The Legal Complaints Service (LCS) is to spend 10% less next year than it will in 2008 as the organisation begins to wind down, according to board papers made public last week.

In the year beginning January 2009, the service’s budget, which comes from the Law Society, will be around £18m.

Deborah Evans, LCS chief executive, told the Gazette the service will not be starting any new projects and will make reductions ‘stripping out costs where it can’. The Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) takes over its functions in April 2010.

Of the LCS’s 400 staff, 80% are expected to transfer to the OLC, the business plan says.

But Evans said that some London-based employees may be unwilling to move to Leamington Spa. The LCS cut 13 full-time posts in 2008.

At its meeting, the LCS board considered responses to its business plan from the Law Society and Legal Services Complaints Commissioner. Evans said the Society and the commissioner had told her not to be ‘too ambitious’ during the ‘close-down scenario’.

Board members said they would defy any cutbacks to work on equality and diversity. Evans said: ‘In the environment of a shrinking budget and a move towards close-down, it’s important that we choose our activities wisely and don’t begin new projects or initiatives.’

Des Hudson, Law Society chief executive, said: ‘The Society is working with the LCS to take a responsible approach to managing its resources in the run-up to the creation of the OLC.’