35%) |
3,075 (45%) |
1,390 (20%) |
6,880 |
| February 2020 | 2,404 (35%) |
3,068 (45%) |
1,388 (20%) |
6,860 |
| January 2020 | 2,384 (35%) |
3,062 (45%) |
1,382 (20%) |
6,828 |
| December 2019 | 2,374 (35%) |
3,059 (45%) |
1,380 (20%) |
6,813 |
| November 2019 | 2,407 (35%) |
3,115 (45%) |
1,412 (20%) |
6,934 |
| October 2019 | 2,439 (35%) |
3,153 (45%) |
1,417 (20%) |
7,009 |
| September 2019 | 2,408 (35%) |
3,137 (45%) |
1,419 (20%) |
6,964 |
| August 2019 | 2,373 (34%) |
3,130 (45%) |
1,419 (20%) |
6,964 |
| July 2019 | 2,372 (34%) |
3,129 (45%) |
1,417 (20%) |
6,918 |
| June 2019 | 2,367 (34%) |
3,126 (45%) |
1,414 (20%) |
6,907 |
| May 2019 | 2,359 (34%) |
3,121 (45%) |
1,414 (21%) |
6,894 |
| April 2019 | 2,320 (34%) |
3,116 (45%) |
1,413 (21%) |
6,849 |
| February 2019 | 2,279 (34%) |
3,110 (46%) |
1,412 (21%) |
6,801 |
| January 2019 | 2,264 (33%) |
3,105 (46%) |
1,409 (21%) |
6,778 |
| December 2018 | 2,244 (33%) |
3,113 (46%) |
1,407 (21%) |
6,764 |
| November 2018 | 2,262 (33%) |
3,182 (46%) |
1,429 (21%) |
6,873 |
| October 2018 | 2,279 (33%) |
3,200 (46%) |
1,437 (21%) |
6,916 |
| September 2018 | 2,254 (33%) |
3,193 (46%) |
1,436 (21%) |
6,883 |
| August 2018 | 2,253 (33%) |
3,189 (46%) |
1,438 (21%) |
6,880 |
| July 2018 | 2,221 (32%) |
3,185 (47%) |
1,436 (21%) |
6,842 |
| June 2018 | 2,211 (32%) |
3,173 (47%) |
1,436 (21%) |
6,820 |
| May 2018 | 2,193 (32%) |
3,164 (47%) |
1,435 (21%) |
6,792 |
| April 2018 | 2,172 (32%) |
3,164 (47%) |
1,437 (21%) |
6,773 |
| March 2018 | 2,151 (32%) |
3,163 (47%) |
1,434 (21%) |
6,748 |
| February 2018 | 2,125 (32%) |
3,156 (47%) |
1,432 (21%) |
6,713 |
| January 2018 | 2,106 (31%) |
3,148 (47%) |
1,432 (21%) |
6,686 |
| December 2017 | 2,096 (31%) |
3,173 (47%) |
1,432 (21%) |
6,701 |
| November 2017 | 2,118 (31%) |
3,237 (48%) |
1,456 (21%) |
6,811 |
| October 2017 | 2,131 (31%) |
3,272 (48%) |
1,464 (21%) |
6,867 |
| September 2017 | 2,099 (31%) |
3,261 (48%) |
1,463 (21%) |
6,823 |
| August 2017 | 2,090 (31%) |
3,262 (48%) |
1,464 (21%) |
6,816 |
| July 2017 | 2,077 (31%) |
3,262 (48%) |
1,462 (21%) |
6,801 |
| June 2017 | 2,058 (30%) |
3,256 (48%) |
1,462 (22%) |
6,776 |
| May 2017 | 2,046 (30%) |
3,250 (48%) |
1,464 (22%) |
6,760 |
| April 2017 | 2,024 (30%) |
3,240 (48%) |
1,460 (22%) |
6,724 |
| March 2017 | 1,999 (30%) |
3,234 (48%) |
1,457 (22%) |
6,690 |
| February 2017 | 1,986 (30%) |
3,230 (48%) |
1,451 (22%) |
6,667 |
| January 2017 | 1,956 (30%) |
3,219 (49%) |
1,450 (22%) |
6,625 |
| December 2016 | 1,937 (29%) |
3,202 (49%) |
1,444 (22%) |
6,583 |
| November 2016 | 1,947 (29%) |
3,265 (49%) |
1,468 (22%) |
6,680 |
| October 2016 | 1,947 (29%) |
3,305 (49%) |
1,483 (22%) |
6,735 |
| September 2016 | 1,938 (29%) |
3,312 (49%) |
1,487 (22%) |
6,737 |
| August 2016 | 1,928 (29%) |
3,306 (49%) |
1,484 (22%) |
6,718 |
| July 2016 | 1,910 (29%) |
3,299 (49%) |
1,484 (22%) |
6,693 |
| June 2016 | 1,897 (28%) |
3,289 (49%) |
1,485 (22%) |
6,671 |
| May 2016 | 1,873 (28%) |
3,280 (49%) |
1,484 (22%) |
6,637 |
| April 2016 | 1,847 (28%) |
3,276 (50%) |
1,482 (22%) |
6,605 |
| March 2016 | 1,834 (28%) |
3,271 (50%) |
1,480 (22%) |
6,585 |
| February 2016 | 1,820 (28%) |
3,274 (50%) |
1,483 (23%) |
6,577 |
| January 2016 | 1,805 (28%) |
3,261 (50%) |
1,479 (23%) |
6,545 |
| December 2015 | 1,793 (27%) |
3,254 (50%) |
1,482 (23%) |
6,529 |
