The Ministry of Justice is inviting nominations for the award of King's Counsel Honoris Causa. Please submit nominations via the digital form below, before the deadline of 18 September 2026
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is inviting nominations for the award of King's Counsel Honoris Causa.
Nomination forms must be completed and returned to MoJ by 23:55 on 18 September 2026. To make a nomination, please complete and submit a nomination form via this link.
KC HONORIS CAUSA - HONORARY KC
This is an honorary award, unique to the law and legal profession and granted under the royal prerogative. It is a dedicated opportunity to recognise lawyers and legal academics who have made a major contribution to, and impact on, the law of England and Wales or the legal profession outside the courtroom.
The award is not a working rank and is separate from substantive KC appointments administered by King's Counsel Appointments , which recognise excellence in advocacy in the higher courts.
What is the award for?
The award is for:
A significant, positive impact either on the shape of the law of England and Wales, or on the legal profession. This is for work outside the courtroom.
This criterion can be interpreted broadly, either as:
- a major contribution to the development of the law of England and Wales (for example, by dedicated research, influencing case law/legislation and promoting initiatives); or
- to how it is advanced (for example, by positively impacting the shape of the profession).
What is most important is that nominations clearly evidence the significant, positive impact an individual's efforts have had.
It is not a long-service award. Honours may be awarded for a significant impact over a long period of time, but they may equally be awarded for such an impact over a shorter period - it is the scale of impact that is important.
Further guidance on submitting a strong nomination is provided in the nomination form.
We are keen that the awards reflect the full diversity of backgrounds, experience and career paths of eligible lawyers and legal academics who have made a significant positive impact on the law of England and Wales or the legal profession. See examples of previous successful nominees.
Examples of what these different contributions may look like
Influencing legislation
- Making an impact on the law by influencing legislation or case law (e.g. through the outcome of research, creating awareness or campaigning, pro bono work or other advocacy outside the courtroom).
Strenghtening the legal profession
Making an impact on the legal profession (for example, through initiatives that increase diversity and social mobility, widen access to legal careers, strengthen professional standards, or support professional development and culture).
Innovation
- Making an impact through a standout achievement or through innovation (for example, by breaking through into new territory, such as making an impact through work on Lawtech or innovation in legal education).
Academic work
- Making an impact through outstanding academic work that makes a positive contribution to the law and/or legal system (for example, by shaping legal understanding, informing law reform or influencing policy).
International initiatives
- Making an impact on the law of England and Wales or the profession through international initiatives (for example, by promoting the law of England and Wales or legal services overseas, building links with other jurisdictions, or contributing to international legal standards or institutions).
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for the award, the individual must be a qualified lawyer or legal academic and meet the additional eligibility criteria set out below relating to recent advocacy and the main UK honours system.
Examples of qualified lawyers who may be eligible include:
- Solicitors
- Barristers
- Chartered legal executives
- Trademark attorneys
- Patent attorneys
- Licensed conveyancers
- Costs lawyers
- Notaries
- Probate practitioners
Qualified lawyers may be practising or non-practising, and may work in any setting, including private practice, in-house roles, public service, regulation, the third sector, or another setting.
The award is open to foreign-qualified professionals and to eligible lawyers and legal academics based overseas. There are no residency or nationality requirements.
Eligible legal academics may work in universities, research institutions or another setting.
Holding judicial office would not exclude lawyers who meet the eligibility criteria.
A nominee's contribution may relate to any area of law or legal specialism, or to the law or legal profession more broadly.
An individual is not eligible for Honorary KC if any of the following apply:
They are a practising barrister or solicitor advocate who has appeared as an advocate in the courts of England and Wales within the past two years. This helps maintain a clear distinction between the Honorary KC title and the working rank of substantive King's Counsel.
They have received an honour through the main UK honours system within the past two years, or have been nominated for such an honour this year. Where someone received an honour more than two years ago, their contribution to and impact on the law or the legal profession since that honour was awarded will be considered.
How are awards made?
The process is administered by the MoJ. Nominations are considered against the criterion by a panel of representatives from the legal profession, civil service, judiciary, and academia, which is chaired by an MoJ official.
The panel of representatives provides the Lord Chancellor with a shortlist of recommended nominees. The Lord Chancellor will then consider and decide the final recommendations. The recommendations are then referred to His Majesty the King, who grants the awards under the royal prerogative.
How is the information about nominees used?
To assess each nominee's suitability for the award and support the selection process, we use the information provided to carry out:
- Cross-Whitehall due diligence checks to identify any main honours nominations and any relevant information that may affect eligibility or suitability;
- Checks against nominees on the main honours system to identify any past honours as per the eligibility criteria;
- Evaluation by the selection panel of the evidence of their contribution and impact on the law of England and Wales or the legal profession; and
- Criminal record checks with ACRO Criminal Records Office for shortlisted nominees.
