In England, a barrister appointed to senior rank by the Lord Chancellor. When the monarch is a king the term is King's Counsel (KC). A QC wears a silk gown and takes precedence over a junior member of the Bar.
The Pillars of Hercules represent the promontories of Gibraltar and Ceuta. The shield represents the regions of Castile, Léon, Aragón, Navarre, and Granada. Effective date: 18 December 1981.