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{{short description|Legal arm of the British Army}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Army Legal Services Branch
| unit_name = Army Legal Services Branch
|image=Armylegal.gif
| image = Armylegal.png
|caption=Cap Badge of the former Army Legal Corps
| caption = Cap Badge of the former Army Legal Corps
|dates= 1978, 1992 within AGC
| dates = 1978, 1992 within AGC
|country=[[United Kingdom]]
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
|branch=[[British Army]]
| branch = [[British Army]]
|command_structure=[[Adjutant General's Corps]]
| command_structure = [[Adjutant General's Corps]]
| type =
|type=
| garrison = [[Marlborough Lines]], [[Andover, Hampshire|Andover]]
|role=
| role =
|size= Approx. 120 [[Officer (armed forces)|Commissioned Officers]]
| size = Approx. 120 [[Officer (armed forces)|Commissioned Officers]]
|current_commander= Alexander Taylor<ref name=lg62706/>
| current_commander = Richard Allen
|current_commander_label= Director General
| current_commander_label = Director
|ceremonial_chief=
| ceremonial_chief =
|ceremonial_chief_label=Colonel in Chief
| ceremonial_chief_label = Colonel in Chief
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
| colonel_of_the_regiment =
|colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
| colonel_of_the_regiment_label =
|nickname=
| nickname =
|motto=''Justitia in Armis''
| motto = ''Justitia in Armis''
|colors=
| colors =
|colors_label=
| colors_label =
|march=''Scales of Justice''
| march = ''Scales of Justice''
|mascot=
| mascot =
|battles=
| battles =
|notable_commanders=
| notable_commanders =
|identification_symbol=[[File:ALS TRF.svg|100px]]
| identification_symbol = [[File:ALS TRF.svg|100px]]
|identification_symbol_label=Tactical Recognition Flash
| identification_symbol_label = Tactical Recognition Flash
|anniversaries=
| anniversaries =
}}
}}
The '''Army Legal Services Branch''' ('''ALS''') is a branch of the [[Adjutant-General's Corps]] (AGC) in the [[British Army]]. Before 1992, the branch existed as the independent '''Army Legal Corps''' ('''ALC''').
The '''Army Legal Services Branch''' ('''ALS''') is a branch of the [[Adjutant-General's Corps]] (AGC) in the [[British Army]]. Before 1992, the branch existed as the independent '''Army Legal Corps''' ('''ALC''').


==History==
==History==
Many of the functions of the ALS were once carried out by the Judge Advocate General (JAG) whose own origins can be traced back to medieval times. Following [[World War I]], the growing demand for legal services within the army led in 1923 to the creation of the Military Department of the Office of the Judge Advocate General.<ref name=history>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/agc/31506.aspx|title=ALS history|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=9 May 2014}}</ref>
Many of the functions of the ALS were once carried out by the Judge Advocate General (JAG) whose own origins can be traced back to medieval times. Following [[World War I]], the growing demand for legal services within the army led in 1923 to the creation of the Military Department of the Office of the Judge Advocate General.<ref name=history>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/agc/31506.aspx|title=ALS history|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=9 May 2014}}</ref>


The Directorate of Army Legal Services was formed from the JAG's office on 1 October 1948 and would go on to receive full corps status as the Army Legal Corps on 1 November 1978. It was always the smallest corps in the Army. On 6 April 1992, the corps became the Army Legal Services Branch of the Adjutant General's Corps, but retains a separate identity and its own [[cap badge]].<ref name=history/>
The Directorate of Army Legal Services was formed from the JAG's office on 1 October 1948 and would go on to receive full corps status as the Army Legal Corps on 1 November 1978. It was always the smallest corps in the Army. On 6 April 1992, the corps became the Army Legal Services Branch of the Adjutant General's Corps, but retains a separate identity and its own [[cap badge]].<ref name=history/>


==Activities==
==Areas of expertise==
Army Legal Services Branch is structured as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/agc/31507.aspx|title=ALS role|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=9 May 2014}}</ref>
Army Legal Services Branch is a group of qualified solicitors, barristers and Scottish advocates providing legal support to the Army.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/adjutant-generals-corps/army-legal-services/|title=ALS role|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=13 March 2020}}</ref>


⚫
==List of directors general ==
===Service Prosecuting Authority===

The ALS posts a number of its Officers to the [[Service Prosecuting Authority]] (SPA). The most senior military officer in the organisation is a Brigadier of the ALS who is the Deputy Director Service Prosecutions. Officers of the SPA prosecute cases at Court Martial and where appropriate Service Civilian Court. They also act as respondent in the Summary Appeal Court and represent the Crown at the Court Martial Appeal Court.

The SPA has its HQ and UK Office at [[RAF Northolt]], in Northwest London. It also maintains an office in Bielefeld, Germany.

