Lord Irvine keeps his job

Reshuffle: most senior solicitor in the previous government is dropped but Harman returns

The Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg QC, has gained new responsibilities as well as three new ministers - including two non-lawyers - after retaining his job in Tony Blair's post-election shake-up.However, the most senior solicitor in government before the election - Home Office minister Mike O'Brien - has lost his job.Despite considerable speculation that he might be a casualty in the reshuffle, Lord Irvine hung on to his role, with the man regularly named as his possible successor - the former Attorney-General Lord Williams of Mostyn QC - promoted instead to leader of the House of Lords.The Lord Chancellor's Department (LCD) has benefited from the prime minister's decision to streamline the Home Office so that it can focus on tackling crime, and reforming the criminal justice system and asylum.

The LCD is taking on the Home Office's wider constitutional responsibilities, including freedom of information, data protection and human rights.Changes in the junior LCD ranks were inevitable after David Lock, lost his seat (see right).

In addition, the other two parliamentary secretaries have been moved: Jane Kennedy, a non-lawyer, has been promoted to minister of state at the Northern Ireland office, while barrister Lord Bach has gone sideways to the Ministry of Defence.The new parliamentary secretaries are Michael Wills, a former television producer who was at the Department for Education and Employment; John Prescott's former special adviser Rosie Winterton; and Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC, who moves from the Foreign Office.Former cabinet minister Harriet Harman is one solicitor gaining from the reshuffle; she rejoins the government as Solicitor-General, replacing Ross Cranston QC.Solicitor Maria Eagle has retained her role as a parliamentary secretary at the new Department for Work and Pensions.

Solicitor Hazel Blears enters government as parliamentary secretary at the Department of HealthNeil Rose