We aim to make this site as accessible as possible and therefore have provided the settings below to use if you are finding it difficult to view this website. See the SFO Accessibility Statement for more information.

Where it is appropriate to provide a Welsh translation, you can switch to Cymraeg. See the Welsh Language Commissioner website for more information.

Use the settings button in the bottom right corner of the page to access these settings again.

Change to normal text size A Change to medium text size A Change to large text size A Adjust Text Size

We would like to use Analytics Cookies on our website. 

Turn these on below if you are happy with us collecting information on how our site is used, in order for us to improve the overall experience of our website. 

All other cookies are necessary and therefore by continuing to browse this website, you are agreeing to the usage of these cookies.

 See the SFO Privacy Policy for more information. 

Analytics Cookies

Counsel Panel Refresh 2024

11 October, 2024 | News Releases

The SFO chooses its counsel from an approved panel and is required to refresh the list every four years.  

This year the panel is open for applications from 11th October 2024 until the closing date at 11.59pm on Sunday 3rd November 2024. 

If you are counsel and seeking to enhance your career progression at the criminal bar, be paid monthly and help prosecute some of the world’s most high profile and complex economic crime cases, you can read more about how to apply below.  

Information for counsel

This is an exciting opportunity for counsel at all levels of call to gain or increase their experience in serious and complex fraud, bribery and corruption. We do the most difficult, voluminous, headline-grabbing cases. This is a chance to take part in that work, often advising to help shape an investigation as well as the usual advising on charge and appearing as our advocates in court. We sometimes ask our counsel to advise ad hoc on interesting points of law in the criminal sphere too. 

Previous experience of our work is not a requirement although at the higher levels we would expect counsel to demonstrate experience of managing counsel teams and high-pressure trials and disclosure exercises. 

The Panel Lists cover the SFO’s work and comprise separately of trial counsel and proceeds of crime counsel, including:  

  • Silks over 5 years’ seniority and Silks under 5 years’ seniority 
  • Panel A, B and C counsel,  

The appointment to Lists will usually last for 4 years. 

Advising pre-charge can fit in around trials and other work. We pay our counsel an hourly rate for pre-charge work and a daily refresher for court. Our rates are constantly under review. Because of the nature of our work, counsel instructed will be security cleared. 

Find out more about the required competencies and criteria for each of the lists above, as well as more about the application process, at this link: https://www.sfo.gov.uk/download/counsel-panel-list-2024-application-packs/ 

If you have questions or concerns regarding your application, including the reference process, please email [email protected] clearly marking the subject as ‘Panel Counsel Application Query’.