The Legal Services Commission (LSC) runs the legal aid scheme in England and Wales in partnership with solicitors and not-for-profit organisations. It replaced the former incarnation which was the Legal Aid Board, in April 2000.

The LSC runs the Community Legal Service (CLS), Criminal Defence Service (CDS) and Public Defender Service (PDS), offering "quality legal services" to the public.

In respect of the CLS and PDS, services are offered by a network of suppliers and contractors, the PDS is staffed by solicitors and barristers under the employ of the LSC itself. The LSC directly employs over 1,700 staff around England and Wales.

Good work/life terms and benefits are on offer, including flexible working.

The head office is in London, the regional offices are listed on the website, 23 sites in all. The PDS has offices in Birmingham, Cheltenham, Chester, Darlington, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Pontypridd and Swansea, "with further expansion envisaged for the future".

Vacancies are advertised on the website, where there is also a recruitment brochure available for download.