Attorney Generals Office
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Overview
The Government Legal Department (GLD) administers the Attorney Generals Panel Counsel.
The Attorney Generals panels of counsel consists of just over 400 junior counsel who undertake civil and EU work for all government departments.
This guide explains how to apply to be on the panel counsel and which panel you would be advised to apply for. It also covers work outside the panel which means working for the government but not as a member of panel counsel.
The role of the Law Officers
The Law Officers have overall responsibility for counsel instructed on behalf of government. They make appointments to the panels, and ensure that the operation of the panels is as effective as possible.
Panel counsel: structure
The Attorney General maintains panels of junior counsel to undertake civil and EU work for all government departments. These are in addition to any standing counsel and the First Treasury Counsel, James Eadie KC.
The panel system is made up of London Panels, Regional Panels and Public International Law Panels, each set up as follows:
A Panel deals with the most complex government cases in all kinds of courts and tribunals. Members will often appear against KCs. In general, those appointed to the A panel will have over 10 years advocacy experience.
B Panel deals with substantial cases but not in general as complex as those handled by the A panel. Members will generally be instructed where knowledge and experience of a particular field is required. B panel applicants will generally have between 5 and 10 years advocacy experience but those with more experience can also apply.
C Panel members will generally have between 2 and 5 years advocacy experience but those with more experience can apply. Those appointed to the C panel will often (but not always) become the A and B panel members of the future and so will be expected to show the potential to join the A panel.
Advocacy experience means experience in actual practice usually from the end of second 6 months pupillage. Where a third 6 months pupillage is taken there will need to be a judgement as to the extent and quality of the advocacy undertaken during that period.
The size of each panel is determined by need.
All government departments and agencies of government departments must use the panels.
London panels (details of current counsel)
Appointments are for a period of 5 years.
Regional panels
Outside London and the South East there are 5 regions to which counsel belong: North East, North, Wales, Midlands and South West.
From 3 April 2018, the Attorney Generals Regional Panel of Junior Counsel was restructured to align it with the other civil panels. Furthermore, following a recruitment exercise, a refresh of the Regional Panel saw changes to the membership.
As a result of the restructuring, within each region, the panel will be set up as follows:
Appointments are for a period of 5 years.
Public International Law (PIL) panel
The Attorney General established panels of junior counsel to undertake public international law on behalf of all government departments in order to supplement the work of the existing 3 London Panels. The will undertake cases involving public international law in international courts and in the courts of England and Wales. The competitions to refresh the Public International Law (PIL) A, B and C Panels have now closed and results have been emailed to all candidates.
Appointments to the panel
The London A, B and C Panel competitions have closed and results have been emailed to candidates. 128 were announced in August 2024.
Forthcoming Competitions
The next competition to make appointments to the LondonA, B and C Panels will open in spring 2025. Membership is open to barristers and solicitors with Higher Rights of Audience.
If you have any queries, please contact the Panel Counsel team at PanelCounsel@governmentlegal.gov.uk
Junior Counsel to the Treasury in Charity Matters
Jonathan Fowles of Serle Court Chambers was appointed Junior Counsel to the Treasury in Charity Matters on 4 September 2024.
Mentoring
As part of the Attorney Generals aim of encouraging as wide a selection of applicants as possible, potential applicants can use our mentoring service. Mentors will be established panel members who can discuss their panel experience, the application process, eligibility criteria and presentation of relevant information. For more details, please contact the Government Legal Departments Panel Counsel team.
Rates
For details of rates see our practical information page.
Equality and diversity
The Attorney General operates an equal opportunities policy in relation to the civil panels. The assessment process emphasises the importance of making recommendations for appointment on the basis of demonstrable skills.
The Attorney General appoints the best candidates solely on merit, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/belief, sex (gender), and sexual orientation.
Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED)
The Panel Counsel Appointment process is carried out in accordance with the principles of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) which was created under the Equality Act 2010. Public authorities like the Government Legal Department are now required, in carrying out their functions, to have due regard to the need to achieve the objectives set out under s149 of the Equality Act 2010. ThePSED came into force across Great Britain on 5 April 2011.
It means that public bodies have to consider all individuals when carrying out their day-to-day work in shaping policy, in delivering services and in relation to their own employees.
It also requires that public bodies have due re