Welcome to the Legal Services Commission

We look after legal aid in England and Wales.

We're also responsible for ensuring that people get the information, advice and legal help they need to deal with a wide range of everyday problems.

Through the Community Legal Service (CLS) we help people who are eligible for legal aid to protect their rights.

We fund a network of Quality Marked solicitors, Citizens Advice Bureaux and other advice providers to help people who need advice about relationship breakdown or problems with debt, housing, domestic violence and benefits. Help is also available about asylum and immigration, education, employment, mental health and community care issues.

This type of help varies from information leaflets and directing people to other services, to specialist advice and taking cases to court where necessary.

The Criminal Defence Service (CDS) helps people who are under investigation or facing criminal charges. By ensuring that people accused of crimes have access to legal advice and representation, the CDS also helps the police and courts operate fairly and efficiently.

The Legal Services Commission is an executive non-departmental public body. We are sponsored by the Department for Constitutional Affairs and our work is overseen by a board of independent Commissioners.