Ruth Charteris
Ruth Barbara Charteris KC is a Scottish advocate who has served as Solicitor General for Scotland since 2021. In addition to being the Solicitor General for Scotland, she has been a legally qualified chair of the Scottish Social Services Council since 2017, and has served as Chair of the Fitness to Practice Panel of the SSSC since 2017.
Early life and education
Born in 1973 in Glasgow, Charteris studied at the University of Glasgow School of Law, where she gained an LL.B and a diploma in legal practice.Career
Early legal career
Charteris was admitted as an advocate in 2000 and came to the Bar on completion of her post as Legal Assistant to the Lord President of the Court of Session. Charteris served as an ad hoc Advocate Depute from 2010 to 2016. She served as a Standing Junior to the Scottish Government from 2012 and Second Standing Junior to the Scottish Government from 2016 to 2020. After her appointment as Queen's Counsel, she served as a full-time Advocate Depute from 2020 until her appointment as Solicitor General.Scottish Social Services Council
Charteris has been a legally qualified chair of the Scottish Social Services Council since 2017. She has been Chair of the Fitness to Practice Panel of the SSSC since 2017.Solicitor General, 2021–present
Appointment
On 16 June 2021 the Scottish Government announced that Nicola Sturgeon had recommended Charteris to the Scottish Parliament for appointment as Solicitor General for Scotland by The Queen. Her nomination as Solicitor General for Scotland was approved by the Scottish Parliament on 17 June 2021.The appointment of Charteris to the post of Solicitor General for Scotland, and Dorothy Bain KC to the position of Lord Advocate marks the first time that Scotland's top law officers were both women.