The Government Legal Department (GLD) serves as the principal legal adviser to the UK Government. The core purpose of the GLD is to help the government to govern well, within the rule of law. The GLD is a non-ministerial government department and executive agency.
The GLD has more than 3,000 employees, around 2,500 of whom are solicitors or barristers. Susanna McGibbon is the Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary of the Government Legal Department. The Treasury Solicitor is the government’s most senior legal official
Susanna took up the role of Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary of the Government Legal Department on Monday 8 March 2021.
Her previous roles include:
HM Procurator General, Treasury Solicitor and Head of the Government Legal Profession
- Director General, Directorate B, Government Legal Department, 2018 to 2021
- Director of Litigation, Government Legal Department, 2012 to 2018
- Legal Director, Department of Communities and Local Government, 2009 to 2012
- Legal Director, Department for Business Innovation and Skills, 2006 to 2009
- Role and Function: The GLD provides legal advice on the development, design, and implementation of government policies and decisions. It drafts secondary legislation and works with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on primary legislation. The department represents the government in court proceedings, offering litigation services for most government departments and agencies.
- Structure: The GLD is organised into various teams:
- Parliamentary and Advisory Teams: These provide legal advice across numerous policy areas, ensuring government actions are legally sound and compliant.
- Litigation Group: Handles legal disputes in various courts, covering public and private law, and supports public inquiries.
- Commercial Law Group: Focuses on commercial law issues, including procurement, contracts, intellectual property, and state aid to ensure value for money in public spending.
- Leadership: The GLD is headed by the Treasury Solicitor, who also holds the title of His Majesty’s Procurator General. This role involves managing the department and reporting to the Attorney General for England and Wales.
- Scope: Besides serving Whitehall departments, the GLD extends its services to other organizations like HM Revenue & Customs, MI5, MI6, and various other governmental bodies. It’s also involved in handling ownerless property (bona vacantia) in England, except in certain regions where it’s delegated.
- Significance: Its work is critical for ensuring that government operations, policy-making, and legal proceedings are conducted within the rule of law. This includes both advising on policy legality and defending or bringing legal actions on behalf of the government.
We are the government’s principal legal advisers. Our core purpose is to help the government to govern well, within the rule of law.
We do this by providing legal advice on the development, design and implementation of government policies and decisions, drafting secondary legislation and working with Parliamentary Counsel on primary legislation, and representing the government in court.
Government Legal Department
Government Legal Department
102 Petty France
Westminster
London
SW1H 9GL
United Kingdom
Email : thetreasurysolicitor@governmentlegal.gov.uk
The GLD’s work underscores its role in maintaining legal integrity and accountability in governmental functions, ensuring that the government operates legally and ethically.
Check out our articles on R v Sussex Justices, Rule of Law, Lady Chief Justice, Solicitor General, Attorney General, Policing by Consent and the highly questionable Sussex Family Justice Board.
The Ministry of Injustice is not the Ministry of Justice nor is it affiliated in any way with the justice system, legal profession or any law enforcement agencies.
Most Popular ↓
What is Policing by Consent ? What is Two Tier Policing ?
Latest Articles ↓
- Is the UK Criminal Justice System Broken ?
The UK’s criminal justice system is facing significant delays, with some trials being postponed until as late as 2028. A Sky News investigation at Leicester… Read more: Is the UK Criminal Justice System Broken ? - Solicitor General
The Solicitor General is the second law officer of the Crown in the United Kingdom, after the Attorney General. The role of the Solicitor General… Read more: Solicitor General - What is what is Sub Judice ?
Sub judice is a Latin term meaning “under judgment.” In legal contexts, it refers to a case or matter that is currently under judicial consideration… Read more: What is what is Sub Judice ? - What is a Non-Crime Hate Incident (NCHI) ?
A Non-Crime Hate Incident (NCHI) in the UK refers to any incident where an individual or group perceives that they have been subjected to hostility… Read more: What is a Non-Crime Hate Incident (NCHI) ?
All Articles can be found in the Legal Blog or Sitemap.
You should always seek formal legal advice from a qualified and reputable lawyer (solicitor or barrister).
‘Justice delayed is justice denied’
William Ewart Gladstone
There are a number of links to Free and Paid For Legal Resources and Legal Organisations on the Free Legal Advice , Legal Aid and Pro Bono pages.
Government Legal Department (GLD) was last updated on the 11th December 2024
