The Government Legal Department has opened a competition to expand the Advocate General’s Panel of Northern Ireland Special Advocates. Applications are invited from junior barristers and solicitor advocates called to the Bar or on the Roll in Northern Ireland, with a minimum of five years’ advocacy experience and demonstrable judicial review work. King’s Counsel are not eligible. An online information session with the Advocate General, SASO and a current panel member will be held on Tuesday 14 April 2026 at 5.30pm. Candidates must request the application pack and FAQs by emailing SpecialAdvocatesRecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk. (gov.uk)
Special Advocates represent the interests of an excluded party during Closed Material Proceedings by testing sensitive evidence that cannot be shared openly for national security reasons. In UK civil litigation, CMP enables a court to consider such material in closed before giving judgment-most commonly where claims are brought against government or public bodies. (gov.uk)
The legal framework for CMP derives from the Justice and Security Act 2013 and is implemented in the Civil Procedure Rules (Part 82). The rules set out how declarations are made, how closed material is handled, and the safeguards that apply when a party and their legal team are excluded from parts of a hearing. (justice.gov.uk)
According to the government notice, Northern Ireland panel members may appear across courts and tribunals on legacy litigation, Security Vetting Appeals Panel cases and, on occasion, criminal and family matters. Day‑to‑day work involves scrutinising closed material and providing independent assurance to the court that secrecy claims have been properly tested. (gov.uk)
Eligibility thresholds are narrow: applicants need substantial advocacy experience in Northern Ireland and experience acting for either plaintiffs or defendants in judicial review. Developed Vetting (DV) is mandatory given the level of access to sensitive information. DV is the highest routine national security clearance; official guidance explains what the process involves for applicants. (gov.uk)
The competition materials emphasise that panel members will work closely with the Special Advocates’ Support Office (SASO). SASO provides specialist legal support to Special Advocates and coordinates casework; recent recruitment notices for the England and Wales panel explain this operating model. (gov.uk)
Closed material work sits within a defined oversight regime. The Ministry of Justice publishes annual statistics on the use of CMP under section 6 of the Justice and Security Act, and the government has responded to the most recent independent review of the procedure. These publications are the reference points for practitioners assessing volume and practice changes. (gov.uk)
Security vetting appeals are a specific stream of work highlighted for the Northern Ireland panel. The Security Vetting Appeals Panel (SVAP), an independent advisory body supported by the Cabinet Office, reviews disputes over security clearance decisions and issues recommendations at the end of an appeal. (gov.uk)
For prospective applicants, the immediate actions are clear: request the application pack from the Government Legal Department, review the person specification and FAQs, and register to attend the 14 April briefing to clarify case mix, conflicts protocols and expected workload. The government notice indicates the campaign’s focus on broadening the pool of cleared counsel available in Northern Ireland. (gov.uk)