Australia welcomes its first female Solicitor-General

“Dr Higgins’ experience, ability and acumen will see the Commonwealth well represented in significant legal matters, and I have every confidence in her ability to undertake this important work,” the Attorney-General said at the Monday press conference.

As Solicitor-General, Higgins becomes the second law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia (second to the Attorney-General) and the principal legal counsel to the federal government. In this position, Higgins will represent the Commonwealth in significant court matters and provide the federal government advice on questions of law as they arise, particularly on constitutional and public law-related matters.

Higgins has a national practice in competition law, constitutional law, class actions, energy, media, corporate criminal law, and corporations law. She has appeared as counsel in NZYQ v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (2023) 97 ALJR 1005, acted for ASIC against the Star, acted for Commonwealth Bank in the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, and was senior counsel for Woolworths Group in the ACCC retail inquiry.

She will commence her five-year appointment on 8 June 2026, taking the reins from incumbent Solicitor-General Dr Stephen Donaghue KC.

Higgins immigrated to Australia 25 years ago and holds a doctor of philosophy in law from Balliol College, University of Oxford, a bachelor of laws (Hons I), and a diploma of legal practice, both from the University of Glasgow.

Further, she has lectured in law at Corpus Christi College at Oxford University, was a visiting scholar at Columbia University, and was elected a Visiting Fellow at New College and Harris Manchester College at the University of Oxford.

VIEW ALL

Australian Government Solicitor chief general counsel Andrew Buckland KC and chief counsel dispute resolution Tim Begbie KC have acted in the role in recent months.

Higgins was called to the NSW Bar in 2006, appointed senior counsel in 2017, and was the prior president of the NSW Bar Association. She also served as a director of the Australian Bar Association and the Law Council of Australia and was a part-time member of the Takeovers Panel between 2023 and 2026. According to her LinkedIn profile, Higgins has served as a barrister at Banco Chambers since 2006 and was formerly a solicitor at Gilbert + Tobin from 2001 to 2005.

The Attorney-General said: “I congratulate Dr Higgins on her appointment as Australia’s 12th Solicitor-General – the first woman to be appointed to this vitally important position.

“The second law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia plays a significant role in promoting the integrity of the rule of law and trust in government and public institutions.”

Higgins said at the Monday press conference: “It is a great honour and a commensurate responsibility to be recommended for appointment to this role … When I take up this role, I will commit the best of myself to providing independent advice to and advocacy for the Commonwealth government to ensure the lawful and effective exercise of its considerable power.”