Legal Service

The Legal Service Directorate provides the following service:

• Advice on Bills and Legislative Consent Motions;
• Advice on the scope of the Assembly's powers;
• Scrutiny of Subordinate Legislation;
• General advice on legal matters; and
• Corporate Advice.

Advice on Bills and Legislative Consent Motions

The team is responsible for advising the National Assembly for Wales, its Committees and the Presiding Officer on the scope and content of Bills before the Assembly as well as on proposals for the Assembly to consent, by Legislative Consent Motion, to proposals for Westminister legislation on devolved matters.

Advice on Assembly powers

The team interprets the Government of Wales Act 2006 and ensures that all activities undertaken are within its powers. This includes providing advice to the Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officer in plenary sessions of the Assembly, and in decisions about the admissibility of motions and questions from Assembly Members.

Scrutiny of Subordinate Legislation

The team provides legal advice to the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee on the Scrutiny of Subordinate Legislation.

General advice on legal matters

The team provides miscellaneous legal advice on all aspects of the work of the Assembly, often in conjunction with the work of the Research Service.

Corporate Advice

The team provides legal advice to the Assembly Commission, the Chief Executive and Clerk, and Commission staff generally on a range of issues that arise from the Assembly Commission’s responsibilities over property, staff and services. The team also provides legal advice to the National Assembly for Wales Remuneration Board in relation to its functions