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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2025 | 2,924 (41%) |
2,822 (40%) |
1,323 (19%) |
7,069 |
| March 2025 | 2,902 (41%) |
2,819 (40%) |
1,319 (19%) |
7,040 |
| February 2025 | 2,890 (41%) |
2,810 (40%) |
1,315 (19%) |
7,015 |
| January 2025 | 2,876 (41%) |
2,806 (40%) |
1,313 (19%) |
6,995 |
| December 2024 | 2,851 (41%) |
2,790 (40%) |
1,310 (19%) |
6,951 |
| November 2024 | 2,895 (41%) |
2,863 (40%) |
1,339 (19%) |
7,097 |
| 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 |
| July2019 | 2,372 (34%) |
3,129 (45%) |
1,417 (20%) |
6,918 |
| June2019 | 2,367 (34%) |
3,126 (45%) |
1,414 (20%) |
6,907 |
| May2019 | 2,359 (34%) |
3,121 (45%) |
1,414 (21%) |
6,894 |
| April2019 | 2,320 (34%) |
3,116 (45%) |
1,413 (21%) |
6,849 |
| February2019 | 2,279 (34%) |
3,110 (46%) |
1,412 (21%) |
6,801 |
| January2019 | 2,264 (33%) |
3,105 (46%) |
1,409 (21%) |
6,778 |
| December2018 | 2,244 (33%) |
3,113 (46%) |
1,407 (21%) |
6,764 |
| November2018 | 2,262 (33%) |
3,182 (46%) |
1,429 (21%) |
6,873 |
| October2018 | 2,279 (33%) |
3,200 (46%) |
1,437 (21%) |
6,916 |
| September2018 | 2,254 (33%) |
3,193 (46%) |
1,436 (21%) |
6,883 |
| August2018 | 2,253 (33%) |
3,189 (46%) |
1,438 (21%) |
6,880 |
| July2018 | 2,221 (32%) |
3,185 (47%) |
1,436 (21%) |
6,842 |
| June2018 | 2,211 (32%) |
3,173 (47%) |
1,436 (21%) |
6,820 |
| May2018 | 2,193 (32%) |
3,164 (47%) |
1,435 (21%) |
6,792 |
| April2018 | 2,172 (32%) |
3,164 (47%) |
1,437 (21%) |
6,773 |
| March2018 | 2,151 (32%) |
3,163 (47%) |
1,434 (21%) |
6,748 |
| February2018 | 2,125 (32%) |
3,156 (47%) |
1,432 (21%) |
6,713 |
| January2018 | 2,106 (31%) |
3,148 (47%) |
1,432 (21%) |
6,686 |
| December2017 | 2,096 (31%) |
3,173 (47%) |
1,432 (21%) |
6,701 |
| November2017 | 2,118 (31%) |
3,237 (48%) |
1,456 (21%) |
6,811 |
| October2017 | 2,131 (31%) |
3,272 (48%) |
1,464 (21%) |
6,867 |
| September2017 | 2,099 (31%) |
3,261 (48%) |
1,463 (21%) |
6,823 |
| August2017 | 2,090 (31%) |
3,262 (48%) |
1,464 (21%) |
6,816 |
| July2017 | 2,077 (31%) |
3,262 (48%) |
1,462 (21%) |
6,801 |
| June2017 | 2,058 (30%) |
3,256 (48%) |
1,462 (22%) |
6,776 |
| May2017 | 2,046 (30%) |
3,250 (48%) |
1,464 (22%) |
6,760 |
| April2017 | 2,024 (30%) |
3,240 (48%) |
1,460 (22%) |
6,724 |
| March2017 | 1,999 (30%) |
3,234 (48%) |
1,457 (22%) |
6,690 |
| February2017 | 1,986 (30%) |
3,230 (48%) |
1,451 (22%) |
6,667 |
| January2017 | 1,956 (30%) |
3,219 (49%) |
1,450 (22%) |
6,625 |
| December2016 | 1,937 (29%) |
3,202 (49%) |
1,444 (22%) |
6,583 |
| November2016 | 1,947 (29%) |
3,265 (49%) |
1,468 (22%) |
6,680 |
| October2016 | 1,947 (29%) |
3,305 (49%) |
1,483 (22%) |
6,735 |
| September2016 | 1,938 (29%) |
3,312 (49%) |
1,487 (22%) |
6,737 |
| August2016 | 1,928 (29%) |
3,306 (49%) |
1,484 (22%) |
6,718 |
| July2016 | 1,910 (29%) |
3,299 (49%) |
1,484 (22%) |
6,693 |
| June2016 | 1,897 (28%) |
3,289 (49%) |
1,485 (22%) |
6,671 |
| May2016 | 1,873 (28%) |
3,280 (49%) |
1,484 (22%) |
6,637 |
| April2016 | 1,847 (28%) |
3,276 (50%) |
1,482 (22%) |
6,605 |
| March2016 | 1,834 (28%) |
3,271 (50%) |
1,480 (22%) |
6,585 |
| February2016 | 1,820 (28%) |
3,274 (50%) |
1,483 (23%) |
6,577 |
| January2016 | 1,805 (28%) |
3,261 (50%) |
1,479 (23%) |
6,545 |
| December2015 | 1,793 (27%) |
3,254 (50%) |
1,482 (23%) |
