Advocate General for Scotland
From Free net encyclopedia
Her Majesty's Advocate General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, whose duty is to advise the Crown and UK Government on Scots law.
The office of Advocate General for Scotland was created in 1999 by the Scotland Act 1998 to be the chief legal adviser to the United Kingdom Government on Scots Law, replacing the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General for Scotland, who were transferred to the Scottish Executive.
The office of "Her Majesty's Advocate General for Scotland" should not be confused with that of "Her Majesty's Advocate", which is another name for the Lord Advocate. The Lord Advocate is the senior, and the Advocate General for Scotland ranks after him or her, followed by the Solicitor General for Scotland.
The post has been filled since its inception by Dr Lynda Clark, now a member of the House of Lords as Baroness Clark. On 18 January 2006 Baroness Clark resigned to take up office as a Senator of the College of Justice. The office was vacant until 21 March, when it was announced that the Prime Minister had appointed Neil Davidson QC, former Solicitor General for Scotland.