Frances Patterson QC has been appointed as a Law Commissioner for a period of five years.
Ms Patterson will succeed Kenneth Parker QC who has been appointed a High Court judge.
The Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw Jack Straw said: "I am delighted to announce the appointment of Frances Patterson QC as Law Commissioner. She is an extremely talented and successful member of the legal profession and will be of enormous benefit to the Law Commission. I look forward to working with her."
Ms Patterson will be responsible for leading the Commission's work on public law.