Legal Services Commission
From SR
Roles
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) runs the legal aid scheme in England and Wales. The Commission works in partnership with solicitors and not-for-profit organisations to provide information, advice and legal representation to people in need.
Legal aid helps ensure access to justice by providing high quality advice, information and representation to people who would not otherwise be able to afford it.
The LSC provide information, advice and legal representation to help two million people each year access justice.
They play a big part in helping the MoJ achieve its aims of:
- promoting justice
- protecting the public
- increasing confidence in justice
- providing access to justice for all
- upholding rights
- safeguarding and modernising our constitution.
Departments
The Community Legal Service (CLS) helps people with civil legal problems such as family breakdown, debt and housing. The Criminal Defence Service (CDS) helps people who are under police investigation or facing criminal charges.
Reporting Hierarchy
The LSC are a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice is accountable to Parliament for the activities and performance of the LSC.
The MoJ agrees its overarching Public Service Agreement targets with the Treasury. The LSC in turn set their objectives in discussion with the MoJ.
