Mick Antoniw MS Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution

Mick Antoniw attended the Cardiff School of Law and Politics. He was a practicing solicitor before being elected to the Senedd in 2011.

Between June 2016 and November 2017 Mick served as Counsel General. On 13 May 2021 Mick was appointed Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution.

• Provision of legal advice to the Government
• Oversight of the work of the Legal Services Department and Office of the Legislative Counsel
• Oversight of prosecutions on behalf of the Welsh Government
• Oversight of representation of the Welsh Government in the courts
• Consideration of whether Bills passed by the Senedd need to be referred to the Supreme Court for determination as to whether they are within the Senedd’s competence (exercised independently of Government)
• Performance of other functions in the public interest including, where the Counsel General considers is appropriate, institute, defend or appear in any legal proceedings relating to functions of the Welsh Government (exercised independently of government)
• Liaison with the Legal Sector
• Chair of the Standing Committee for Cabinet on the Legislative Programme
• Accessibility of Welsh law
• Constitutional Convention and Constitutional Affairs
• Elections policy
• Justice policy and the response to the report of the Justice Commission
• Co-ordination of work on the Common Frameworks
• The UK Internal Market Act
• Tribunals policy

NB. As the Counsel General is not a Welsh Minister appointed under s48 GOWA the Counsel General cannot exercise powers conferred on the Welsh Ministers. Any matter requiring a formal decision of the Welsh Ministers under a statutory power will be exercised by the First Minister or a nominated portfolio minister.