The Structure of ALS

Areas of Expertise

The ALS delivers military legal support to the British Army.

Legal Advisory

Legal Advisory Branch is based at Headquarters Land Forces in Upavon. They advise the chain of command on all aspects of military law; law relating to military assistance to civil authorities and domestic and international law regulating the conduct of operations. There are legal advisory officers in every major Army HQ in the UK and in British Army and NATO HQs around the world. Advisory officers assist with the drafting of new legislation and with its application to the Army; conduct training in military and operational law and prepare military law publications to support the chain of command.

Service Prosecutions Authority

The ALS provides Army prosecutors to the tri-service Prosecutions Authority. The Army elements of the SPA are based at Uxbridge and Bielefeld (Germany).

Operational Law

Operational Law Branch is based at the Land Warfare Centre, Warminster. When the British Army deploys on operations, it takes its legal advisors with it. ALS officers are deployed throughout all theatres of operation including Operation HERRICK in Afghanistan. When deployed, ALS officers are at the heart of the command and are often asked advice on the most sensitive issues as well as on international law and on the local law of the country concerned. Army commanders at every level have access to legal advice from ALS officers and this commitment is increasing both in terms of deployments and also in support of the Army's predeployment training. Operational Law Branch officers are also regularly attached to NATO and UN operations. 

Army Legal Assistance (ALA)

HQ Army Legal Assistance (HQ ALA) under the supervision of commander ALA provides legal advice to Servicemen and members of the service community stationed outside the UK.

ALA is based in Bielefeld, Germany and is staffed by 5 ALS Officers and 5 German Legal Assistants.

Advice and assistance is provided by ALA at its Bielefeld offices and at HQ British Forces Cyprus (Legal) in Episkopi. Legal Assistance Clinics take place at Hohne and Joint HQs in Germany and on alternate months on Operation HERRICK. Additional clinics at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, in Belgium and in Northern Ireland are arranged according to demand.

Advice is available at the discretion of Commander ALA on any area of law apart from conveyancing, landlord and tenant administration of estates and the running of a private business. Most of the work relates to personal injury, sale of goods and services, defence of criminal charges in foreign courts and dissolution of marriage and other family matters.

No financial assistance is available from Army Legal Assistance.