FAQ
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General
What is the LSC?
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is an executive non-departmental public body created under the Access to Justice Act 1999 to replace the Legal Aid Board. The LSC is responsible for the development and administration of two schemes in England and Wales:
The Community Legal Service. From the 1st April 2000, the Community Legal Service replaced the old civil scheme of legal aid. It creates partnerships between networks of sponsors (e.g. Local Authorities) and suppliers, providing the widest possible access to information and advice.
The Criminal Defence Service. From the 2nd April 2001, the Criminal Defence Service replaced the old system of criminal legal aid and provides criminal defence services to people accused of crimes.
What is the LSC manual?
As the official guide for the new public funding schemes in England and Wales - the Community Legal Service (CLS) and the Criminal Defence Service (CDS), the LSC manual is a required reference tool for publicly funded solicitors.
The manual is currently used by around 5,000 UK solicitor firms seeking guidance on whether cases qualify for representation and assistance from the Commission's CLS or CDS.
To ensure that practitioners only need to subscribe to information that is relevant to their field, the manual is available in three volumes:
Volume 1: | Crime |
Volume 2: | Civil |
Volume 3: | Funding Code |
You can find out more about these volumes using the About LSC Manual link.
How can I view the manual?
Annual subscriptions can be purchased to receive the manual as books and/or CD-ROM and/or online.
How often is the manual updated?
The LSC Manual is updated twice a year.
Who can I contact if I have any queries?
If you have any queries regarding subscriptions or this site (or if you need to change your subscription/contact details), please contact Thomson Reuters Sweet & Maxwell Customer Services:
Telephone: | 0845 026 8210 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm except bank holidays) |
Email: |
If you have a query that does not concern subscriptions or this site, you can contact the Legal Services Commission:
Address: | Legal Services Commission 4 Abbey Orchard Street London SW1P 2BS |
Subscriptions
What subscription packages are available?
A wide variety of annual subscription packages are available. You can subscribe to individual volumes (or a combination of volumes) for online access, CD-ROM or for the books (or a combination of media). For full details of subscription packages and pricing, or to place an order, visit the Subscribe page.
How do I subscribe to the online version of the Manual?
You can purchase single-user and multi-user subscriptions from the Sweet & Maxwell website.
All subscriptions to the LSC Manual are processed and managed for the LSC by Thomson Reuters Sweet & Maxwell. Alternatively please contact our Customer Services team:
Telephone: | 0845 026 8210 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm except bank holidays) |
Email: |
If I subscribe to the online version now, how soon can I access the manual?
If you subscribe to the online service, an email will be sent to you containing your username and password details so that you can log in for immediate access to the LSC Manual.
Will I be notified when my subscription is due for renewal?
Your subscription to the LSC Manual will be automatically renewed over the period of your contract with the LSC. A notification of renewal will be sent to you a month before the renewal is due; if you have any reason to cancel your subscription to the manual, this will give you time to contact the Thomson Reuters Sweet & Maxwell Customer Services team and advise them of this.
What should I do if my subscription or contact details change?
If you receive the LSC Manual on CD-ROM or in print form, please notify Thomson Reuters Sweet & Maxwell Customer Services of any change in contact details:
Telephone: | 0845 026 8210 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm except bank holidays) |
Email: |
Logging In
How do I log in?
If you have subscribed to the LSC Manual online service, you must log into the site in order to access the content.
Upon accessing the website, simply type your username and password into the boxes provided and click the “Submit” button.
What should I do if I've forgotten my password?
If you have forgotten your password, please click the “Forgot password?” link on the login screen and submit your username. A new password will be sent to your email address.
What should I do if I've forgotten my username?
If you cannot remember your username or have any other problems logging in, please contact Thomson Reuters Sweet & Maxwell Technical Support:
Telephone: | 0845 026 8212 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm except bank holidays) |
Email: |