Guidance

Attorney General's Civil Panel Counsel: appointments, membership lists and off panel counsel

Recruitment process, rates of pay, overview of the panel, lists of members and guidance for barristers who work ‘off panel’.

Overview

The Government Legal Department (GLD) administers the Attorney General’s Panel Counsel.

The Attorney General’s 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’d 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)

London A panel September 2022 (ODT, 32.6 KB)

London B panel September 2022 (ODT, 44.3 KB)

London C Panel September 2022 (ODT, 51.2 KB)

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 General’s 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:

Regional A panel (MS Word Document, 79.5 KB)

Regional B Panel (MS Word Document, 84.5 KB)

Regional C Panel (MS Word Document, 81 KB)

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 London C panel (ODT, 48.4 KB) 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 London ABC Panel new appointees (MS Word DocumentODT, 30.515.5 KB) were announced in August 2022.

Forthcoming Competitions

The Government Legal Department will be inviting applications to join the Attorney General’s 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 Manchester (ODT, 28.1 KB), Birmingham (ODT, 28.1 KB), Bristol (ODT, 28.2 KB) and Leeds (ODT, 28.1 KB). 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

Mentoring

As part of the Attorney General’s 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 Department’s 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.

Areas of work

To ensure the panels can meet the needs of government there is a variety of work available - not just in public law. It is important that the panels contain counsel with various specialisms and counsel who are able to branch out into other areas of work if the need arises.

GLD encourages counsel to maintain both a public and private practice, this includes acting against government. It is beneficial to government if counsel have had experience of acting against government.

Although appointment to any panel cannot be a guarantee that work will be available, the intention is that each advocate appointed should be given at least a minimum amount of work.

Off panel work

The intention is that work should go to panel members but there are opportunities to do work ‘off panel’.

Queen’s Counsel (QC/silk)

GLD maintains a non-exhaustive list of Queen’s Counsel who have previously been instructed by departments or have expressed interest in receiving instructions. A nomination from the Law Officers is always required before a QC is instructed; a rate is always agreed in advance of a nomination being approved and usually ranges from between £180 - £250 per hour.

When seeking a nomination for a QC, the Attorney General will wish to be satisfied that the work cannot be done by A panel counsel. There is no requirement that any of the QCs put forward be on our list.

Being on our list of QCs does not guarantee any particular amount of work or indeed any work at all. However, being on the list does draw attention to a QC’s willingness to do government work.

Off panel juniors

A nomination is always required for an off panel junior. When off panel junior counsel are instructed they are paid at panel rates.

Junior juniors (formerly Baby barristers)

Junior juniors are very junior barristers who are within 4 years from end of pupillage and who are not yet panel members. They can assist on things like discovery exercises on large cases. They cannot do advocacy of any sort. A nomination from the Attorney General is not necessary.

The period of eligibility to undertake work has been extended from 2 years to 4 years from end of pupillage.

If you are interested in opportunities for Junior junior work, contact panelcounsel@governmentlegal.gov.uk

For details of rates see our practical information page.

Standing counsel

Some departments appoint standing counsel. These are more senior advocates, akin to treasury counsel. As well as leading in some of the most difficult cases, their insight into the work of their department means they are also available as a source of expertise to panel counsel. In addition, they may provide training and strategic advice.

References

For more information on references see our practical information page.

Published 1 November 2013
Last updated 1 September 2022 + show all updates
  1. London ABC Panel appointments document updated

  2. Added revised London Panel listings and the details of the new appointees to the London Panels. Added flyers for those who may apply in the next Regional panel competition.

  3. The new appointments to the London panels have been announced and the lists have been updated as appropriate. Flyers for information evenings for the Regional Panel Counsel in Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds uploaded.

  4. Regional C Panel information updated

  5. Information updated regarding the next competition for the Attorney General's Regional A, B and C Panel Counsel. More details about the mentoring scheme provided.

