Myth 2 Only Counsel From Certain Backgrounds Are Chosen
The Attorney General appoints the best candidates solely on merit, irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, political affiliation, religion, disability, or the chambers at which they practise.

A very important criterion though is ability as an advocate and it was very important that referees can and do comment on advocacy performance.

The Attorney General has produced an Equality and Diversity Expectations Statement about how Chambers, whose members include existing or prospective panel counsel members, should act.

Myth 3 Only Public Law Specialists Are Successful
There is a variety of work available, not just in Public Law, to ensure the panels can meet the needs of Government. It is important therefore that the panels contain counsel with various specialisms. Equally important is that counsel are able to branch out into other areas of work if the need arises.

Myth 4 When You Are Appointed As Panel Counsel You Can No Longer Act Against Government
This is not true. We fully encourage counsel to maintain both a public and private practice, this includes acting against Government. It is beneficial to Government if counsel have had experience of acting against Government as we believe it makes them a better advocate as they have seen Governments arguments from the other side. Panel membership is also not infinite; we would therefore want to ensure that should your panel membership cease you would have a private practice to return to.

Myth 5 I Can Only Get On The A or B panel If I Have Already Been On The C Panel
We often hear, “but I can’t apply for the B/A Panel as I have not been a member of the C/B Panel”, this does not matter. Appointment is based on merit and the best candidates are those who are ultimately successful.

Myth 6 My Panel Appointment Is Affected By Maternity Leave
Appointments to the Panel are made for 5 years, if during this time counsel take maternity leave they can if they so choose apply to have their panel membership extended for a commensurate period of time. Extensions are also considered for any counsel that may have been away from chambers for some time and not undertaken advocacy. Counsels are therefore, not disadvantaged when it comes to making future applications. Additional time on the panel allows counsel time to undertake further advocacy work that will strengthen their application to the A or B panels.

Myth 7 A Panel Counsel Applying For Re-Appointment Are Given Priority To B Panellists And Others
Appointments to the Panels are made for 5 years, after which time counsel are required to apply for the next panel up, or if they are existing A Panel counsel they are required to re-apply. When existing A Panel Counsel re-apply they are not given priority, we operate a completely level playing field so all counsel (whether existing panel members or not) are all considered together. The highest scoring candidates and therefore the strongest candidates will ultimately be successful.

Myth 8 I Do Not Seem To Be Getting Much Government Work, I Just Have To Grin And Bear It
Although appointment to any Panel cannot be guarantee that work will be available, the intention is that each advocate appointed should be given at least a minimum amount of work. The volume of work Panel members receive will be monitored together with their performance. If a panel member wants more work either because they feel they are being overlooked or because a trial has collapsed and they are unexpectedly free then they or their clerks are welcome to contact TSol.