Vera Baird QC MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Responsibilities Civil Law Policy Civil and family legal aid Criminal legal aid Law Commission Legal Services Commission Social exclusion Land Registry Equalities Better Regulation

Biography

Vera Baird was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Constitutional Affairs on 5 May 2006.

In 2000 she became a QC having worked as a criminal barrister mainly at the Old Bailey in London. She was elected to parliament in 2001 and has been member for Redcar since June 2001. Vera was a member of the joint committee for human rights 2001 - 2003, and a member of the select committee for work and pensions 2003 - 2005. From May 2005 until May 2006 she was parliamentary private secretary to the home secretary, then Charles Clarke. She is a Bencher of Gray's Inn and an honorary fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford.

Education

Newcastle University, LLB, then called to the Bar at Gray's Inn.