diff --git a/libs/labelbox/src/labelbox/schema/labeling_service.py b/libs/labelbox/src/labelbox/schema/labeling_service.py
index 3b0ef9445..48d2b6241 100644
--- a/libs/labelbox/src/labelbox/schema/labeling_service.py
+++ b/libs/labelbox/src/labelbox/schema/labeling_service.py
@@ -87,6 +87,19 @@ def request(self) -> 'LabelingService':
             raise Exception("Failed to start labeling service")
         return LabelingService.get(self.client, self.project_id)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def getOrCreate(cls, client, project_id: Cuid) -> 'LabelingService':
+        """
+        Returns the labeling service associated with the project. If the project does not have a labeling service, it will create one.
+
+        Returns:
+            LabelingService: The labeling service for the project.
+        """
+        try:
+            return cls.get(client, project_id)
+        except ResourceNotFoundError:
+            return cls.start(client, project_id)
+
     @classmethod
     def get(cls, client, project_id: Cuid) -> 'LabelingService':
         """
diff --git a/libs/labelbox/src/labelbox/schema/project.py b/libs/labelbox/src/labelbox/schema/project.py
index 761d0e391..baf75ee65 100644
--- a/libs/labelbox/src/labelbox/schema/project.py
+++ b/libs/labelbox/src/labelbox/schema/project.py
@@ -1920,13 +1920,12 @@ def clone(self) -> "Project":
     def get_labeling_service(self) -> LabelingService:
         """Get the labeling service for this project.
 
-        Raises:
-            ResourceNotFoundError if the project does not have a labeling service.
+        Will automatically create a labeling service if one does not exist.
 
         Returns:
             LabelingService: The labeling service for this project.
         """
-        return LabelingService.get(self.client, self.uid)
+        return LabelingService.getOrCreate(self.client, self.uid)
 
     @experimental
     def get_labeling_service_status(self) -> LabelingServiceStatus:
@@ -1940,15 +1939,6 @@ def get_labeling_service_status(self) -> LabelingServiceStatus:
         """
         return self.get_labeling_service().status
 
-    @experimental
-    def request_labeling_service(self) -> LabelingService:
-        """Get the labeling service for this project.
-
-        Returns:
-            LabelingService: The labeling service for this project.
-        """
-        return LabelingService.start(self.client, self.uid)  # type: ignore
-
 
 class ProjectMember(DbObject):
     user = Relationship.ToOne("User", cache=True)
diff --git a/libs/labelbox/tests/integration/test_labeling_service.py b/libs/labelbox/tests/integration/test_labeling_service.py
index a35777fe9..670f20ac6 100644
--- a/libs/labelbox/tests/integration/test_labeling_service.py
+++ b/libs/labelbox/tests/integration/test_labeling_service.py
@@ -4,20 +4,9 @@
 from labelbox.schema.labeling_service import LabelingServiceStatus
 
 
-def test_get_labeling_service_throws_exception(project):
-    with pytest.raises(ResourceNotFoundError):  # No labeling service by default
-        project.get_labeling_service()
-    with pytest.raises(ResourceNotFoundError):  # No labeling service by default
-        project.get_labeling_service_status()
-
-
 def test_start_labeling_service(project):
-    labeling_service = project.request_labeling_service()
-    assert labeling_service.status == LabelingServiceStatus.SetUp
-    assert labeling_service.project_id == project.uid
-
     # Check that the labeling service is now available
-    labeling_service = project.get_labeling_service()
+    labeling_service = project.get_labeling_service()  # creates and gets it
     assert labeling_service.status == LabelingServiceStatus.SetUp
     assert labeling_service.project_id == project.uid
 
@@ -25,19 +14,6 @@ def test_start_labeling_service(project):
     assert labeling_service_status == LabelingServiceStatus.SetUp
 
 
-def test_request_labeling_service(
-        configured_batch_project_for_labeling_service):
-    project = configured_batch_project_for_labeling_service
-
-    project.upsert_instructions('tests/integration/media/sample_pdf.pdf')
-
-    labeling_service = project.request_labeling_service(
-    )  # project fixture is an Image type project
-    labeling_service.request()
-    assert project.get_labeling_service_status(
-    ) == LabelingServiceStatus.Requested
-
-
 def test_request_labeling_service_moe_offline_project(
         rand_gen, offline_chat_evaluation_project, chat_evaluation_ontology,
         offline_conversational_data_row, model_config):
@@ -51,7 +27,7 @@ def test_request_labeling_service_moe_offline_project(
 
     project.upsert_instructions('tests/integration/media/sample_pdf.pdf')
 
-    labeling_service = project.request_labeling_service()
+    labeling_service = project.get_labeling_service()
     labeling_service.request()
     assert project.get_labeling_service_status(
     ) == LabelingServiceStatus.Requested
@@ -65,7 +41,7 @@ def test_request_labeling_service_moe_project(
 
     project.upsert_instructions('tests/integration/media/sample_pdf.pdf')
 
-    labeling_service = project.request_labeling_service()
+    labeling_service = project.get_labeling_service()
     with pytest.raises(
             LabelboxError,
             match=
@@ -81,7 +57,7 @@ def test_request_labeling_service_moe_project(
 
 
 def test_request_labeling_service_incomplete_requirements(project, ontology):
-    labeling_service = project.request_labeling_service(
+    labeling_service = project.get_labeling_service(
     )  # project fixture is an Image type project
     with pytest.raises(ResourceNotFoundError,
                        match="Associated ontology id could not be found"