ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the issues of appointment and support. Special advocate appointments are made by the relevant Law Officer, who is the Attorney General in proceedings before the courts in England and Wales, the Advocate General for Northern Ireland in respect of proceedings in Northern Ireland, and the Lord Advocate for Scotland in respect of Scottish proceedings. A special advocate is typically appointed for an initial 10 year period, with the possibility of renewal, upon application to the Attorney General. In their survey in August 2007, Forcese and Waldman reported that the panel was drawn from three main areas of legal expertise: immigration, criminal law and human rights law. Special advocates emphasised the importance of continuous training as they eased themselves into the job, even for experienced special advocates. Special advocates spoke of the camaraderie between them and how the more experienced assist those who are coming up through the ranks.
