Changes to the common legal system terminology

UPDATE ONE (9 September 2022)

Following the sad passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, and the accession of King Charles III, a number of changes will now be made to common terminology used in the legal system. These changes include:
• Cases for which the Crown appears (mainly criminal cases), will now read “Rex” (Latin for King), as opposed to “Regina” (Latin for Queen).
• The title Queen’s Counsel (QC) used by senior barristers, changes to King’s Counsel (KC) with immediate effect.
• The “Queen’s Bench Division” of the High Court of Justice will be renamed the “King’s Bench Division”.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The Revise SQE team extends its deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to HRH King Charles III and the Royal Family.

RELEVANCE TO YOUR SQE1 ASSESSMENT

This update will not affect your substantive knowledge of the law in preparation for SQE1. This update merely allows you to appreciate a change in terminology which you may see as part of your SQE1 assessment. For example, an MCQ may refer to the King’s Bench Division of the High Court as opposed to the Queen’s Bench Division. Nothing will change in this regard other than the terminology.