Tensions on Phillip Street, the heart of Sydney's legal precinct, have been running high over the past week as a pro-QC band of barristers lobbied for executive positions on the association's governing body, the Bar Council.

There had been moves afoot by some barristers in the pro-QC camp to oust the association's president, Jane Needham SC, along with its senior and junior vice-presidents, in favour of barristers who supported their cause.

But elections for the coveted roles were held on Thursday afternoon and Ms Needham SC, and junior vice-president Arthur Moses SC, were re-elected unopposed.

Senior vice-president Noel Hutley SC, saw off a challenge by pro-QC barrister Jeffrey Phillips SC, to retain his position. The treasurer and honorary secretary positions went to barristers in the pro-QC camp, Justin Hogan-Doran and Philippe Doyle Gray.

The internal battle had raised the ire of the government, the opposition and the Greens. Their support would be required to pass laws reintroducing the title of QC more than 20 years after it was replaced with the non-royalist Senior Counsel (SC), along with a new system for appointing silks.

The title has already been reintroduced in Queensland and Victoria, but the NSW Bar Association had decided earlier this year not to pursue the issue.

Attorney-General Brad Hazzard said this week that the debate about QCs versus SCs had "already been had" and it was "not my highest priority", although he was open to discussion "in the context of improving outcomes for the community".

The Sydney legal fraternity was rocked last week by a shake-up of the Bar Council, which saw a pro-QC "ticket" win 12 of the available 21 positions in the annual election. The 21 councillors voted on Thursday for the five executive positions.

The election is unlikely to mark the end of the discussion about reintroducing the title. The pro-QC camp still has a majority of councillors on the council and is expected to use its voting muscle to influence the association's policy.