MR STEPHEN ORCHARD

Stephen Orchard is 56 and has been Chief Executive of the Legal Services Commission since 1 January 1989 and a member of the Commission since 1 January 1992. He is not a lawyer.

Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive he had been a civil servant in the Lord Chancellor's Department since leaving school in 1961. His last job in the Department was as London Civil Courts Administrator running the Royal Courts of Justice and the London County Courts.

He was awarded a CBE in 1999 New Year's Honours List.