RAF Legal Services


The Royal Air Force Legal Services, also known as the Directorate of Legal Services , is the uniformed legal service provider for the Royal Air Force. It consists of solicitors and barristers qualified in either England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. The RAFLS is headquartered at Air Command RAF High Wycombe.

History

The original RAF Legal Branch was established on 28 June 1923, and was attached to the department of the Judge Advocate General. It wasn't until 1 October 1948 that the Directorate of Legal Services was formed, independent of the Judge Advocate General’s Office. In 2022, as part of the RAF's reorganisation, the RAF Legal Branch became the RAF Legal Services.
The first RAF legal officer to deploy on operations did not occur until October 1990 during Operation Granby, when then Wing Commander Richard Anthony Charles was sent to HQ British Forces Middle East in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The deployment of Charles meant that for the first time a sitting legal officer was advising senior commanders on the Rules of Engagement, Targeting, Prisoner of War Handling and other issues during live operations.
Since Charles' initial deployment, RAF legal officers have continued to provide legal advice to operational commanders on a range of legal issues associated with combat and non-combat operations.
While it is not a prerequisite for RAFLS legal officers to have any flying experience, a number of its members in its early years transferred to the branch following initial roles as pilots. Of particular note is Air Vice-Marshal Peter Furniss, who flew both Hurricanes and Spitfires during World War II, actions for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross before later serving as the RAF's Director of Legal Services.

Role

The RAFLS' mission is to deliver "high quality, effective and operationally focussed legal services to the Royal Air Force and Defence." It has around 45 legal officers; approximately one third are based overseas. The type of work undertaken by legal officers depends on the tour to which they are posted. Responsibilities include advising on domestic and international humanitarian law, aviation and space law, service discipline, criminal law, employment law, health and safety and environmental law, and administrative law and policy. Legal officers also deliver legal training across the full breadth of ranks and specialisations within the RAF. The RAFLS, alongside the Army Legal Services and Navy Legal Services, also provides a number of legal officers to the Service Prosecuting Authority, where they serve as prosecutors for the military when conducting courts-martial.

Eligibility

The RAFLS only recruits qualified solicitors and barristers; it does not accept applicants from legal executives.

Director Legal Services (RAF)

The head of the RAF Legal Services is the Director of Legal Services. They are the principal legal adviser to the Chief of the Air Staff and Air Force Board and are invited to attend the Air Force Board Standing Committee to provide a legal perspective. The current holder is Air Vice-Marshal Mark Phelps.

Directors Legal Services (RAF)

  • Air Commodore John Bankes Walmsley
  • Air Commodore Marshall William Palmer
  • Air Vice-Marshal John Ernest Allen-Jones
  • Air Vice-Marshal Aubrey Sidney-Wilmot
  • Air Vice-Marshal Peter Furniss
  • Air Vice-Marshal Graham Neil Forman
  • Air Vice-Marshal Reginald Thomas Dawson
  • Air Vice-Marshal Geoffrey W Carleton
  • Air Vice-Marshal John Weeden
  • Air Vice-Marshal Richard Anthony Charles
  • Air Vice-Marshal Lindsay Irvine
  • Air Vice-Marshal Alison Mardell
  • Air Vice-Marshal Tamara Jennings
  • Air Vice-Marshal Mark Phelps

    Deputy Directors Legal Services (RAF)

  • Air Commodore Lindsay Irvine
  • Air Commodore William Boothby
  • Air Commodore Stephen Kell
  • Air Commodore Alison Mardell
  • Air Commodore Tamara Jennings
  • Air Commodore Kevin Sanders
  • Air Commodore Mark Phelps
  • Air Commodore Kevin Sanders