what is the british equivalent of the attorney general

by Lexi Volkman 6 min read

In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general.

Her Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales is one of the law officers of the Crown.
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Attorney General for England and Wales
Incumbent Suella Braverman since 13 February 2020
Attorney General's Office
StyleThe Right Honourable
Reports toPrime Minister of the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Justice
6 more rows

Full Answer

What does the Attorney General of the UK do?

The Attorney General is chief legal adviser to the Crown and has a number of independent public interest functions, as well as overseeing the Law Officers’ departments. Responsibilities include:

What is a Solicitor General for England and Wales?

Dec 30, 2005 · I'm editing an article by a French person, who in explaining the work of lawyers states that the term "solicitor" is equivalent to "attorney in fact" and "barrister" "attorney at law". I am sceptical - from my research an "attorney in fact" appears to be anyone who has "power of attorney" - but I am also British so unfamiliar with these terms.

What is the difference between the Attorney General and Solicitor General?

Oct 07, 2020 · What is the UK equivalent of a district attorney? Attorney is American English word for a British English lawyer. The D.A. or District Attorney is a lawyer in the U.S. who works for the state and prosecutes people on behalf of it. There are also, of course, defense attorneys in America who act on behalf of their clients.

Is the Solicitor General the second highest law officer?

ERT Case Summary: Trociuk v British Columbia (Attorney General) Friday, 6 June, 2003 This is the ERT case summary of the Canadian Supreme Court decision of Trociuk v British Columbia (Attorney General) [2003] 1 S.C.R. 835, 2003 SCC 34.

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What is an Attorney General in the UK?

The Attorney General is chief legal adviser to the Crown and has a number of independent public interest functions, as well as overseeing the Law Officers' departments. Responsibilities include: ... Questions of law arising on Bills and with issues of legal policy.

What is the difference between Attorney General and Solicitor General UK?

Her Majesty's Solicitor General for England and Wales, known informally as the Solicitor General, is one of the law officers of the Crown in the government of the United Kingdom. They are the deputy of the Attorney General, whose duty is to advise the Crown and Cabinet on the law.

Who is equivalent to Attorney General?

The Solicitor General for India is subordinate to the Attorney General of India. The Solicitor General for India is the second law officer of the country, assists the Attorney General, and is himself assisted by four Additional Solicitors General for India.Aug 11, 2017

What is the highest legal position in the UK?

the Attorney General for EnglandIn England and Wales, Northern Ireland and most Commonwealth and colonial governments, the chief law officer of the Crown is the Attorney General for England and Wales.

Which is higher Solicitor General or Attorney General?

The Solicitor General of India is subordinate to the Attorney General for India. They are the second law officer of the country, assists the Attorney General, and is assisted by Additional Solicitors General for India.

Who was the last Attorney General?

California Former Attorneys GeneralMatthew Rodriguez2021 – 2021Kamala D. Harris2010 – 2017Edmund G. Brown, Jr.2007 – 2011Bill Lockyer1999 – 2007Daniel E. Lungren1991 – 199929 more rows

What is difference between CAG and Attorney General?

2020). In 1971, the central government enacted the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (Duties, Powers, and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971....Comptroller and Auditor General of Indiaभारत के नियंत्रक और महालेखा परीक्षकIncumbent Girish Chandra Murmu, IAS since 8 August 2020AbbreviationCAG10 more rows

What is the difference between chief justice and Attorney General?

In layman terms, Chief Justice is a Judge and Attorney General is a Lawyer, both have distinct roles to play. The Attorney General of India is the highest law officer of the country and he/she is the chief legal advisor to the GoI. He is responsible to assist the government in all its legal matters.Feb 20, 2020

Are lawyers gazetted officers?

No. Lawyers are not Gazetted officers as they are not govt servants i.e. they are not recruited through any examination conducted by high Court or govt. In lower courts, Civil Judge(JD) and above are Gazetted Officers.

What is the highest paid type of lawyer UK?

You'll find the highest salaries in areas such as commercial and corporate law, while family and personal injury law are less likely to draw big-figure salaries.

How much do barristers earn UK?

For those with over ten years' experience, earnings can range from £65,000 to £1,000,000. Hourly rates also vary from just £20 for a newly qualified barrister in criminal law to £900 per hour for a tax specialist. As an employed barrister, you can expect to earn from around £25,000 to in excess of £100,000.

