Julia Smyth KC

Julia has a public law, EU and ECHR specialist, particularly in the fields of social security, EU free movement and immigration.

She frequently appears unled in high-profile cases, and is praised by the legal directories as being “a truly excellent public law specialist,” who is “phenomenally gifted”, “extremely clever and very effective”, as well as “phenomenally hard working” and “approachable and responsive.” Julia won the award for ‘Human Rights and Public Law Junior of the Year’ at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2022, and the award for Immigration Junior of the Year at the Legal 500 Awards 2024.

Prior to returning to self-employed practice in 2012, Julia had a successful career as a senior government lawyer. She is recognised by the legal directories as bringing her “experience as counsel for various government departments to claimant work, giving practical insights into how public bodies make decisions on the ground.”

Julia has particular expertise in EU and Withdrawal Agreement law, human rights and civil liberties, social security, health, immigration and free movement law, as well as experience in a broad range of other areas, including education, police pensions, parking regulation and environment law and animal welfare.

Julia was appointed to the Attorney General's A Panel of Junior Counsel until taking Silk, and is now appointed to the Attorney General’s Senior Treasury Counsel (Civil) Group (STCG) – a team of specialist advocates appointed to handle some of the most complex and high-profile government civil litigation.

Administrative Law Bar Association