# Ruth Higgins > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ruth_Higgins > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ruth_Higgins.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Higgins > Source revision: 1354441913 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Ruth Higgins** is an Australian barrister appointed to serve as the twelfth [Solicitor-General of Australia](/source/Solicitor-General_of_Australia).[1] ## Education and private practice Higgins was born in Scotland, and named *[L.A. Law](/source/L.A._Law)* as one of her inspirations to pursue a legal career.[2] She studied at the [University of Glasgow](/source/University_of_Glasgow), completing a [Bachelor of Laws](/source/Bachelor_of_Laws) with first-class honours and a [Diploma of Legal Practice](/source/Diploma_in_Professional_Legal_Practice). Higgins later completed a doctor of philosophy in law at [Balliol College, Oxford](/source/Balliol_College,_Oxford).[1] Before practicing as a barrister, she worked at [Gilbert + Tobin](/source/Gilbert_%2B_Tobin).[2] She was called to the New South Wales bar in 2006 and was appointed [Senior Counsel](/source/Senior_counsel#Australia) in 2017.[1] Before her nomination as solicitor-general she was a member of [Banco Chambers](/source/Banco_Chambers),[2] and had served a term as president of the [New South Wales Bar Association](/source/New_South_Wales_Bar_Association).[2] ### Noted matters Higgins has been noted for representing the [Commonwealth Bank](/source/Commonwealth_Bank) during the [Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry](/source/Royal_Commission_into_Misconduct_in_the_Banking,_Superannuation_and_Financial_Services_Industry), [Woolworths](/source/Woolworths_(Australia)) during the 2024–25 [Australian Competition and Consumer Commission](/source/Australian_Competition_and_Consumer_Commission) supermarkets inquiry, and the [Australian Securities and Investments Commission](/source/Australian_Securities_and_Investments_Commission) in its proceedings against [Star Entertainment Group](/source/Star_Entertainment_Group).[2][3][4] She acted for the [Human Rights Law Centre](/source/Human_Rights_Law_Centre) and the [Kaldor Centre](/source/UNSW_Faculty_of_Law_and_Justice#Andrew_&_Renata_Kaldor_Centre_for_International_Refugee_Law) in *[NZYQ v Minister for Immigration](/source/NZYQ_v_Minister_for_Immigration)*, which overturned *[Al Kateb v Godwin](/source/Al_Kateb_v_Godwin).*[5] Higgins also acted for [Epic Games](/source/Epic_Games) in [its dispute](/source/Epic_Games_v._Apple#Related_actions) against [Google](/source/Google) and [Apple](/source/Apple_Inc.) in the [Federal Court of Australia](/source/Federal_Court_of_Australia).[6] ## Solicitor-General Higgins was nominated to serve as solicitor-general on 6 April 2026 by the [Albanese government](/source/Albanese_government), and is expected to begin her term on 8 June 2026.[3] Higgins will be the first woman to serve in the role.[4] ## Bibliography - Higgins, Ruth C. A. (6 May 2004). *The Moral Limits of Law: Obedience, Respect, and Legitimacy*. [Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press). [doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199265671.001.0001](https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199265671.001.0001). ISBN 9780199265671. LCCN 2004010231. ## References 1. So, Jacqueline (6 April 2026). ["Dr Ruth Higgins SC to be Australia’s first female solicitor-general"](https://www.thelawyermag.com/au/news/general/dr-ruth-higgins-sc-to-be-australias-first-female-solicitor-general/570739). *Australasian Lawyer*. Retrieved 6 April 2026. 1. Drevikovsky, Janek (6 April 2026). ["Top silk from Star casino case named first female solicitor-general"](https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/top-silk-from-star-casino-case-named-first-female-solicitor-general-20260406-p5zlj5). *[Australian Financial Review](/source/Australian_Financial_Review)*. Sydney: [Nine Entertainment](/source/Nine_Entertainment). [ISSN 1444-9900](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1444-9900). [OCLC 1131035760](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1131035760). Retrieved 6 April 2026. 1. Campbell, Eleanor (6 April 2026). ["Albanese government appoints top barrister as new Solicitor-General"](https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9215722/ruth-higgins-sc-makes-history-as-first-female-solicitor-general/). *[The Canberra Times](/source/The_Canberra_Times)*. [Australian Community Media](/source/Australian_Community_Media). [ISSN 2653-0996](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/2653-0996). [OCLC 220340116](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/220340116). Retrieved 6 April 2026. 1. Yim, Noah (6 April 2026). ["Albanese government appoints first female solicitor-general"](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/albanese-government-appoints-first-female-solicitorgeneral/news-story/037f83f46a25b7114f9f303949480f61). *[The Australian](/source/The_Australian)*. Sydney: [News Corp Australia](/source/News_Corp_Australia). [ISSN 1038-8761](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1038-8761). Retrieved 6 April 2026. 1. Drevikovsky, Janek (21 January 2026). ["It’s a silk beauty parade as Labor considers solicitor-general pick"](https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/it-s-a-silk-beauty-parade-as-labor-considers-solicitor-general-pick-20260121-p5nvtg). *[Australian Financial Review](/source/Australian_Financial_Review)*. Sydney: [Nine Entertainment](/source/Nine_Entertainment). [ISSN 1444-9900](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1444-9900). [OCLC 1131035760](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1131035760). Retrieved 7 April 2026. 1. Lam, Joseph (21 March 2024). ["Even when Apple doesn’t control apps, it retains control, court hears"](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/even-when-apple-doesnt-control-apps-it-retains-control-court-hears/news-story/6dd3133844738181a49725abbf6ceed0). *[The Australian](/source/The_Australian)*. Sydney: [News Corp Australia](/source/News_Corp_Australia). [ISSN 1038-8761](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1038-8761). Retrieved 7 April 2026. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ruth Higgins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Higgins) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Higgins?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.