Peter Goldsmith

President of the Bar Pro Bono Unit

(Born 1950)

Peter Goldsmith was born in Liverpool and educated at Gonville and Caius College and University College London. He was called to the Bar in 1972 and appointed to the Queens Counsel in 1987.

He was created a Life Peer in 1999 and a Privy Counsellor in 2002.

He has held a number of posts in international organisations, including Council Member of the International Bar Association and the Union Internacionale des Avocats. From 1998 until his appointment as Attorney General he was co-chairman of the IBA's Human Rights Institute and between 1997 and 2000, he was chairman of the financial reporting panel review. In 1997, he was elected to membership of the American Law Institute and made a member of the Paris Bar.

In 1996, he founded the Bar Pro Bono Unit of which he was Chairman until 2000 and remains President. He was also the Prime Minister's Personal Representative to the Convention for the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Lord Goldsmith is married with 4 children. (Source: The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers)