Masters of the Bench

Appointed Solicitor General in 2012, Oliver was Called in 1977 and practised as a barrister in London and East Anglia with a break when he was a government minister. He has held various government posts including Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Social Security and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons.  In July 2007 he became a backbencher following 13 years' continuous service on the Conservative Front Bench.  In 2008 he became a member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.  He is a former Vice-Chairman of the Society of Conservative Lawyers.

He currently serves as MP for North East Hertfordshire.