Ms Smith, an advocate with Compass Chambers, was made a life peer today in order to allow her to join the government.

A graduate of the University of Glasgow, she called to the Scottish bar in 2007 and took silk in 2021. Her principal areas of work over the course of her legal career have been in reparation and public law, specialising in personal injury, clinical negligence and judicial review cases.

She is the youngest daughter of former Labour leader John Smith and is a board member for the John Smith Trust and co-founder and chair of the John Smith Centre.

Earlier this year, she paid tribute to her late father ahead of a Faculty of Advocates event marking 30 years since his passing.

In a statement, Ms Smith said: “It is a great honour to be appointed the Advocate General for Scotland and join the team of UK government law officers.

“I look forward to playing my part in protecting and promoting the rule of law and contributing to this government’s commitment to public service.”