Define: Lord Chancellors Department

The Lord Chancellor’s Department was a governmental department in the United Kingdom responsible for overseeing the administration of justice and legal matters. Historically, the Lord Chancellor was one of the highest-ranking officials in the British government, serving as the head of the judiciary, the Speaker of the House of Lords, and a member of the Cabinet. The Lord Chancellor’s Department played a central role in the operation of the courts, the appointment of judges, the management of legal aid and legal profession regulation, and the administration of various legal functions. However, in 2007, the responsibilities of the Lord Chancellor’s Department were restructured and transferred to other government departments. Today, many of its former functions are carried out by the Ministry of Justice and other relevant government bodies.

The department of the Civil Service that is headed by the Lord Chancellor (see: Lord Chancellor) and deals with such issues as the appointment of judges.

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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March 2024.