“Sir Duncan Nichol CBE’s review of the Queen’s Counsel Appointment System was jointly commissioned by the Bar Council and the Law Society in September 2008. The terms of reference of the review included considering whether it would be appropriate to re-affirm the purpose of the award; the forms of excellence that it is intended to recognise; and the range of criteria against which applicants for the award are assessed. ”
The Bar Council, 13th January 2009
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk