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. They are called to the Northern Ireland Bar in order to fulfill these duties.
The advocate general was created as a separate office by the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 upon the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 12 April 2010.Attorney General's Office: Statement on Northern Ireland devolution, 12 April 2010
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.
The chief legal adviser to the Northern Ireland Executive is the attorney general for Northern Ireland.
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.
List of advocates general
Colour key (for political parties):
Advocate General Term of office Political party Prime Minister Patricia ScotlandBaroness Scotland of Asthal 12 April 2010 11 May 2010 Labour Brown Dominic Grieve 12 May 2010 15 July 2014 Conservative Cameron (coalition) Jeremy Wright 15 July 2014 9 July 2018 Cameron May Geoffrey Cox 9 July 2018 13 February 2020 Johnson Suella Braverman 13 February 2020 2 March 2021 Michael Ellis (acting) 2 March 2021 10 September 2021 Suella Braverman 10 September 2021 6 September 2022 Michael Ellis 6 September 2022 25 October 2022 Truss Victoria Prentis 25 October 2022 5 July 2024 Sunak Richard Hermer, Baron Hermer 5 July 2024 20 July 2026 Labour Starmer Ellie Reeves 20 July 2026 Incumbent Labour Burnham
See also Law Officers of the Crown Attorney General for England and Wales Attorney General for Northern Ireland Advocate General for Scotland Department of Justice (Northern Ireland)
References
External links Attorney General's Office (England and Wales) (incorporating Advocate General for Northern Ireland) Attorney General for Northern Ireland