| November 2015 | 1,815 (27%) |
3,366 (50%) |
1,531 (23%) |
6,712 |
| October 2015 | 1,797 (27%) |
3,363 (50%) |
1,528 (23%) |
6,688 |
| September 2015 | 1,787 (27%) |
3,356 (50%) |
1,530 (23%) |
6,673 |
| August 2015 | 1,769 (27%) |
3,350 (50%) |
1,532 (23%) |
6,651 |
| July 2015 | 1,742 (26%) |
3,341 (51%) |
1,527 (23%) |
6,610 |
| June 2015 | 1,725 (26%) |
3,335 (51%) |
1,529 (23%) |
6,589 |
| May 2015 | 1,709 (26%) |
3,328 (51%) |
1,523 (23%) |
6,560 |
| April 2015 | 1,704 (26%) |
3,318 (51%) |
1,519 (23%) |
6,541 |
| March 2015 | 1,693 (26%) |
3,309 (51%) |
1,514 (23%) |
6,516 |
| February 2015 | 1,664 (26%) |
3,304 (51%) |
1,511 (23%) |
6,479 |
| January 2015 | 1,641 (25%) |
3,296 (51%) |
1,507 (23%) |
6,444 |
| December 2014 | 1,622 (25%) |
3,282 (51%) |
1,504 (23%) |
6,408 |
| November 2014 | 1,624 (25%) |
3,350 (51%) |
1,540 (24%) |
6,514 |
| October 2014 | 1,613 (25%) |
3,372 (52%) |
1,556 (24%) |
6,541 |
| September 2014 | 1,601 (25%) |
3,373 (52%) |
1,558 (24%) |
6,532 |
| August 2014 | 1,585 (24%) |
3,361 (52%) |
1,550 (24%) |
6,496 |
| July 2014 | 1,569 (24%) |
3,352 (52%) |
1,551 (24%) |
6,472 |
| June 2014 | 1,541 (24%) |
3,342 (52%) |
1,543 (24%) |
6,426 |
| May 2014 | 1,532 (24%) |
3,323 (52%) |
1,541 (24%) |
6,396 |
| April 2014 | 1,510 (24%) |
3,310 (52%) |
1,539 (24%) |
6,359 |
| March 2014 | 1,496 (24%) |
3,300 (52%) |
1,540 (24%) |
6,336 |
| February 2014 | 1,469 (23%) |
3,284 (52%) |
1,531 (24%) |
6284 |
| January 2014 | 1,472 (23%) |
3,334 (52%) |
1,562 (25%) |
6,368 |
| December 2013 | 1,470 (23%) |
3,342 (52%) |
1,572 (25%) |
6,384 |
| November 2013 | 1,458 (23%) |
3,340 (52%) |
1,571 (25%) |
6,369 |
| October 2013 | 1,444 (23%) |
3,352 (53%) |
1,575 (25%) |
6,371 |
| September 2013 | 1,422 (22%) |
3,345 (53%) |
1,577 (25%) |
6,344 |
| August 2013 | 1,412 (22%) |
3,337 (53%) |
1,575 (25%) |
6,324 |
| July 2013 | 1,392 (22%) |
3,330 (53%) |
1,573 (25%) |
6,295 |
| June 2013 | 1,380 (22%) |
3,320 (53%) |
1,565 (25%) |
6,265 |
| May 2013 | 1,357 (22%) |
3,305 (53%) |
1,560 (25%) |
6,222 |
| April 2013 | 1,345 (22%) |
3,292 (53%) |
1,560 (25%) |
6,197 |
| March 2013 | 1,315 (21%) |
3,281 (53%) |
1,556 (25%) |
6,152 |
| February 2013 | 1,334 (21%) |
3,332 (53%) |
1,589 (25%) |
6,255 |
| January 2013 | 1,327 (21%) |
3,334 (53%) |
1,592 (25%) |
6,253 |
| December 2012 | 1,310 (21%) |
3,321 (53%) |
1,591 (26%) |
6,222 |
| November 2012 | 1,302 (21%) |
3,316 (53%) |
1,594 (26%) |
6,212 |
| October 2012 | 1,287 (21%) |
3,303 (53%) |
1,584 (26%) |
6,174 |
| September 2012 | 1,275 (21%) |
3,298 (54%) |
1,585 (26%) |
6,158 |
| August 2012 | 1,249 (20%) |
3,285 (54%) |
1,582 (26%) |
6,116 |
| July 2012 | 1,250 (20%) |
3,324 (54%) |
1,626 (26%) |
6,200 |
| June 2012 | 1,232 (20%) |
3,321 (54%) |
1,623 (26%) |
6,176 |
| May 2012 | 1,208 (20%) |
3,300 (54%) |
1,621 (26%) |
6,129 |
| April 2012 | 1,173 (19%) |
3,276 (54%) |
1,576 (26%) |
6,025 |
| March 2012 | 1,159 (19%) |
3,255 (54%) |
1,562 (26%) |
5,976 |
| February 2012 | 1,144 (19%) |
3,239 (55%) |
1,550 (26%) |
5,933 |
| January 2012 | 1,102 (19%) |
3,201 (55%) |
1,526 (26%) |
5,829 |
| December 2011 | 1,088 (19%) |
3,188 (55%) |
1,511 (26%) |
5,787 |
| November 2011 | 1,078 (19%) |
3,177 (55%) |
1,508 (26%) |
5,763 |
| October 2011 | 1,067 (19%) |
3,148 (55%) |
1,478 (26%) |
5,693 |
| September 2011 | 1,061 (19%) |
3,145 (55%) |
1,489 (26%) |
5,695 |