seniority in 2007, Sir John Swaine SC, switched to become a solicitor in 2002, but switched back in 2004. Solicitors seeking to qualify as barrister are required to do pupillage, however, the period may be shortened for those with substantial advocacy experience. Number of practising barristers As of January 2022, there were 98 Senior Counsel (88 male, 10 female), and 1,500 (1,300 male, 470 female) junior barristers in practice at the private bar in Hong Kong. There were 88 pupil barristers of whom 51 were male and 37 female. Senior Counsel After gaining ten years' experience as a barrister or government counsel in Hong Kong, a barrister admitted in Hong Kong may apply to become a Senior Counsel (SC) (資深大律師). Time in practice as a barrister or lawyer in another jurisdiction or as a solicitor in private practice in Hong Kong does not count. The Law Society of Hong Kong has called for this to be changed, so that solicitors may also be appointed Senior Counsel. In colonial Hong Kong before 1997, the title was instead Queen's Counsel (QC) (御用大律師). After the transfer of sovereignty, Queen's Counsel who had been appointed QC in HK or British Queen's Counsel who had been admitted to practice in Hong Kong generally prior to the handover became Senior Counsel automatically. List of chairpersons By year: 1948 Eldon Potter KC, President, Harold Sheldon KC, Chairman 1949 Harold Sheldon KC 1950 Charles Loseby KC 1951 Leo D'Almada KC 1952 John McNeill KC/QC 1953 Charles Loseby QC 1954 Leo D'Almada QC 1955 John McNeill QC 1956 John McNeill QC 1957 Leo D'Almada QC 1958 John McNeill QC 1959 Leo D'Almada QC 1960 Lo Hin Shing 1961 Leo D'Almada QC 1962 Leo D'Almada QC 1963 Brook Bernacchi QC 1964 S.V. Gittins 1965 S.V. Gittins 1966 Oswald Cheung QC 1967 S.V. Gittins QC 1968 Gerald de Basto QC 1969 Gerald de Basto QC 1970 Gerald de Basto QC 1971 Henry Litton QC 1972 Henry Litton QC 1973 Gerald de Basto QC 1974 Archie Zimmern QC 1975 Charles Ching QC 1976 Charles Ching QC 1977 Henry Litton QC 1978 Henry Litton QC 1979 Henry Litton QC 1980 Martin Lee QC 1981 Martin Lee QC 1982 Martin Lee QC 1983 Henry Litton QC 1984 Henry Litton QC 1985 Denis Chang QC 1986 Denis Chang QC 1987 Denis Chang QC 1988 Robert Tang QC 1989 Robert Tang QC 1990 Anthony Rogers QC