What is the highest paid attorney?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaPatent attorney: $180,000.Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.Trial attorneys: $134,000.Tax attorney (tax law): $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.More items...•Dec 14, 2021

What is the job of the Attorney General?

The Attorney General is chief legal adviser to the Crown and has a number of independent public interest functions, as well as overseeing the Law Officers’ departments. Responsibilities include:

Who is Michael Ellis?

Michael Ellis was appointed Attorney General on 2 March 2021 while Suella Braverman was designated as a Minister on Leave. He was appointed Solicitor General on 26 July 2019. He was previously Minister of State at the Department for Transport from 23 May 2019 to 25 July 2019.

What is an attorney general?

Attorneys-General in common law jurisdictions, and jurisdictions with a legal system which is partially derived from the common law tradition, share a common provenance.

When was the Attorney General of Tonga established?

The office of Attorney General was established in Tonga in 1988, and was held jointly with the portfolio of Justice Minister until the two were separated in 2009. The Attorney General is defined as the "Chief Legal Advisor to Government".

Who is a power of attorney?

The term was originally used to refer to any person who holds a general power of attorney to represent a principal in all matters. In the common law tradition, anyone who represents the state , especially in criminal prosecutions , is such an attorney.

Does the Attorney General give legal advice?

In practice, the extent to which the attorney general personally provides legal advice to the government varies between jurisdictions, and even between individual office-holders within the same jurisdiction, often depending on the level and nature of the office-holder's prior legal experience.

What is the role of the Attorney General in Fiji?

In Fiji, the role of the Attorney General is defined as "providing essential legal expertise and support to the Government". More specific functions include "legislative drafting", "legal aid", "the prerogative of mercy" (advising the President), "liquor licensing" and "film censorship".

Who was the Lord Advocate?

After the Acts of Union 1707, the Lord Advocate became the chief legal advisor to the British government in respect of Scotland.

Is the Attorney General the same as the Minister of Justice?

The Attorney-General attends Cabinet, but the post is not the same as the Minister of Justice. By tradition, persons appointed to the position of Attorney-General have been lawyers. Only two former Attorneys-General have not been lawyers, most recently Dr Michael Cullen who held the post in 2005, and again from 2006.

Attorney General vs Solicitor General

At some point in our lives we have all come across the terms Attorney General and Solicitor General, but many of us do not know the difference between Attorney General and Solicitor General. Informally, we associate the terms with two important figures in the legal sphere.

Who is an Attorney General?

Dictionaries define the term Attorney General as the chief law officer of a state or government. In simple terms, the Attorney General is the highest ranking lawyer or attorney in a country; he/she is typically a nation’s foremost legal representative and represents the government in legal actions.

Who is Solicitor General?

The role of a Solicitor General too differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Once again, in most common law jurisdictions, the Solicitor General is typically considered the deputy of the Attorney General or the Assistant to the Attorney General. Thus, in jurisdictions such as the U.S.

What is the difference between Attorney General and Solicitor General?

Although the Attorney General and the Solicitor General both serve as legal representatives of a state, the distinction lies in the hierarchy or superiority of the two.

What is the difference between a barrister and a silk?

Both types are collectively known as “senior counsel.” Senior counsel are barristers of seniority and eminence. … Senior counsel are also colloquially known as “silks.” This is because their robes include a gown made of silk – junior counsel wear gowns made of cotton. The only difference between a QC and SC is the name.

What is taking silk in British law?

Queen’s Counsel is an office, conferred by the Crown, that is recognised by courts. … As members wear silk gowns of a particular design (see court dress), appointment as Queen’s Counsel is known informally as receiving, obtaining, or taking silk and QCs are often colloquially called silks.

What is a silk in the UK?

While the series’ title may intentionally suggest lingerie, “silk” is British legal slang for someone who achieves the status of queen’s counsel.

Is a barrister higher than a solicitor?

Barristers can be distinguished from a solicitor because they wear a wig and gown in court. They work at higher levels of court than solicitors and their main role is to act as advocates in legal hearings, which means they stand in court and plead the case on behalf of their clients in front of a judge.

Why do British lawyers still wear wigs?

