A former administrative organ under the State Council, assisting in handling legislative affairs and other legal affairs, including supervising the State Council's legislation work plan and drafting legislation within the State Council's jurisdiction.

The LAOSC's functions have been assumed by the reorganised Ministry of Justice (MOJ) after China's massive government institutional reform in 2018 (see Practice note, Understanding the 2018 government institutional reform: China: State Council massive re-organisation).