The Judge Advocate of the Fleet is a civilian, assisted by legally trained naval officers of the Supply Branch, under the Chief Naval Judge Advocate, a Captain, Royal Navy. These officers are only appointed officiating deputy judge advocates as required for Courts-Martial.

The Chief Naval Judge Advocate, a captain, advises the Royal Navy on all legal matters. His staff are officers of the Supply Branch who have undergone training in the Inns of Court and been admitted as barristers. They numbered 27 in 1996, including 2 lieutenants (in 2003 there were 31, including 1 commodore, 5 captains, 10 commanders, 13 lieutenant-commanders, 2 lieutenant)s. They may be appointed officiating deputy judge advocates as required for Courts-Martial, but do not spend their careers in legal positions, as their British Army and RAF equivalents. There are no legally-qualified officers in the Royal Naval Reserve.

The naval justice system is to be integrated into a tri-service system.

Judge Advocate of the Fleet

• JL Sessions 1995-
• Commander Felix Waley, VRD MA Oxford QC 1986-1995
• William Howard, QC 1973-1986
• Captain Hon Ewen Montagu, CBE MA LLB Cambridge DL KC 1945-1973
• Captain J Lhind Pratt 1943-1945
• JG Trapnell, KC 1933-1943

Military of the United Kingdom | Military law | United Kingdom law