Frank Maguire, senior partner of Thompsons solicitors says that High Court judges should no longer have any role in the appointment of the Dean of Faculty, and that they should be stripped of their exclusive role in the apppointment of QCs.

Maguire's comments come in Thompsons' submission to the rights of audience review.

"The fact that judges are members of the Faculty of Advocates should now cease," he says.

"That detracts from their independence and again feeds the idea that advocacy from one institution is somehow better or more approved of or reaffirmed by judges being their members.

"In any event it must militate against the impartiality of a judge in having advocates or solicitor advocates before them. They should also, consequently, cease to have any role in the appointment of the Dean of faculty who represents one particular institution covering those who have Rights of Audience.

"Further, insofar as judges derive from the Faculty of Advocates, they inevitably have history from that membership. They will have mentored to practicing advocates or been mentored. The duties in such mentoring carry on in terms of advice and guidance thereafter. it should be made clear that there is no special relationship between an advocate and judge arising from this."

The review proposes changes to all rights of audience before the Supreme Courts.

Maguire's comments can be read in full here.