Patricia Janet Scotland, Baroness Scotland of Asthal (born 19 August 1955) is an English politician and barrister. She served in ministerial positions within the UK Government, mainly as the Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland. In 2015, she was elected the 6th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations and took office on 1 April 2016. She is the first woman to hold the post.