Editing Attorney general (section)

===United Kingdom===

{{Main|Law Officers of the Crown}}

====England and Wales====
{{Main|Law Officers of the Crown#England and Wales|l1=Law Officers of the Crown in England and Wales}}
The [[Attorney General for England and Wales|attorney general for England and Wales]] is similarly the chief law officer of the Crown in England and Wales, and advises and represents the Crown and government departments in court. In practice, the [[Treasury Solicitor]] (who also has the title of Procurator General) normally provides the lawyers or briefs Treasury Counsel to appear in court, although the attorney general may appear in person. The person appointed to this role provides legal advice to the Government, acts as the representative of the public interest and resolves issues between government departments.

The attorney general has supervisory powers over the prosecution of criminal offences, but is not personally involved with prosecutions; however, some prosecutions (e.g. [[riot]]) cannot be commenced without their consent, and they have the power to halt prosecutions generally. Criminal prosecutions are the responsibility of the [[Crown Prosecution Service]], headed by the [[Director of Public Prosecutions]]. The Attorney General may appeal cases to the higher courts where, although the particular case is settled, there may be a point of law of public importance at issue.

The Attorney General's deputy is the [[Solicitor General for England and Wales]].

Under the [[Government of Wales Act 2006]], the [[Counsel General for Wales|Counsel General]] is the chief legal adviser to the [[Welsh Government]].

====Northern Ireland====
{{Main|Law Officers of the Crown#Northern Ireland|l1=Law Officers of the Crown in Northern Ireland}}
Since the prorogation of the [[Parliament of Northern Ireland]] in 1972, the [[Attorney General for England and Wales]] was also Attorney General for Northern Ireland. The separate office of [[Attorney General for Northern Ireland]] was re-created alongside the new office of [[Advocate General for Northern Ireland]] upon the devolution of policing and justice powers to the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] in 2010.

====Scotland====
{{Main|Law Officers of the Crown#Scotland|l1=Law Officers of the Crown in Scotland}}
Historically, the [[Lord Advocate]] was the equivalent for Scotland of the attorney general for England and Wales, being a legal advisor to the King of Scotland. After the [[Acts of Union 1707]], the Lord Advocate became the chief legal advisor to the British government in respect of Scotland.

Under constitutional reforms enacted in 1999, the Lord Advocate has become an officer of the [[Scottish Government]], while the [[United Kingdom]] Government is advised on [[Scots law]] by the [[Advocate General for Scotland]], a position created in 1999.

The Lord Advocate is assisted by the [[Solicitor General for Scotland]]. The Advocate General is assisted by the Solicitor to the Advocate General for Scotland, based in Edinburgh.

==== Other attorneys-general in the UK ====
{{Main|Law Officers of the Crown#Other persons|l1=Law Officers of the Crown (Other persons)}}

The Attorney General of the [[Duchy of Cornwall]] is the chief legal adviser to the [[Prince of Wales]], and there is a separate Attorney General for the [[Duchy of Lancaster]], an appointment that is held by the Crown.