  6. London C Panel list updated

  7. Public International Law document updated

  8. London C Panel list updated to include 3 August

  9. London C Panel list updated

  10. Updated London B Panel and London C Panel lists

  11. Updated London C Panel list

  12. Updated London B Panel list 17 May 2022

  13. Regional C Panel list updated.

  14. Updated London B Panel and London C Panel documents dated 25 April 2022

  15. London B Panel information updated.

  16. Updated information relating to the competitions.

  17. Updated documents: London A Panel, London B Panel, London C Panel, Regional A Panel

  18. London C Panel List updated March 2022

  19. Regional A Panel information updated.

  20. Addition of event details

  21. Updated London B Panel document 7 January

  22. Regional B panel list updated

  23. London B Panel updated

  24. Updated London C Panel list

  25. London A and C panel updated

  26. The London B and London C Panel lists have been updated.

  27. Updated London C Panel List

  28. London C panel updated

  29. Regional B panel list updated

  30. Updated the panel lists

  31. London C panel updated

  32. Updated London A,B and C panels.

  33. The London ABC Panel results posted.

  34. London B list updated

  35. Updated information on appointments to the panel.

  36. London C and Regional A lists updated

  37. Regional C Panel List updated.

  38. Rearranged London and Regional Panels

  39. Updated all panel links, added new paragraph 'forthcoming competitions'

  40. Regional A panel updated.

  41. London C Panel link updated

  42. London C and PIL Panels links updated

  43. Updated London C panel

  44. Updated regional c panel list

  45. The London C Panel list has been updated.

  46. Updated London and Regional B panels.

  47. Regional C panel updated.

  48. Updated regional C panel.

  49. Regional ABC Panel new appointees announced.

  50. Updated London A and B and regional A panels.

  51. Updated London B and C panel documents.

  52. Edited forthcoming competitions - there will be a virtual recruitment seminar on 9th of March

  53. Updated regional panels

  54. Revised PIL Panel list.

  55. Updated forthcoming competitions.

  56. Updated London B panel

  57. Updated London A panel

  58. London B Panel updated.

  59. London C Panel updated.

  60. PIL panel list updated.

  61. London B and C panel lists replaced.

  62. New PIL Panel document

  63. Made minor text amendments.

  64. Attachment 'Regional C Panel' updated.

  65. Updated London C Panel list and revised PIL month to October.

  66. Updated London A, B and C Panel lists.

  67. Information on the forthcoming competitions has been updated.

  68. Updated the attachment "London ABC Panel new appointees"

  69. New London ABC Panel and Regional B Panel lists published.

  70. London ABC Panel new appointees have been announced.

  71. Regicnal C Panel listing was updated.

  72. Edited wording - Public International Law (PIL) competition results to be emailed to candidates in September.

  73. London C Panel and Regional A Panel updated.

  74. Updated London C Panel list

  75. Updated London B Panel

  76. Updated London C Panel document 1 May

  77. Updated to reflect the fact that panel competitions have now closed.

  78. Updated London C Panel 24 March

  79. Updated London A Panel document

  80. Updated London C and Regional A panels

  81. Update London A and C panels, and PIL panel.

  82. Updated London C Panel

  83. Updated Regional A, B, and C Panels.

  84. London C Panel has been updated.

  85. Added links to news stories about new panel competitions

  86. Updated with list of new Regional Panel Appointees.

  87. Updated with details of forthcoming competitions

  88. Uploaded updated version of London C panel attachment.

  89. Revised lists for London A & C Panel and Regional C Panel have been published.

  90. New doc added

  91. Added new doc

  92. Need to replace London C panel

  93. New doc added

  94. Correcting doc

  95. Further competition details added

  96. Updated panel document

  97. New docs added

  98. new attachments

  99. Regional panel A attachment updated

  100. updated the London panels ABC attachment

  101. London ABC panel document added and text amended

  102. updated London Panel C file from 6 June version to 17 June version

  103. A revised London panel A, B and C list published, as well as a revised Regional Panel B list published.

  104. Updated lists for Regional A and B panels published.

  105. London B panel list has been updated

  106. London B Panel list published

  107. Updates on forthcoming competitions

  108. We have published a revised list of Regional A Panel.

  109. New Panel lists published

  110. New date for the next London A, B and C Panel competitions announced.

  111. Appointments to the panel - update

  112. London A Panel & C Panel listings revised and replaced as of 20 December.

  113. Amended to reflect the closing of the London C Panel competition as well as updated London panels as of 27 November 2018.

  114. Replaced the London A Panel web listing as of 29 October 2018.

  115. We have updated the Regional B Panel to reflect a Panel member's move of chambers

  116. Added that the London C Panel opened on Tuesday 25 September 2018. The next London A and B Panel competition, along with a further London C Panel competition, will open in late February 2019.

