APPOINTMENT OF JUNIOR COUNSEL TO THE ADVOCATE GENERAL FOR SCOTLAND

The Advocate General for Scotland invites expressions of interest from junior Counsel and suitably qualified solicitor advocates wishing to represent the Secretary of State for the Home Department at Immigration and Asylum First Tier Tribunal hearings in the place of Home Office Presenting Officers. Those appointed are likely to receive ad hoc instructions over a period of three to six months. It is intended that the scheme will operate along the same lines as the “Junior Junior” (formerly known as the “Baby Barrister” scheme) operated by the Government Legal Department in London.

Applications are invited from any member of the junior Scottish Bar and/or suitably qualified solicitor advocates, unless currently appointed as an Advocate Depute or Scottish Government Standing Junior. The applications will be assessed by a panel comprising of OAG solicitors and at least one Home Office official. The number of appointments is not fixed. As presently advised, these will only relate to the Home Office and will be for a three to six month period. Counsel joining the scheme will be required to read, and confirm that they have read, guidance on handling government information before they are added to the scheme. Those who currently hold an appointment as a “Junior Junior” are invited to reapply if they wish to continue as part of the new group of “Junior Juniors.”

In line with the parallel scheme operated in England, fees are £45 per hour for preparation of appeals (to a maximum of 5 hours per case) and £45 per hour for appearing before the Tribunal.

Applications should be made by letter and should be accompanied by a current CV. Applications should provide the applicant’s current contact details, together with details of his or her main specialisms/areas of work and professional qualifications. Applicants should also mention any other qualifications and/or experience which they would like to be considered as part of their application. Junior Counsel should give their year of call and solicitor advocates their year of admittance as a solicitor advocate.

E-mailed applications are acceptable and should be e-mailed to Fiona Robertson, Head of Litigation in the Office of the Advocate General at Fiona.Robertson@advocategeneral.gsi.gov.uk by the closing date and time of Friday 19 July 2019.