Richard Hermer, Baron Hermer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Hermer
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Official portrait, 2024
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| Attorney General for England and Wales Advocate General for Northern Ireland |
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| Assumed office 5 July 2024 |
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| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Victoria Prentis |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| Assumed office 18 July 2024 Life peerage |
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| Personal details | |
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Richard Simon Hermer
1968 (age 56–57) South Glamorgan, Wales |
| Political party | Labour |
| Education | Cardiff High School University of Manchester (BA) |
Richard Simon Hermer, Baron Hermer, born in 1968, is a British lawyer. He has been the Attorney General for England and Wales and the Advocate General for Northern Ireland since July 2024. These are important legal roles in the UK government.
He grew up in Wales and studied at the University of Manchester. After university, he became a lawyer. He worked on many important cases, including some heard in the UK's highest court, the Supreme Court. He also worked on cases about human rights and the environment.
Richard Hermer is a friend of Keir Starmer, who is now the Prime Minister. After Starmer's party won the election in 2024, he chose Hermer for these top legal jobs.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Richard Simon Hermer was born in South Glamorgan, Wales, in 1968. His family had a Jewish background. His father was a local politician. Even though they had different political views, they always got along well.
Hermer went to Cardiff High School in Wales. Later, he studied politics and modern history at the University of Manchester. When he was younger, he volunteered for a magazine called Searchlight. This magazine focused on fighting against unfairness and prejudice.
Becoming a Lawyer
Richard Hermer became a lawyer in October 1993. This means he was officially allowed to practice law. He joined a law firm called Doughty Street Chambers that same year. There, he met Keir Starmer, who was also a lawyer at the firm.
Hermer often worked with Starmer on legal cases. In 2009, Hermer became a King's Counsel (KC), which is a special title for experienced lawyers. He later moved to another law firm, Matrix Chambers, in 2012. He became a leader at Matrix Chambers.
His main areas of law were human rights law, public law, and environmental law. He became known as an expert in international law. In 2019, he was also appointed as a deputy High Court judge. This meant he could sometimes act as a judge in important court cases.
Attorney General Role
How He Was Appointed
On July 5, 2024, Keir Starmer became Prime Minister. He then chose Richard Hermer to be the Attorney General for England and Wales and the Advocate General for Northern Ireland. These roles are very important for the government's legal advice.
Many people were surprised by this choice. Hermer had not been a Member of Parliament before. He is the first Attorney General in over 100 years to be appointed without first serving in Parliament.
On July 15, Hermer officially took his oath as Attorney General. He did this at the Royal Courts of Justice. He said that the legal advice given by his office would always be based on the law, not on politics. He also said it was their job to "speak truth to power."
A few days later, on July 18, he was given a special title: Baron Hermer. This made him a life peer, which means he can sit in the House of Lords. He was introduced to the House of Lords on July 22.
Government's Legal Work
In October 2024, Hermer talked about the government's plans for the rule of law. He said they want to make the UK a leader in international law again. They also want to make sure Parliament's role in upholding the law is strong.
He confirmed that the government will continue to support the European Convention on Human Rights. This is an important agreement about basic rights. He also said the government is committed to fighting climate change.
Hermer believes the UN Security Council should be updated. He thinks more countries, like those in Africa, Brazil, India, Japan, and Germany, should have a permanent say. He attended a UN meeting to discuss working together for peace and equality.
Personal Life
Richard Hermer is Jewish. He is a member of a Reform synagogue in London. He is also a father. He enjoys watching Welsh rugby teams play.
He is a close friend of Keir Starmer. He is also friends with David Wolfson, Baron Wolfson of Tredegar, who is another important legal figure.
Awards and Recognition
- In 2009, he became a King's Counsel (KC).
- The Times newspaper named him "lawyer of the week" in August 2011.
- In July 2024, he was nominated for a top award for lawyers in group legal cases.
- He became a member of the Privy Council on July 10, 2024. This allows him to use the title "The Right Honourable".
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2024