Like many uniforms, wigs are an emblem of anonymity, an attempt to distance the wearer from personal involvement and a way to visually draw on the supremacy of the law, says Newton. Wigs are so much a part of British criminal courts that if a barrister doesn’t wear a wig, it’s seen as an insult to the court.

How much do paralegals earn UK?

Salaries for junior paralegals at non-graduate entry level, range from £14,000 to £22,000. At graduate-entry level, salaries range from £18,000 to £25,000. A paralegal with three to five years’ experience can expect a salary in the region of £30,000 to £40,000.

What is a British QC?

A Queen’s Counsel is an advocate appointed by the monarch to be one of ‘Her Majesty’s Counsel learned in the law’ or a King’s Counsel (KC) when the monarch is male. Before 1995, only barristers could be appointed as a QC but the system was changed so that solicitors could too.

What does "counsel" mean?

[Latin. to consult; to ask, to assail.] 1. To give advice or deliberate opinion to another for the government of his conduct; to advise.

What is an advocate in law?

Advocate - one who pleads within the bar for a defendant. Attorney - one who transfers or assigns, within the bar, another's rights & property acting on behalf of the ruling crown (government) It's very clear that an attorney is not a lawyer. The lawyer is a learned counselor who advises.

What is a bar in court?

BAR. A particular portion of a court room. Named from the space enclosed by two bars or rails: one of which separated the judge's bench from the rest of the room; the other shut off both the bench and the area for lawyers engaged in trials from the space allotted to suitors, witnesses, and others.

Who is Edmund Plowden?

Edmund Plowden, the author of the Commentaries, a volume of elaborate reports in the reigns of Edward VI., Mary, Philip and Mary, and Elizabeth, describes himself as an apprentice of the common law. - A Law Dictionary by John Bouvier (Revised Sixth Edition, 1856). BARRISTER, n. [from bar.]

What does "admitted to the bar" mean?

From the definition of ‘bar,’ the title and occupation of a "barrister" is derived: BARRISTER, English law. 1.A counselor admitted to plead at the bar.

What is a barrister?

Overall, a barrister is one who has the privilege to plead at the courtroom bar separating the judicial from the non-judicial spectators. Currently, in U.S. courts, the inner bar between the bench (judge) and the outer bar no longer exists, and the outer bar separates the attorneys (not lawyers) from the spectator's gallery.

What does "attorn" mean?

- Webster's 1828 Dictionary. 2). From the word "attorn" is derived the name and occupation of an attorney ;’ one who transfers or assigns property, rights, title and allegiance to the owner of the land.

What does a copyright attorney do?

Applies for copyrights or registration of the organization's products, processes, devices, and trademarks, advising whether to initiate or defend law suits. Conducts pretrial preparations and defends the organization in lawsuits. Advises officials on tax matters, government regulations, and/or legal rights.

What is the job of a lawyer?

Job Description. Advises, consults, litigates and performs trial work, and carries out the legal processes necessary to effect the rights, privileges, and obligations of the organization. Studies Constitution, statues, decisions, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies.

How is the cost of living calculated?

Cost of living is calculated based on accumulating the cost of food, transportation, health services, rent, utilities, taxes, and miscellaneous. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America.

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Overview

Her Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales is one of the law officers of the Crown. The attorney general serves as the principal legal adviser to the Crown and the Government in England and Wales. The attorney general maintains the Attorney General's Office and currently attends (but is not a member of) Cabinet. Unlike in other countries utilizing the common lawlegal sy…

History

The origins of the office are unknown, but the earliest record of an "attorney of the crown" is from 1243, when a professional attorney named Laurence Del Brok was paid to prosecute cases for the King, who could not appear in courts where he had an interest. During the early days of the office the holder was largely concerned with representing the Crown in litigation, and held no political role or duties. Although a valuable position, the Attorney General was expected to work incredibl…

Role and duties

The Attorney General is currently not a Cabinet minister, but is designated as also attending Cabinet. The rule that no Attorney General may be a cabinet minister is a political convention rather than a law, and for a short time the Attorney General did sit in cabinet, starting with Sir Rufus Isaacs in 1912 and ending with Douglas Hoggin 1928. There is nothing that prohibits Attorneys General from attending meetings of the cabinet, and on occasion they have been asked to atten…

