Shailesh Vara has become the new Minister for the courts and legal aid, taking over from Helen Grant who has moved to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
His portfolio includes judicial policy, civil law and justice, legal services and claims management regulation.
A former City solicitor, he has been the MP for North West Cambridge since 2005 and served as a government whip up until September 2012.
As a member of the opposition, he was Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons and has been joint-vice chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Trafficking of Women and Children, treasurer of the BBC All Party Parliamentary Group and vice-chairman of the Executive Committee of conservative lawyers.
Prior to entering Parliament, Vara held various posts in the conservative party including being a vice-chairman of the party during 2001-2005.
He was educated at Aylesbury Grammar School and Brunel University.