Judicial Profiles - The Chancellor of the High Court
The Chancellor of the High Court - known as the Vice Chancellor prior to the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 - is the vice president of the Chancery Division of the Supreme Court. The Lord Chancellor is the president.
The Chancery Division deals with company law, partnership claims, conveyancing (the legal transfer of land or buildings), land law, probate, patent and taxation cases. The Chancellor of the High Court is also a member of the Court of Appeal. As a Head of Division and a member of the Privy Council, he or she is entitled to the prefix 'The Right Honourable'.
Appointment
The office of Vice-Chancellor was created in 1813 to assist the Lord Chancellor. He could then decide only cases specially delegated to him by the Lord Chancellor.
In 1842, two further Vice-Chancellors were appointed and this became permanent in 1852. The office disappeared in the reorganization of 1873.
In 1970, the Lord Chancellor was authorised to appoint a Vice-Chancellor from amongst the Chancery Division High Court judges to organize and manage the business of the division and be its everyday head.
Court working dress
The Chancellor of the High Court wears a court coat and waistcoat or a sleeved waistcoat, with skirt or trousers and bands, a black silk gown and a short wig.