Applications are currently CLOSED
King's Counsel
King’s Counsel is an honorary title bestowed on a lawyer to recognize exceptional merit in their profession. In the spring of 2018, the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba passed The King’s Counsel Act, which restored King’s Counsel appointments for Manitoba lawyers.
Under the act, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may appoint, on the recommendation of the Attorney General, qualified lawyers in Manitoba as King’s Counsel.
The act establishes clear eligibility criteria and outlines the composition of a council that will advise the Attorney General about the nominees.
Criteria for Candidates:
To be appointed King’s Counsel, a lawyer must have:
- held a practising certificate for at least 10 years
- demonstrated outstanding practice as a lawyer
- acted with integrity throughout their practice
- contributed to the development of excellence in the legal profession through, for example, mentorship, legal scholarship, teaching or continuing legal education.
Advisory Council:
When the applications are received, the Attorney General will convene the Advisory Council and seek its advice. The Council includes:
- three lay people, who are neither members nor former members of the Law Society of Manitoba, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
- the Chief Justice of Manitoba or a judge of the Court of Appeal designated by the Chief Justice
- the president of the Law Society of Manitoba or the president’s designate
- the president of the Manitoba branch of the Canadian Bar Association or the president’s designate
The Advisory Council will provide non-binding recommendations to the Attorney General, who, after considering the council’s advice, will make recommendations for appointment to the Lieutenant Governor in Council.