The position first took on a political role in 1461 when the holder of the office was summoned to the House of Lords to advise the Government there on legal matters.

[8] During the early days of the office the holder was largely concerned with representing the Crown in litigation, and held no political role or duties.

[9] The office first took on a political element in 1461, when the holder was summoned by writ to the House of Lords to advise the government on legal matters.

[11] During the constitutional struggle centred on the Royal Declaration of Indulgence in 1672 and 1673 the attorney general officially became the Crown's representative in legal matters.

In 1890, the ability of an attorney general to continue practising privately was formally taken away, turning the office-holder into a dedicated representative of the government.

[14] However, in recent times the attorney general has exceptionally conducted litigation in person before the courts, for instance before the House of Lords in A and Others v Secretary of State for the Home Department,[15] where the legality of the government's detention of terrorist suspects at Belmarsh was at issue.

[4] Despite this it is considered preferable to exclude attorneys general from cabinet meetings so as to draw a distinct line between them and the political decisions on which they are giving legal advice.

[19][22] The attorney general also has powers to bring "unduly lenient" sentences and points of law to the Court of Appeal, issue writs of nolle prosequi to cancel criminal prosecutions, supervise other prosecuting bodies (such as DEFRA) and advise individual ministers facing legal action as a result of their official actions.

[23] The attorney general's duties have long been considered strenuous, with Sir Patrick Hastings saying that "to be a law officer is to be in hell".