Dominic Raab and David Lloyd George (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Law-makers and lawyers have always had an obvious, tangible relationship. From Tony Blair to Clement Attlee, not to mention Margaret Thatcher, many who have passed through the sector have gone on to take the highest seats in government. 

And yet, for the best part of two centuries, solicitors have always played second fiddle to their barrister compatriots when it comes to holding the greatest office of state. 

However, in the most challenging of circumstances, Dominic Raab has been thrust into the spotlight. And in doing so, he has done what just one solicitor has done before him – led the country. 

Dire as the circumstances are, the move by Boris Johnson last night to pass de facto control of governing the country to the Foreign Secretary marked the first time a qualified solicitor has led the country since David Lloyd George in 1916. 

Whilst Raab is less than 24 hours into his deputising role, there are interesting parallels between him and Lloyd George. Both trained at an early age in law, both rose through political ranks with rapid speed and both took on the mantle of leadership at a time of crisis.

And Lloyd George was actually prime minister during the last pandemic to hit Europe – the Spanish Flu of 1918. Similar to Johnson, Lloyd George contracted the illness whilst in Manchester and was forced to spend days in a makeshift sick bed in Manchester town hall and required a respirator to help with his breathing difficulties. He did, however, pull through.

Manchester-born but of Welsh origin, Lloyd George spent most of his childhood in Pembrokeshire and his mother's naitve Caernarfonshire. According to John Grigg's biography of young Lloyd George, it was here aged just 16 Lloyd George was articled to a junior partner at the Welsh solicitors: Breese, Jones and Casson. 

He also went on to practice with his brother William George in a practice known as "Lloyd George & George", even continuing to practice whilst an MP – if city directory records are anything to go by.

His interest in politics and involvement in the Liberal party brought him into the echelons of politics – first as an MP in 1890 before soon rising the ranks to Chancellor in 1908 before coming Minister of Munitions in 1915 soon after the outbreak of the First World War.

It was the untimely and tragic death of Lord Kitchener in a mine explosion that propelled Lloyd George to the role of Secretary of State for War in 1916, and then less than six months later to the top posittion of Prime Minister as part of a War Cabinet in perhaps the bleakest period of the war.

But while Lloyd George stayed close to his legal roots, Dominic Raab's relationship with law was perhaps more fleeting. After earning at Masters at Cambridge, Raab entered law as a trainee at Magic Circle firm Linklaters, then Linklaters & Alliance, in the late 90s.

Raab qualified in 2000, but left the firm shortly afterwards to pursue a career in the Foreign Office as an adviser, mainly of legal briefs. He became an MP in 2010 before rising quickly under Theresa May – eventually becoming Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, and, following a failed leadership bid, Foreign Secretary under Boris Johnson at the age of just 46.

The latter's poor health condition has now propelled Raab further to control day-to-day government affairs.

Crisis can make great leaders, and if history is anything to go by, the steady hands of a lawyer can be a useful tool in troubled times.

Other lawyers who made it to the top

Tony Blair

Prior to leading the country for a decade, Tony Blair was a member of Lincoln's Inn and also a founder member of the Chambers, 11 King's Bench Walk under Lord Irvine QC, where he met his wife Cherie Blair.

Clement Attlee 

Attlee originally trained as a barrister at the Inner Temple and was later called to the bar in 1906 aged 23. He worked at his father's law firm Druces and Attlee according to Frances Beckett's bioegraphy, Clem Attlee. 

Margaret Thatcher

Despite originally studying Chemistry and taking her first job as a chemist, Thatcher later trained as a barrister and was a pupil at Red Lion Chambers going on to specialise in tax.

Spencer Percival 

Perhaps most famous for being the only British prime minister to have ever been assassinated, Percival enjoyed a successful legal career prior to politics – studing at Lincoln's Inn before going on to hold a number of positions including deputy recorder and commissior of bankruptices, according to his biography in R.G. Thorne's The History of Parliament.

Herbert Henry Asquith

Another Lincoln's Inn alumnus, Lloyd George's prime ministerial predecessor Asquith was called to the bar in 1876, and enjoyed a successful career as a barrister after joining Inner Temple Chambers seven years later.