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
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