Advocate General for Northern Ireland

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Advocate General
for Northern Ireland
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg
Royal Arms of Her Majesty's Government
Official portrait of Suella Braverman MP crop 2.jpg
Incumbent
Suella Braverman
since 13 February 2020 (2020-02-13)
Attorney General's Office
StyleThe Right Honourable
Reports toThe Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Justice
AppointerThe Monarch
on advice of the Prime Minister
FormationApril 2010
First holderPatricia Scotland
DeputyAttorney General
Websitewww.gov.uk

The advocate general for Northern Ireland is the chief legal adviser to the British Government on Northern Ireland law and the post is held by the attorney general for England and Wales by virtue of that office. The advocate general and the solicitor general for England and Wales have, in Northern Ireland, the same rights of audience as members of the Bar of Northern Ireland.[1]

The advocate general was created as a separate office upon the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 12 April 2010.[2]

Unlike the advocate general for Scotland, the position is not supported by a distinct government department. Instead, that support is provided by the civil law and Northern Ireland section within the Attorney General's Office at Westminster.[3]

The chief legal adviser to the Northern Ireland Executive is the attorney general for Northern Ireland.[4]

List of Advocates General[]

Colour key (for political parties):
  Conservative   Labour

Name Portrait Term of office Political party Prime Minister
The Baroness Scotland of Asthal PatriciaScotland2a.jpg 12 April 2010 11 May 2010 Labour Gordon Brown
Dominic Grieve Official portrait of Mr Dominic Grieve crop 2.jpg 12 May 2010 15 July 2014 Conservative David Cameron
Jeremy Wright Jeremy Wright, Attorney General for England and Wales.jpg 15 July 2014 9 July 2018
Theresa May
Geoffrey Cox Official portrait of Rt Hon Geoffrey Cox QC MP crop 2.jpg 9 July 2018 13 February 2020
Boris Johnson
Suella Braverman Official portrait of Suella Braverman MP crop 2.jpg 13 February 2020 Incumbent
(On Leave 2021)
Michael Ellis

(acting)

Official portrait of Rt Hon Michael Ellis MP crop 2.jpg 2 March 2021 10 September 2021

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ section 27, Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c.26)
  2. ^ Attorney General's Office: Statement on Northern Ireland devolution, 12 April 2010 Archived July 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Attorney General's Office: Structure". Archived from the original on 20 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  4. ^ OFMDFM: Appointment of Attorney General announced, 24 May 2010 Archived 24 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine

External links[]

(incorporating Advocate General for Northern Ireland)

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