L Division does not follow the typical Gotei 10 organization. There are no captains or lieutenants, and there are only 15 official members. The L Division works closely with the 7th Division for its more labor intensive work. Out of the 15 members, 5 are retired Shinigami chosen as the senior officers, and 10 are younger, prior enlisted or officers, that were hand-picked by the senior members. The L-Division is the only division that does not have to follow the chain of command of the other divisions, and members have free reign to contact and speak to any officer directly. However, L Division members do not give orders, and are not a military unit. As such in a combat situation they must defer to the division officers.