I’ve got a track record of providing advice to organisations on constitutional issues.
In 2004, I was the specialist advisor to the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitutional Reform Bill, which sought to abolish the role of Lord Chancellor, introduce new methods for appointing judges, and establish the UK Supreme Court (see Report, Session 2003-04, HL Paper 125-1). In a 2009 academic publication, I explain some of the political dynamics at work in implementing Tony Blair’s constitutional reform plans: see here.
From 2006 to 2009, I was the sole legal advisor to the House of Lords Constitution Committee, responsible for advising members on the constitutional implications of all bills. I drafted 30 published reports for the committee. A great starting point for anybody wanting to understand the role of the Constitution Committee is Jack Simson Caird’s essay here. In a debate on the Constitution Committee’s report on Fast-track Legislation, one of the last I worked on, Lord Goodlad said
The committee and, I believe, your Lordships owe particular gratitude to Professor Andrew Le Sueur of London University, who was the specialist adviser to the committee for the report and also the legal adviser to the committee from 2005 until a few months ago. His advice and wisdom have been invaluable.
I have also advised members of the House of Commons: in 2004, as specialist adviser to the Constitutional Affairs Committee (see the Committee’s report, Judicial appointments and a Supreme Court (court of final appeal), 1st Report of Session 2003-04, HC 48-1); and in 2010 as specialist adviser to the Justice Committee (for their report on Crown Dependencies, 8th Report of 2009-10, HC 56).
In Jersey, in 2007 I was appointed advisor to the States of Jersey Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel for their inquiry on The Role of the Centenier in the Magistrate’s Court.
Andrew Le Sueur 