===Advisory Branch===

The Advisory Branch of ALS advises the [[command hierarchy|chain of command]] on a wide variety of [[administrative law|administrative]], [[Army Legal Services Branch#Operational Law|operational]] and [[criminal law]] issues. There are advisory Officers in every major Army HQ around the world. Typically they advise on matters including: whether [[Commanding Officers]] should initiate disciplinary procedures for soldiers, [[boards of inquiry]], whether administrative action should be taken against those suspected of breaching the Army's values and standards, how the Army should deal with [[grievance (labour)|grievances]] and other [[employment law]] related issues, delivering training on disciplinary/administrative processes and on emerging Army policies. Advisory branch officers often work directly with the Army's most senior commanders.

In addition within the Advisory branch there are ALS Officers specialising in particular areas such as specialist employment law, primary and subordinate legislation drafting and the drafting and editing of key documents such as the ''Manual of Military Law'' and the ''[[Queen's Regulations]]''.

===Operational Law===

When the British Army deploys on operations it takes legal advisors with it. When deployed on operations ALS Officers are often asked to advise on the most sensitive issues, as well as on international law and often on the local law of the country concerned. All army commanders at every level have access to legal advice from ALS Officers and this commitment is increasing all the time both in terms of deployments but also in terms of supporting the Army's pre-deployment training requirements. ALS Operational Law branch Officers are also often attached to the operations of [[NATO]] and the [[UN]].

Also, within the Operational Law is the specialist [[International Law]] branch of ALS which is located in MOD and is engaged in higher level issues including advising on the Army's interest in the drafting of certain [[treaties]] and negotiating and drafting Status of Forces Agreements with other states.

===Army Legal Assistance===

The headquarters of Army Legal Assistance (ALA) is located at Catterick Barracks, [[Bielefeld]] in Germany. This branch provides legal assistance and advice to entitled service personnel and their dependants worldwide. The majority of advice relates to family law, debt and German legal issues. ALA do not deal the Child Support Agency, wills and probate, property law or adoption and fostering.

The principle governing the services provided by ALA is that whilst serving overseas servicemen, their dependants and UKBC's are not able to obtain from civilian solicitors legal advice and assistance on their personal legal problems. ALA therefore exists to provide this service instead. ALA is a free service, but applicants must fund any court or other fixed costs (such as divorce fees) themselves. ALA officers conduct legal clinics in Germany and in operational theatres.

⚫
==List of Directors General ==
{{Expand list|date=February 2011}}
{{Expand list|date=February 2011}}
[[File:Maj Gen Alex Taylor ALS.jpg|thumb|right|Major General Alex Taylor, former Director Army Legal Services Branch]]


The head of the Army Legal Services Branch is its Director. The Director General holds the rank of major general.
The head of the Army Legal Services Branch is its Director. The Director General holds the rank of major general.
Line 70: Line 50:
|+ Directors General
|+ Directors General
|-
|-
! scope="col" | Date of Appointment !! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Date of appointment !! scope="col" | Name
|-
|-
! scope="row" |
! scope="row" |
Line 97: Line 77:
|-
|-
! scope="row" | 3 Dec 1986
! scope="row" | 3 Dec 1986
| Major-General T. Fugard<ref name=LG50740>{{London Gazette | issue = 50740 | date = 8 December 1986 |page=15868 |supp=y }}</ref>
| Major-General T. Fugard<ref name=LG50740>{{London Gazette | issue = 50740 | date = 8 December 1986 |page=15868 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" | 8 Jan 1990
! scope="row" | 8 Jan 1990
| Major-General D. H. D. Selwood<ref name=LG52023>{{London Gazette | issue = 52023 | date = 22 Jan 1990 |page=958 }}</ref>
| Major-General D. H. D. Selwood<ref name=LG52023>{{London Gazette | issue = 52023 | date = 22 January 1990 |page=958 }}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" | 4 May 1992
! scope="row" | 4 May 1992
Line 112: Line 92:
|-
|-
! scope="row" | 20 Jan 2003
! scope="row" | 20 Jan 2003
| Major-General [[David Howell (British Army officer)|David Howell]] <small>[[Order of the Bath|CB]], [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]]</small><ref name=LG56837>{{London Gazette | issue = 56837 | date = 3 Feb 2003 |page=1389 |supp=y }}</ref>
| Major-General [[David Howell (British Army officer)|David Howell]] <small>[[Order of the Bath|CB]], [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]]</small><ref name=LG56837>{{London Gazette | issue = 56837 | date = 3 February 2003 |page=1389 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" | 1 Oct 2010
! scope="row" | 1 Oct 2010
| Major-General [[Michael Conway (Major General)|Michael Conway]] <small>[[Order of the Bath|CB]]</small> <ref name=LG59565>{{London Gazette | issue = 59565 | date = 5 Oct 2010 |page=19215 |supp=y }}</ref>
| Major-General [[Michael Conway (British Army officer)|Michael Conway]] <small>[[Order of the Bath|CB]]</small><ref name=LG59565>{{London Gazette | issue = 59565 | date = 5 October 2010 |page=19215 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" | 30 Sept 2015
! scope="row" | 30 Sept 2015
Line 121: Line 101:
|-
|-
! scope="row" | 5 July 2019
! scope="row" | 5 July 2019
| Major-General Alexander Taylor<ref name=lg62706>{{London Gazette |issue=62706 |date=9 July 2019 |page=12170 |supp=y }}</ref>
| Major-General [[Alex Taylor (British Army officer)|Alexander Taylor]]<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=62706 |date=9 July 2019 |page=12170 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | 1 January 2024
| Major-General Richard A. Allen<ref>{{London Gazette |issue= 64289|date=16 January 2024|page= 770|supp= y}}</ref>
|}
|}


