Amid consultation on the future of the Attorney-General's role, what chance, Obiter asks, of modernising the job titles themselves? Dating back at least 500 years, isn't Solicitor-General perhaps the most misleading of the two, not least because the current post-holder is a barrister?


Vera Baird agrees the title is confusing and reveals she has been quizzed many a time by constituents eager to know why she has become a solicitor after years as a barrister. 'The Attorney-General is an individual concept but solicitor makes it sound as if I will do your conveyancing. To all intents and purposes, it is deputy Attorney-General... but it might be something we think about,' she says.



Baroness Scotland, the Attorney-General, is keen to ensure that as many people as possible understand what the Attorney-General's Office actually does, but cautions that name changes, particularly of those as old as their titles, 'generate quite a lot of heat'. Not least, reflects Ms Baird, because people often assume there is a political motive.



Both add they probably have quite enough on their plates anyway, what with prospective constitutional changes afoot and all. Quite so, but Obiter, ever keen to help out, wants readers to email their preferred job titles for our chief law officers. Do the titles need an update along with the job descriptions? What should they be called? Send your nominations to gazette-editorial@lawsociety.org.uk.