6,529 |
| November2015 | 1,815 (27%) |
3,366 (50%) |
1,531 (23%) |
6,712 |
| October2015 | 1,797 (27%) |
3,363 (50%) |
1,528 (23%) |
6,688 |
| September2015 | 1,787 (27%) |
3,356 (50%) |
1,530 (23%) |
6,673 |
| August2015 | 1,769 (27%) |
3,350 (50%) |
1,532 (23%) |
6,651 |
| July2015 | 1,742 (26%) |
3,341 (51%) |
1,527 (23%) |
6,610 |
| June2015 | 1,725 (26%) |
3,335 (51%) |
1,529 (23%) |
6,589 |
| May2015 | 1,709 (26%) |
3,328 (51%) |
1,523 (23%) |
6,560 |
| April2015 | 1,704 (26%) |
3,318 (51%) |
1,519 (23%) |
6,541 |
| March2015 | 1,693 (26%) |
3,309 (51%) |
1,514 (23%) |
6,516 |
| February2015 | 1,664 (26%) |
3,304 (51%) |
1,511 (23%) |
6,479 |
| January2015 | 1,641 (25%) |
3,296 (51%) |
1,507 (23%) |
6,444 |
| December2014 | 1,622 (25%) |
3,282 (51%) |
1,504 (23%) |
6,408 |
| November2014 | 1,624 (25%) |
3,350 (51%) |
1,540 (24%) |
6,514 |
| October2014 | 1,613 (25%) |
3,372 (52%) |
1,556 (24%) |
6,541 |
| September2014 | 1,601 (25%) |
3,373 (52%) |
1,558 (24%) |
6,532 |
| August2014 | 1,585 (24%) |
3,361 (52%) |
1,550 (24%) |
6,496 |
| July2014 | 1,569 (24%) |
3,352 (52%) |
1,551 (24%) |
6,472 |
| June2014 | 1,541 (24%) |
3,342 (52%) |
1,543 (24%) |
6,426 |
| May2014 | 1,532 (24%) |
3,323 (52%) |
1,541 (24%) |
6,396 |
| April2014 | 1,510 (24%) |
3,310 (52%) |
1,539 (24%) |
6,359 |
| March2014 | 1,496 (24%) |
3,300 (52%) |
1,540 (24%) |
6,336 |
| February2014 | 1,469 (23%) |
3,284 (52%) |
1,531 (24%) |
6284 |
| January2014 | 1,472 (23%) |
3,334 (52%) |
1,562 (25%) |
6,368 |
| December2013 | 1,470 (23%) |
3,342 (52%) |
1,572 (25%) |
6,384 |
| November2013 | 1,458 (23%) |
3,340 (52%) |
1,571 (25%) |
6,369 |
| October2013 | 1,444 (23%) |
3,352 (53%) |
1,575 (25%) |
6,371 |
| September2013 | 1,422 (22%) |
3,345 (53%) |
1,577 (25%) |
6,344 |
| August2013 | 1,412 (22%) |
3,337 (53%) |
1,575 (25%) |
6,324 |
| July2013 | 1,392 (22%) |
3,330 (53%) |
1,573 (25%) |
6,295 |
| June2013 | 1,380 (22%) |
3,320 (53%) |
1,565 (25%) |
6,265 |
| May2013 | 1,357 (22%) |
3,305 (53%) |
1,560 (25%) |
6,222 |
| April2013 | 1,345 (22%) |
3,292 (53%) |
1,560 (25%) |
6,197 |
| March2013 | 1,315 (21%) |
3,281 (53%) |
1,556 (25%) |
6,152 |
| February2013 | 1,334 (21%) |
3,332 (53%) |
1,589 (25%) |
6,255 |
| January2013 | 1,327 (21%) |
3,334 (53%) |
1,592 (25%) |
6,253 |
| December2012 | 1,310 (21%) |
3,321 (53%) |
1,591 (26%) |
6,222 |
| November2012 | 1,302 (21%) |
3,316 (53%) |
1,594 (26%) |
6,212 |
| October2012 | 1,287 (21%) |
3,303 (53%) |
1,584 (26%) |
6,174 |
| September2012 | 1,275 (21%) |
3,298 (54%) |
1,585 (26%) |
6,158 |
| August2012 | 1,249 (20%) |
3,285 (54%) |
1,582 (26%) |
6,116 |
| July2012 | 1,250 (20%) |
3,324 (54%) |
1,626 (26%) |
6,200 |
| June2012 | 1,232 (20%) |
3,321 (54%) |
1,623 (26%) |
6,176 |
| May2012 | 1,208 (20%) |
3,300 (54%) |
1,621 (26%) |
6,129 |
| April2012 | 1,173 (19%) |
3,276 (54%) |
1,576 (26%) |
6,025 |
| March2012 | 1,159 (19%) |
3,255 (54%) |
1,562 (26%) |
5,976 |
| February2012 | 1,144 (19%) |
3,239 (55%) |
1,550 (26%) |
5,933 |
| January2012 | 1,102 (19%) |
3,201 (55%) |
1,526 (26%) |
5,829 |
| December2011 | 1,088 (19%) |
3,188 (55%) |
1,511 (26%) |
5,787 |
| November2011 | 1,078 (19%) |
3,177 (55%) |
1,508 (26%) |
5,763 |
| October2011 | 1,067 (19%) |
3,148 (55%) |
1,478 (26%) |
5,693 |
| September2011 | 1,061 (19%) |
3,145 (55%) |
1,489 (26%) |
5,695 |