after veteran trial lawyer Mrs. Lois Browne Evans was turned down for the title.

The controversial system could be scrapped, or face a major overhaul.

Yesterday senior attorney the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto mounted a blistering attack on it.

She said the system smacked of "intellectual dishonesty,'' and should be swept away.

Mediocre lawyers with meaningless Queen's Counsel status could push up their fees, she warned.

"QC looks good to people from abroad who don't know any better, and where in their country it means more,'' said Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto, who is also the Environment Minister.

In Bermuda, any lawyer of 15 years standing can apply to become a QC.

The Bar Council and the Chief Justice comment on the applications, which are then forwarded to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in England.

In England, the QC requirements are far more rigid -- only barristers who spend a lot of time in the courtroom are considered.

Having a QC allows a lawyer to charge his clients a little more for his work, and to wear silk robes instead of cotton.

Controversy over Bermuda's QC system blew up after Opposition MP Mrs. Lois Browne Evans failed in her bid to become one.

Mrs. Browne Evans, a lawyer for 35 years, has been involved in civil and criminal law.

Instead, three other lawyers were appointed to the Queen's Counsel -- Mr. John Campbell, Mr. Coles Diel, and Mr. Richard Hector.

Opposition leader Mr. Frederick Wade, also an advocate, described Mrs. Browne Evans' omission as an "insult''.

Yesterday Mr. John Riihiluoma, president of the Bar Association, confirmed the awards system was under review.

"There is a variety of views on the system. Some believe it should be scrapped, and others talk about refining the selection process.'' Mr. Riihiluoma declined to reveal his own view, but added: "I am prepared to say, given the potential for divisiveness in a small bar, one has to carefully examine the institution of QCs in Bermuda.

"If there is merit in the system, then perhaps the selection process should be revisited.'' Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto, an attorney herself for 24 years, said she was very disturbed that Mrs. Browne Evans had failed to get QC status.

"I think the Bar Council is totally and utterly wrong in this case. I suspect there have been other cases where they are also totally and utterly wrong.

"The whole business of QCs here is absolute rubbish. It's meaningless and misleading to the general public.'' Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto, who refuses on principle to apply for a QC, said she was aware of senior and respected attorneys being turned down.

"If we do have a system, then it should be based on meritorious work at the bar,'' she said.