The former Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, QC, is joining Debevoise & Plimpton, a top American law firm, to head its European litigation practice from tomorrow.

Lord Goldsmith, who retired from Government after six years in June - just before be was expected to be sacked - has landed a prestigious job in which he will take cases in court, deal with clients and act as an arbitrator.

Within months he will qualify as a solicitor, while remaining a barrister, and become a partner at the firm where senior lawyers earn around £1.8 million (£893,000) a year.

Lord Goldsmith told a press conference this morning: “I am delighted to be joining one of the world’s leading international law firms and to be heading up Debevoise’s high quality global litigation practice from Europe.”

The former Attorney-General, who was widely regarded as top commercial silk at the Bar before being invited to join Tony Blair’s Government, said that he had had several “very tempting offers”.

It is known that top commercial chambers as well as a number of top UK law firms tried to lure him to join.

But he said that the global work of Debevoise, coupled with its ethos of “pro bono” and public service work, had enticed him to the post.

“People wanted me to go back (to the Bar) but I looked at all the issues and since I have the choice I have decided that this is what I wanted to do, because of the international side, the global law that I want to do and this firm’s commitment to pro bono and public service work, which I shall be able to continue.”

Lord Goldsmith resigned in June after six years as Attorney-General where he had a mixed record. Widely praised for work in boosting the Crown Prosecution Service, his reputation took a battering over the legal advice he gave on the war in Iraq; and subsequently over the dropping by the Serious Fraud Office of the BAE systems investigation.

His refusal to stand aside from any decision - ultimately made after he had left the post - over “cash for honours” prompted the current inquiry into whether the post of Attorney-General should be reformed or broken up.

Lord Goldsmith said that he had had to obtain official clearance for taking up the post and that he was told it was “entirely proper” once three months had elapsed.

He said that in due course he would become a full equity partner. He declined comment on his earnings but added that they would not “be as much as they would have been at the Bar.”

Lord Goldsmith, 56, insisted that he would be “hands-on” and not just dealing with strategy. “I enjoy being involved [in cases] from beginning to end, not just being brought in at the late stage of litigation.”

He said that the firm, which he had known for 25 years, had approached him when it became apparent that there was to be a change of Prime Minister.

Martin Frederic Evans, presiding partner of Debevoise, said: “We are delighted to have such a distinguished and accomplished individual join our firm and our thriving global litigation practice.

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