Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces In the United Kingdom , the Judge Advocate General and Judge Martial of all the Forces is a judge responsible for the court martial process within the Royal Navy , British Army and Royal Air Force . Qualifications . The post is regulated by the Courts - Martial ( Appeals ) Act 1951 . The appointment is made by the British Sovereign on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor . Formerly , the Judge Advocate General had to be a barrister , advocate , or solicitor with higher rights of audience , of 10 years ' standing . As of 21 July 2008 the experience needed to qualify was reduced in line with a general move to broaden diversity in the judiciary . An appointee who has practised in England and Wales now has to satisfy the judicial - appointment eligibility condition on a 7 - year basis , while a practitioner from Scotland or Northern Ireland will need 7 - years ' standing as barrister , advocate or solicitor . The post is always held by a civilian rather than a commissioned officer , however an appointee may have previously been a member of the armed forces . In practice the post is held by a Senior Circuit Judge . The Judge Advocate General can also be appointed from the Vice Judge Advocate General or Assistant Judge Advocates General . The office of Judge Advocate General was , in Victorian times , a political one , the holder resigning on a change of Government , and remains technically one of the Law Officers of the Crown . The Judge Advocate General was made subordinate to the Lord Chancellor , and since 1951 has been appointed by the Queen on his recommendation . Role . The Judge Advocate General was formerly the legal adviser of the Armed Forces , a role that ended in 2000 . In naval and military cases , by his or her authority all proceedings in the Court Martial are held . The Judge Advocate General ' s office holds cases deposited the originals of all Records of Proceedings , which are kept for at least six years . The former practice of reviewing the findings and sentences of all trials of the old courts - martial was abolished in October 2009 . Now the outcome of each trial in the Court Martial ( now a standing court ) is final , subject to appeal to the Court Martial Appeal Court . The Judge Advocate General also has power to refer a case to the Court Martial Appeal Court if it gives rise to an important point of law . The Judge Advocate General is assisted by a team of judges who comprise the permanent judiciary , plus a small staff of civil servants . There is a total of seven judges , comprising one Vice - Judge Advocate General , and six Assistant Judge Advocates General , all of whom must be barristers or advocate s of seven years standing . They preside over all proceedings in the Service courts , which comprise the Court Martial , the Summary Appeal Court , and the Service Civilian Court . The judges control the practice and procedure , give rulings on legal matters , and sum up the evidence for the jury ( known as a " Board " ) . Defendants are entitled to a defending counsel or solicitor , and their unit may provide an Accused ' s Assisting Officer if they so wish . The Royal Navy , the British Army and the Royal Air Force have similar arrangements and all three Services have operated under a single system of Service law since November 2009 . In the 1990s significant changes to the courts - martial system were instigated following European Court of Human Rights judgments . List of Judge Advocates General . Through 1847 , the dates are those of actual entrance upon office , not of the appointment , which is usually a few days earlier ; or of the patent , commonly some days later than those adopted in this list . After 1847 the dates are those of the " Gazette " notices of the appointment . Includes material from : Haydn ' s " Book of Dignities " , 12th ed . ( 1894 ; reprinted 1969 )