| Royal Air Force Legal Branch | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1 October 1948 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Legal service |
| Headquarters | RAF High Wycombe |
| Commanders | |
| Current Director | Air Vice Marshal L J Irvine |
The Royal Air Force Legal Branch (RAFLB) or Directorate Legal Services (DLS) - as it is better known - is the uniformed legal service provider for the Royal Air Force. It consists of solicitors and barristers qualified in a Commonwealth jurisdiction. DLS is headquartered at Air Command RAF High Wycombe. The Directorate is currently staffed by a mixture of members of:
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The RAF Legal Branch was formed on 1 October 1948. Its predecessor was the Air Force Department of the Office of Judge Advocate General.[1]
It is open to men or women; those that have been recruited vary from NQ to 10 years PQE. DLS has around 50 legal officers. Around 30% of DLS officers are based in overseas billets. The type of work undertaken by legal officers depends on the billet they are working at. Around 50% of the billets are discipline / criminal law, 30% of the billets are operations law and 20 % of the billets are administrative law. The RAF also provides 4 Legal Officers to the Service Prosecuting Authority.
The current Director Legal Services is Air Vice Marshal L J Irvine and his deputy is Air Commodore W H Boothby.[2] Air Commodore Boothby, upon retirement, is to be replaced by Air Commodore S J Kell.[3]
| Start of appointment | Director | Deputy Director |
|---|---|---|
| Air Vice-Marshal Charles RAF | Air Commodore Irvine J Irvine MA(Oxon) MA(Lond) DipLaw RAF | |
| April 2009 | Air Vice Marshal Lindsay J Irvine MA(Oxon) MA(Lond) DipLaw RAF | Air Commodore William H Boothby BA PhD RAF |
| July 2011 | Air Vice Marshal Lindsay J Irvine MA(Oxon) MA(Lond) DipLaw RAF | Air Commodore S J Kell RAF |
The career structure of a legal officer within DLS is as follows. Commissioning on a short service commission as a Flight Lieutenant after a 3 month PQO course at RAF Cranwell. If the candidate is suitable then appointment to a permanent commission should follow and time served promotion should apply - i.e. Squadron Leader after four years and Wing Commander after a further six.
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