Advocate General for Northern Ireland

United Kingdom
Advocate General
for Northern Ireland
Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
since 5 July 2024
Attorney General's Office
StyleThe Right Honourable
Reports toThe Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Justice
AppointerThe King
(on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
FormationApril 2010
First holderPatricia Scotland
DeputyAttorney General
Websitewww.gov.uk

The advocate general for Northern Ireland is the chief legal adviser to the Government of the United Kingdom 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] They are called to the Northern Ireland Bar in order to fulfill these duties.[2]

The advocate general was created as a separate office by the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002[1] upon the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 12 April 2010.[3]

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.[4][5]

The chief legal adviser to the Northern Ireland Executive is the attorney general for Northern Ireland.[6]

The advocate general retains the power to refer the question of whether a bill passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is within the competence of the Assembly.[7]

  1. ^ a b "Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 2002 c. 26
  2. ^ "Law Officers called to Northern Ireland Bar". Wired Gov. WIRED GOV LTD. 10 September 2024. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  3. ^ Attorney General's Office: Statement on Northern Ireland devolution, 12 April 2010 Archived July 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "2020-08-12T10-32-10Z-2020-03-31-organogram-senior.csv". data.gov.uk. 31 March 2020. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  5. ^ "2020-08-12T10-32-10Z-2020-03-31-organogram-junior.csv". data.gov.uk. 31 March 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  6. ^ "First Minister Peter Robinson MLA and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP, MLA have announced the appointment of Mr John F Larkin QC as Attorney General for Northern Ireland". Northern Ireland Executive Office. 24 May 2010. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Northern Ireland Act 1998", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 19 November 1998, 1998 c. 47, retrieved 20 September 2024