  117. Published information about the next London C Panel competition opening on 25 September 2018.

  118. Replaced the Regional A Panel list to reflect changes as of 1 August 2018

  119. Replaced appointments to the London A and B Panels. The changes to both lists are a result of Counsel moving Chambers.

  120. Added results of London A and B Panel competitions.

  121. Updated the Regional A & B listings.

  122. Updating information about panels to reflect new A, B and C listing.

  123. Changes to the page to represent the reorganisation of the Regional Panel.

  124. Page has been change to reflect that the London A and B Panel competitions are now closed, and that the period of eligibility for Junior juniors to undertake work has been extended from 2 years to 4 years from the end of pupillage.

  125. Updated the London C Panel document.

  126. Updated the London C Panel.

  127. Updated A, B, C, Regional & PIL Panels.

  128. Updated the 'forthcoming competitions' with details of the London A and B competitions.

  129. Updated the C Panel and Regional web listing on the website.

  130. Published a document detailing the 25 new appointments to the London C Panel.

  131. One of the London B and Regional Panel members have moved Chambers so the listings have been revised.

  132. Updated the Regional panel. Accurate as of 9 January 2017.

  133. Updated the C panel list. Correct as of 8 January 2018.

  134. Updated London C Panel listing. Accurate as of 15 December 2017.

  135. Changes reflecting the end of the Regional Panel application period.

  136. Updated Regional Panel list.

  137. The London C Panel competition is now closed.

  138. Changes to reflect the opening of the Regional Panel competition on Tuesday 24 October.

  139. Updates on Panel competitions.

  140. Updated the B Panel list.

  141. New appointments to A and B panels published.

  142. Updated the Public International Law (PIL) Panel list.

  143. Updated the B and C Panel lists

  144. Updated the C Panel list and Regional panel list

  145. Updated Regional Panel attachement

  146. Updated the copy under 'Forthcoming Competitions' to say the A and B panel competitions have now closed.

  147. Updated the Regional Panel and B Panel list attachments.

  148. The Regional Panel members and PIL panel lists have been updated.

  149. Updates to all panel lists

  150. Updated Panel B and Panel C lists. Announcement of new Panel C members.

  151. Updated PIL list

  152. Panel C list updated

  153. update

  154. Update to text

  155. update to panel c

  156. updates to panel counsel recruitment

  157. Updates to panel counsel lists

  158. Latest C panel list published

  159. List of new appointees

  160. update to Junior junior

  161. Update of the term 'Baby barristers' to 'Junior juniors'

  162. Update to lists A,B,C and regional

  163. Updated Panel A, B and regional lists.

  164. Panel C list updated

  165. Updated list

  166. Dates for appointments.

  167. Panel list updated

  168. List updated

  169. C Panel list updated.

  170. Updated panel counsel lists.

  171. New competition announced.

  172. Updated lists for February 2016.

  173. Competition details updated.

  174. Regional Panel Counsel information for December 2015 added.

  175. Contact details for baby barristers scheme updated.

  176. Update to Panel C list.

  177. New C Panel Counsel list updated for November 2015.

  178. Competition closed. List of Regional Panel appointees published following the 2015 competition.

  179. New regional panel information added.

  180. Panel B list updated.

  181. Competition details updated.

  182. Competition details updated.

  183. Attachments updated

  184. Update to Panel C list.

  185. Panel Counsel lists updated.

  186. Attachment updated.

  187. Update to Panel Counsel lists.

  188. New competition announced.

  189. The Regional Panel Competition 2015 closed at 12pm on 31 July.

  190. Panel A list updated.

  191. Update to Panel Counsel file.

  192. New Regional Panel Counsel document.

  193. New competition announced.

  194. Upcoming competition announced.

  195. Attachment updated.

  196. Attachments updated.

  197. New panel C list added for May 2015.

  198. The 2015 london A & B Panel competition is closed.

  199. Updated Panel Counsel lists.

  200. The Attorney General is seeking to appoint new members to one of his panels of junior counsel in London, the A and B panels.

  201. Updated Regional Panel November 2014

  202. Latest information available.

  203. Updated panel list available.

  204. Updated panel lists now available

  205. Updated membership lists

  206. Updated to include information regarding the 2013 competition

  207. Regional panel list updated

  208. Latest list available

  209. B panel list update

  210. First published.