List of attorneys general

• William of Boneville (1277–1278)
• William de Giselham (1278–1279)
• Gilbert de Thornton (1279–1280)
• Alanus of Walkingham (1280–1281)

See also

• Solicitor General for England and Wales
• Attorney General for Northern Ireland (held by Attorney General for England and Wales from 1972 to 2010)
• Advocate General for Scotland
• Attorney-General for Ireland

Works cited

• Attorney General's Office (2007). The governance of Britain: a consultation on the role of the Attorney General. The Stationery Office. ISBN 9780101719223.
• Carroll, Alex (2007). Constitutional and Administrative Law (4th ed.). Pearson Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-1231-3.
• Cooley, Rita (1958). "Predecessors of the Federal Attorney General: The Attorney General in England and the American Colonies". The American Journal of Legal History. Te…

• Attorney General's Office (2007). The governance of Britain: a consultation on the role of the Attorney General. The Stationery Office. ISBN 9780101719223.
• Carroll, Alex (2007). Constitutional and Administrative Law (4th ed.). Pearson Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-1231-3.
• Cooley, Rita (1958). "Predecessors of the Federal Attorney General: The Attorney General in England and the American Colonies". The American Journal of Legal History. Temple University. 2 (4): 304–312. doi:10.230…

External links

• Media related to Attorneys General for England and Wales at Wikimedia Commons
• Texts on Wikisource:
"Attorney-General". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (9th ed.). 1878. p. 887. "Attorney-General". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 63.

Overview

In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen ) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enforcement, prosecutions or even responsibility for legal affairs generally. In practice, the extent to which the attorney general personally provides legal advice to the government varies betwee…

Attorneys-general in common law and hybrid jurisdictions

Attorneys-General in common law jurisdictions, and jurisdictions with a legal system which is partially derived from the common law tradition, share a common provenance.
In Australia, the Attorney-General is the chief law officer of the Crown and a member of the Cabinet. The Attorney-General is the minister responsible for legal affairs, national and public security, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. Michaelia Cashis the current Attorney-General. …

Etymology

In regard to the etymology of the phrase Attorney General, Steven Pinker writes that the earliest citation in the Oxford English Dictionary is from 1292: "Tous attorneyz general purrount lever fins et cirrographer" (All general attorneys may levy fines and make legal documents). The phrase was borrowed from Anglo-Norman French when England was ruled by Normans after the conquest of Englandin the 11th-century. As a variety of French, which was spoken in the law courts, schools, …

Similar offices in non-common law jurisdictions

Non-common law jurisdictions usually have one or more offices which are similar to attorneys-general in common law jurisdictions, some of which use "attorney-general" as the English translation of their titles.
The state attorney (ríkislögmaður) represents the state in civil lawsuits. The state attorney is appointed by the Prime Ministerfor a period of 5 years and must have the same qualifications re…

External links

• Quotations related to Attorney general at Wikiquote

Attorney General vs Solicitor General

  • At some point in our lives we have all come across the terms Attorney General and Solicitor General, but many of us do not know the difference between Attorney General and Solicitor General. Informally, we associate the terms with two important figures in the legal sphere. Also, we can say the difference between the two is something related to the hierarchy. While this is m…
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Who Is An Attorney General?

  • Dictionaries define the term Attorney General as the chief law officer of a state or government. In simple terms, the Attorney General is the highest ranking lawyer or attorney in a country; he/she is typically a nation’s foremost legal representative and represents the government in legal actions. Keep in mind, however, that the use of the term differs from jurisdictionto jurisdiction. Thus, the …
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Who Is Solicitor General?

  • The role of a Solicitor General too differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Once again, in most common law jurisdictions, the Solicitor General is typically considered the deputy of the Attorney General or the Assistant to the Attorney General. Thus, in jurisdictions such as the U.S. and U.K., the Solicitor General is the second high-ranking law officer in the country, or rather, the second-i…
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What Is The Difference Between Attorney General and Solicitor General?

  • Although the Attorney General and the Solicitor General both serve as legal representatives of a state, the distinction lies in the hierarchy or superiority of the two. • The Attorney General is the chief law officer of the state while the Solicitor General is the Deputy Law officer. • While legal actions against the state, particularly federal criminal cases, are brought in the name of the Attor…
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