The Legal Secretariat to the Advocate General (Legal Secretariat) is a small team normally of three lawyers, based in Dover House, who advise the Advocate General in the preparation of Law Officers' opinions. For joint opinions, they work closely with the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers which provides a similar service to the Attorney General and Solicitor General for England and Wales. By long-standing convention, adhered to by successive administrations, the content and existence of Law Officers' advice is confidential and not disclosed outwith government. This is consistent with paragraphs 2 and 4 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
The Legal Secretariat also assists the Advocate General in relation to Parliamentary and Cabinet Committee business, correspondence, speeches and other general business. The Legal Secretariat takes part in Cabinet Office committee meetings at official level and other Whitehall co-ordinating meetings on European Law, Human Rights, Devolution and other subjects.
The Legal Secretary (John Ward) is the senior civil servant and lawyer in charge of the Secretariat and the Advocate General's Private Office, and reports directly to the Advocate General. The Legal Secretary is assisted by two lawyers.
For information on contacting the Legal Secretariat to the Advocate General, click Contacts . For information on serving documents on the Advocate General, click Service of Documents .