Babban Lauyan gwamnati shi ne babban jami’in shari’a na gwamnati ko jiha mai wakiltar jiha ko gwamnati a harkokin shari’a kuma yana ba da shawarwarin shari’a ga gwamnati. A ƙasashe da yawa, Babban Mai Shari'a shine shugaban sashin shari'a ko ma'aikatar kuma shine ke da alhakin gabatar da kara ko kare kararraki a madadin gwamnati ko jiha. Kalmar "lali-janar" kuma na iya komawa ga babban jami'in shari'a na kamfani ko kungiya.