Legal Services Commission
About the Legal Services Commission
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) runs the legal aid scheme in England and Wales. It provides information, advice and legal representation to help over two million people each year get access to justice.
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 changes.
The LSC is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). It plays 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.
The LSC looks after legal aid in England and Wales. The organisation also makes sure that people get the information, advice and legal help they need to deal with a wide range of problems.
The legal aid scheme safeguards some of society's most vulnerable and disadvantaged people and helps ensure access to justice by providing high quality advice, information and representation to people who would not otherwise be able to afford it.
Working in partnership with solicitors and not-for-profit organisations, the LSC provide services to help people in need. Its vision is to make sure clients can access the help they need to address their problems.
It means clients can protect their rights by:
- Getting early advice
- Being able to defend themselves if accused of a crime
- Taking a case to Court when this is the best way to resoleve a dispute
Meet the Criminal Defence Service Manager
Elaine Annable (pictured right), the Criminal Defence Service Manager for the Midlands region of the Legal Services Commission , is a member of Leicestershire and Rutland Criminal Justice Board .
Elaine ensures that people accused of a crime have access to legal advice and representation in all Police Stations and Courts across the East and West Midlands and the Eastern region. Elaine joined the Legal Services Commission, formerly the Legal Aid Board, in 1991. She became Criminal Defence Service Manager in 2004 and is also a member of the Senior Leadership Team for the Midland Region, whose offices are based in Birmingham, Cambridge and Nottingham. Elaine has managed duty solicitor schemes for over ten years and contracts with local legal aid service providers from private practices since 1999. Previously, she worked in private practice and for the Probation Service at Nottingham Magistrates Court.
Further Information
www.legalservices.gov.uk
www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk offers free, confidential and independent legal advice.
Leicestershire and Rutland Criminal Justice Board | Beaumont Leys Police Station | 1st Floor | 2 Beaumont Way | Leicester | LE4 1DS