The Lord Chancellor is a member of the Cabinet and has a specific responsibility to uphold the rule of law in the UK. In terms of specific functions, he is responsible for
* Custody & exercise of the Great Seal
* Judicial appointments and all matters related to the judiciary and lay magistracy, including titles, pay, pensions, conduct and discipline. This means that any ministerial functions relating to these matters, including appointments, are exercised by the Lord Chancellor.
For example, formal recommendations for appointments after the Judicial Appointments Commission has carried out its selection processes, if Ministerial involvement is required.
* Procedural rules, appointments to rule committees/ advisory councils, fees as applicable in Criminal Justice, Civil Justice, Family Justice and Administrative Justice
* Regulation of the Legal Professions
* HM Court Services
* The Tribunals Service
* The Land Registry
* The Northern Ireland Court Service
* The Law Commission
* Public records
* The National Archives
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* The Crown Dependencies, that is looking after the interests within the UK Government of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, which are separate possessions of the Crown but obviously have close links with the UK, especially with regard to international relations
* Constitutional matters
* Legal aid
The Lord Chancellor, is also Secretary of State for Justice. As such, he is responsible for:-
* the National Offender Management Service, including the prison
and probation services
* Criminal law and sentencing policy
* sponsorship of relevant inspectorates and Non-Departmental Public Bodies, including the Parole Board and Youth Justice Board
* oversight of the Devolution settlement
* Data Protection
* Freedom of Information
* Human Rights
* Electoral Law