The Treasury Solicitor is encouraging all barristers eligible for the Attorney General’s Regional A, B and C Panel Counsel to apply in the current recruitment round.

Susanna McGibbon, Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary to the Government Legal Department said: ‘The Attorney General’s Panel Counsel are integral to the Government Legal Department and the delivery of our legal services. Our cases are often complex and broad in scope, so we seek to attract inspiring and diverse candidates to advocate on our behalf from across England and Wales. Looking beyond London, we can fully utilise the legal expertise up and down the country to partner closely with us on some of the most high-profile legal cases of the day.

‘Furthermore, it is important we strive for our panels to represent the diverse society that they ultimately represent, so I encourage all legal specialists eligible for the regional panels to consider applying.”

In September, ‘Widening the pool’ recruitment events were held across the country for those thinking about applying. In Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester and Cardiff Regional Panel members discussed their own experiences of panel work.

Louise Asprey of St John’s Chambers first applied to the AG Regional Panel following her return from a period of maternity leave: ‘I was thrilled at the way in which the variety, complexity and volume of work allowed me to build far beyond the practice I had left. The Panel gave me my first introduction to complex inquest work, which has since become a core part of my practice. Based in the Southwest, this area of practice would have been far harder to develop without my Panel work. The necessary focus on wider policy issues when acting for the Government ensures that the work is always interesting and challenging.'

Stephanie Hall of Kings Chambers joined the Regional B Panel two years ago: ‘In that time, I have been instructed on a number of interesting cases which have given me an opportunity to get into the High Court far more frequently than would otherwise have been the case in my practice area. It is a genuine privilege to receive an insight into what the decision-maker was thinking when the decision was made, and to receive instructions from central government on interpretation of its own policies. I would encourage others to apply, particularly in the regions where the High Court can feel less accessible.'

Lucy Coulson of No5 Chambers was promoted to B Panel shortly before commencing her maternity leave: ‘The appointment gave me confidence that when I returned, I would have a stream of bulk privately paid work. This helped me with my phased return to practice, but also to stimulate cashflow due to the fast payment terms. Panel work has exposed me to complex, high value and sometimes politically sensitive cases. As Counsel, I have to work collegiately with GLD lawyers and government departments to come to the best resolution in the public interest, be that admit, deny or look to settle claims on best terms.’

The GLD is inviting applications to join the Attorney General’s Regional A, B and C Panel Counsel until noon on Thursday 10 October 2024. Membership is open to barristers with tenancy and solicitors with higher court advocacy qualification. Full eligibility criteria, guidance, and details of how to apply, are available here.

Recruitment is also under way for the Attorney General's Panel of Special Advocates in England and Wales.

Special advocates appear in closed material proceedings in various courts and tribunals. They perform a crucial role by representing the interests of excluded parties and subjecting closed material to independent scrutiny.

The competition is open to junior barristers and solicitors, with Higher Rights of Audience and at least 5 years of advocacy experience. The Panel of Special Advocates is distinct from the Attorney General's civil litigation panels. However, members of the civil litigation panels are eligible to apply for appointment to the Panel of Special Advocates.

To find out more, click here and to request an application pack email SpecialAdvocatesRecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk. Applications for the Panel of Special Advocates (including receipt of references) must be submitted by midday on Friday 18 October 2024.