Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
The United Kingdom has formally sworn in Ellie Reeves KC MP as Attorney General and Andy Slaughter MP as Solicitor General, placing both senior Law Officers in their official roles following their appointments in July 2026.
The swearing-in ceremony took place on Thursday, October 1, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, alongside the formal swearing-in of Alex Norris MP as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.
The UK Attorney General’s Office confirmed the appointments in a statement published on October 1. The ceremony was conducted in the presence of the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill.
Reeves Takes Office as Attorney General
Reeves was appointed Attorney General on July 20, 2026, after previously serving as Solicitor General. She is also the Advocate General for Northern Ireland in her capacity as Attorney General.
Speaking after taking the oath, Reeves said she regarded the appointment as an honour and highlighted the importance of maintaining an open legal profession.
She also identified tackling violence against women and girls as her top priority, referring to work she had previously undertaken as Solicitor General.
Reeves said she would work with Slaughter to uphold the rule of law and strengthen confidence in the criminal justice system.
The Attorney General is the UK Government’s chief legal adviser and attends Cabinet. The office also carries a number of independent public-interest functions and oversees the work of several Law Officers’ departments.
Andy Slaughter Sworn In as Solicitor General
Slaughter was appointed Solicitor General on July 21, 2026, succeeding Reeves in the role she previously held. He represents Hammersmith and Chiswick in Parliament and has been an MP continuously since 2005.
Following his swearing-in, Slaughter described the Solicitor General position as an important constitutional role linking law and government.
He said his previous experience as Chair of the Justice Select Committee had given him first-hand knowledge of pressures affecting the justice system.
Slaughter said he intended to work with Reeves to address those challenges and strengthen public confidence in the justice system.
The Solicitor General supports the Attorney General across a range of responsibilities, including the supervision of work involving the Government Legal Department, Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Fraud Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.
Alex Norris Also Sworn In as Lord Chancellor
The ceremony also formally installed Alex Norris as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.
According to the judiciary, Norris was sworn in on the first day of the new legal year. Baroness Carr conducted the ceremony and highlighted the constitutional relationship between the Lord Chancellor and the judiciary, including the statutory responsibility to defend judicial independence.
Norris had been appointed to the position in July 2026, succeeding David Lammy. The appointment formed part of a wider set of ministerial changes announced by the UK Government that month.
What the UK Law Officers Do
The Attorney General and Solicitor General are the Government’s Law Officers and have responsibilities extending beyond providing legal advice to ministers.
The Attorney General has overall responsibility for the Attorney General’s Office and superintends several departments and agencies, including the Government Legal Department, Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Fraud Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.
The Attorney General also has a statutory duty relating to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of the Serious Fraud Office.
Other responsibilities include providing legal advice to government on areas such as public law, international law, human rights and devolution, as well as overseeing major domestic and international litigation involving the Government.
The Law Officers also have public-interest functions. These include referring potentially unduly lenient sentences to the Court of Appeal, bringing proceedings for contempt of court and providing consent to prosecute certain offences.
Reeves and Slaughter Begin Their Tenures
The formal swearing-in marks the beginning of Reeves and Slaughter’s tenure as the UK’s current Law Officers.
For Reeves, the move represents a progression from Solicitor General to Attorney General, while Slaughter takes over the Solicitor General position after his work in Parliament, including his time chairing the Justice Select Committee.
Their roles will place them at the centre of the UK Government’s legal responsibilities, including advising government, overseeing prosecutorial departments and carrying out independent public-interest functions.
Their immediate priorities will develop through the work of their respective offices and the Government’s wider justice agenda.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- UK Government, Attorney General’s Office — Attorney General and Solicitor General sworn in to their roles as Law Officers today.
- GOV.UK — The Rt Hon Ellie Reeves KC MP.
- GOV.UK — Attorney General: responsibilities and current role holder.
- GOV.UK — Solicitor General: responsibilities and current role holder.
- UK Judiciary — Rt Hon. Alex Norris sworn in as the new Lord Chancellor.