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==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
<references/>


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/adjutant-generals-corps/army-legal-services/ Army Legal Services]
*[https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/adjutant-generals-corps/army-legal-services/ Army Legal Services]


⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{The British Army}}
{{The British Army}}


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[[Category:Adjutant General's Corps]]
[[Category:Adjutant General's Corps]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1978]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1978]]
[[Category:Judge Advocate General's Corps|United Kingdom]]

Revision as of 17:20, 16 January 2024

Army Legal Services Branch
Cap Badge of the former Army Legal Corps
Active1978, 1992 within AGC
LandVereinigtes Königreich
BranchBritish Army
SizeApprox. 120 Commissioned Officers
Part ofAdjutant General's Corps
Garrison/HQMarlborough Lines, Andover
Motto(s)Justitia in Armis
MarchScales of Justice
Commanders
DirectorRichard Allen
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash

The Army Legal Services Branch (ALS) is a branch of the Adjutant-General's Corps (AGC) in the British Army. Before 1992, the branch existed as the independent Army Legal Corps (ALC).

History

Many of the functions of the ALS were once carried out by the Judge Advocate General (JAG) whose own origins can be traced back to medieval times. Following World War I, the growing demand for legal services within the army led in 1923 to the creation of the Military Department of the Office of the Judge Advocate General.[1]

The Directorate of Army Legal Services was formed from the JAG's office on 1 October 1948 and would go on to receive full corps status as the Army Legal Corps on 1 November 1978. It was always the smallest corps in the Army. On 6 April 1992, the corps became the Army Legal Services Branch of the Adjutant General's Corps, but retains a separate identity and its own cap badge.[1]

Activities

Army Legal Services Branch is a group of qualified solicitors, barristers and Scottish advocates providing legal support to the Army.[2]

List of directors general

Major General Alex Taylor, former Director Army Legal Services Branch

The head of the Army Legal Services Branch is its Director. The Director General holds the rank of major general.

Directors General
Date of appointment Name
Major-General G. A. Whiteley CBE
13 July 1969 Major-General H. Owen[3]
19 July 1971 Major-General R. S. Marshall TD[3]
30 July 1973 Major-General J. C. Robertson[4]
2 Jul 1976 Major-General D. S. Appleby[5]
6 Nov 1978 Major-General J. A. McIlvenna CB[6]
12 Nov 1980 Major-General Sir David Hughes-Morgan Bt. CB, CBE[7]
24 Feb 1984 Major-General J. F. Bowman[7]
3 Dec 1986 Major-General T. Fugard[8]
8 Jan 1990 Major-General D. H. D. Selwood[9]
4 May 1992 Major-General Mike H. F. Clarke[10]
20 Apr 1994 Major-General A. P. V. Rogers[11]
1 Apr 1997 Major-General Gordon Risius CB [12]
20 Jan 2003 Major-General David Howell CB, OBE[13]
1 Oct 2010 Major-General Michael Conway CB[14]
30 Sept 2015 Major-General Susan Ridge[15]
5 July 2019 Major-General Alexander Taylor[16]
1 January 2024 Major-General Richard A. Allen[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "ALS history". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  2. ^ "ALS role". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b "No. 45427". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 July 1971. p. 7764.
  4. ^ "No. 46051". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 August 1973. p. 9717.
  5. ^ "No. 46953". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 July 1976. p. 9289.
  6. ^ "No. 47681". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 November 1978. p. 13294.
  7. ^ a b "No. 49658". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 February 1984. p. 2875.
  8. ^ "No. 50740". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 December 1986. p. 15868.
  9. ^ "No. 52023". The London Gazette. 22 January 1990. p. 958.
  10. ^ "No. 52917". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 May 1992. p. 8159.
  11. ^ "No. 53652". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 April 1994. p. 6161.
  12. ^ "No. 54745". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 April 1997. p. 4766.
  13. ^ "No. 56837". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 February 2003. p. 1389.
  14. ^ "No. 59565". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 October 2010. p. 19215.
  15. ^ "No. 61372". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 October 2015. p. 18566.
  16. ^ "No. 62706". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 July 2019. p. 12170.
  17. ^ "No. 64289". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 January 2024. p. 770.
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