Government Legal Department
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 youd 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. They 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 QC.
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 QCs. 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. 78 were announced in August 2022.
Forthcoming Competitions
The Government Legal Department will be inviting applications to join the Attorney Generals Regional A, B and C Panel Counsel from Thursday 8 September to Thursday 13 October 2022.
Membership is open to barristers with tenancy and solicitors with higher court advocacy qualification. Full eligibility criteria, guidance, and details of how to apply, will be available on GOV.UK from Thursday 8 September.
GLD will host 4 live recruitment events week beginning Monday 12 September in , , and . These events are aimed at those who are thinking about applying in the next Regional panel competition or want to find out more. Further information can be found in the flyers.
To reserve a place, email the Panel Counsel Team PanelCounsel@governmentlegal.gov.uk specifying which region you wish to attend.
If you have any queries please contact the Panel Counsel Team PanelCounsel@governmentlegal.gov.uk