The Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 abolished the Legal Services Commission (“LSC”) and gave control of legal aid to the Lord Chancellor, who operates the scheme via the Legal Aid Agency (an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice). Cases started under the LSC scheme continue largely as before but, on conclusion, will be paid for by the Lord Chancellor pursuant to the 2012 Act out of funds made available to the Legal Aid Agency for this purpose. In this Guide those funds are referred to as “the legal aid fund” and a person to whom legal aid has been granted is referred to as a “legally aided party”.