wide spectrum of experience. Whilst there has been a steady growth of numbers in recent years, the bulk of the serious advocacy is still undertaken by solicitor advocates with many years of advocacy practice behind them. Some solicitor advocates have been working exclusively in higher courts for fifteen years (or longer if former barristers) and have developed particular specialisms, for example in regulatory and disciplinary work such as Andrew Hopper KC; in family work, such as June Venters KC; in extradition cases, such as Michael Caplan KC; and elsewhere in various parts of the criminal field, such as in terrorism work and fraud; e.g., Niall Quinn KC. Solicitor advocates are regularly appointed to the ranks of King's Counsel, albeit the numbers of applicants are relatively low. Solicitor advocates have also been appointed to the High Court bench. The Baron Collins of Mapesbury, a former Herbert Smith partner, was the first appointee as a solicitor KC in 1997 before being appointed to the High Court bench. In 2009 he was appointed to the UK Supreme Court. The bar and judiciary have been generally supportive of the growth of solicitor advocacy, asserting that the bar would not be threatened by individuals acquiring new skills and practices; and that the ethnic, gender and class diversity that this wider pool of advocates would bring to the profession would be welcome. But, in recent years the bar has found its work being reduced, partly as a result of Legal Aid cuts principally directed at solicitors' firms, and this has generally soured its opinion of the changes. Instruction of solicitor advocates became more prevalent as firms saw the advantages of keeping work in-house without the need to instruct outside counsel. This pioneering approach is frequently seen across England and Wales, particularly in areas such as Birmingham. The previous monopoly of counsel in higher court advocacy led to complacency by some; late withdrawal from serious cases of the counsel of choice remain relatively frequent due to other work commitments. Occasionally this was accompanied by an attempt to foist upon both solicitor and client a new counsel with no previous involvement in the case. Practice choices such as these worked to the benefit of solicitor advocates, who had the advantage of appreciating the consequences of such behaviour and of knowing the client. Equally, the independent bar met with some limited competition from chambers of solicitor advocates, independent practitioners