Attorney-General

Attorney General meaning

In addition to serving as the principal legal consultant for the Crown and supervising the departments of the Law Officers, the Attorney General is also responsible for a variety of independent public interest tasks. The Attorney General serves as effectively an in-house lawyer for the government that is in power and is responsible for a broad variety of legal tasks. Nevertheless, the most important duty of the AG is to advise the government in an objective and unbiased manner. On the other hand, the Solicitor General is responsible for providing assistance to the Attorney throughout all of her duties. This includes filling in for the Attorney General in his absence and being accountable for issues that are delegated to him by the Attorney General.

Job of the Attorney General

The Attorney General is the top legal advisor to the UK government and the head of the UK legal system. Their responsibilities include advising the government on legal issues, representing the government in court cases, and overseeing the Crown Prosecution Service. The Attorney General also plays an essential role in reviewing serious criminal cases and deciding whether to refer them to the Court of Appeal as an unduly lenient sentence, and they are responsible for initiating contempt of court proceedings in cases where there has been a breach of court orders. Overall, the Attorney General is a crucial figure in ensuring that the rule of law is upheld in the UK.

Trusts and the Attorney General

Trusts play a vital role in managing assets and property for the benefit of others. The Attorney General holds an important position in relation to trusts as they are the representative of the Crown in legal matters. As such, they have the power to intervene in legal cases involving trusts to ensure that the interests of the beneficiaries are protected. Additionally, the Attorney General has the power to bring legal action against trustees who are acting in breach of their duties, ensuring that trust funds are not misused or wasted. This oversight role of the Attorney General is crucial in maintaining the integrity of the trust system, helping to safeguard the rights of beneficiaries, and promoting transparency and accountability in the administration of trusts.

A trust which is created purely for purposes is not permissible. There are limited exceptions to this rule. The most common exception is charitable trusts, which have charitable purposes as their objects. As trusts with public benefit, they are a recognised exception to the beneficiary principle and are enforceable by the Attorney General. There is also a much narrower class of anomalous exceptions known as ‘non-charitable purpose trusts’ or ‘private purpose trusts’. These are recognised by the courts but are not enforceable, meaning they will only be effective if the trustee is willing to perform their obligations.

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