She takes the mantle in June for a five-year term
The federal government has recommended Dr Ruth Higgins SC, immediate past president of the NSW Bar Association, to the governor-general for appointment as Australia's next solicitor-general - the first woman to hold the post.
Higgins will be the country’s 12th solicitor-general, succeeding Dr Stephen Donaghue KC. Higgins steps into the role for a five-year term on 8 June.
“I congratulate Dr Higgins on her appointment as Australia’s 12th Solicitor-General - the first woman to be appointed to this vitally important position. The second law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia plays a significant role in promoting the integrity of the rule of law and trust in Government and public institutions. Dr Higgins’ experience, ability and acumen will see the Commonwealth well represented in significant legal matters, and I have every confidence in her ability to undertake this important work”, said attorney-general Michelle Rowland in a press release.
Higgins’ legal career spans more than three decades, with a focus on competition law, constitutional law, class actions, energy, media, corporate criminal law, and corporations law. The barrister spent nearly a decade a senior counsel, having been appointed in 2017.
In addition to leading the NSW Bar Association, she was a director of the Australian Bar Association and the Law Council of Australia. She sat part-time on the Takeovers Panel from 2023 to 2026.
Higgins was a law lecturer at Corpus Christi College, Oxford University. She was a visiting scholar at Columbia University and was named a visiting fellow at New College and Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford.
She obtained her PhD in law from Balliol College, University of Oxford, as well as a bachelor of laws (Hons I) and diploma of legal practice from the University of Glasgow. She was called to the NSW bar in 2006.
As solicitor-general of the Commonwealth of Australia, Higgins serves as the Commonwealth’s second law officer and the federal government's principal legal counsel. She will represent the Commonwealth on major matters in court and guide the government on questions of law, particularly those involving the Constitution and public law.
Australian Government Solicitor chief general counsel Andrew Buckland KC and Tim Begbie KC, chief counsel dispute resolution at the Australian Government Solicitor, acted in the role recently.
