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I Am A Client

You’ve been granted legal aid coverage and have a lawyer assigned to you to take your case.  To ensure that you are well informed throughout your Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) experience, we have compiled the following resources for you.

Helpful Resources
Access templates you may need, such as an appeals letter or change of counsel request.
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My Legal Aid Bill
Understand your legal bill and payment options. 
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Working With Your Lawyer
Learn about the role of your lawyer and your responsibilities as a client. Read more...
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My Legal Aid Bill

Lawyers bill Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) for the work they have done on your case based on the fees, rates, and guidelines described in a document called the Legal Aid Alberta Tariff.

The lawyer’s bill to LAA shows all the time they spent working on your file.  This includes meetings, court appearances, telephone calls, emails, preparing documents and research, etc.  Lawyers will also bill LAA for expenses such as courier fees, postage, photocopying and use of experts. (Example: doctors, psychologists, etc.)  You can ask LAA for copies of the bills your lawyer submits to us for payment.

Payment

A common misconception about legal aid is that it is a free service.  Legal aid in the province of Alberta is not free.  Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) expects clients to repay the costs of their legal representation.  Any services requiring full representation by a lawyer are not free.  However, it is important to know that legal services provided by a lawyer through LAA are significantly less costly than hiring that same lawyer privately.  As soon as you have applied for coverage with LAA, your personal client account is automatically set up.  Payment arrangements can be made that will accommodate the financial situation of the client.

Note: You may be asked to start making small payments right away or provide us with a bail assignment or security agreement against property that you own (such as a car or a house), even before a lawyer is assigned to your case. 

 

Payment Methods

Client payments are in the form of scheduled monthly payments.  LAA currently operates on a 60-day billing cycle.  This means that clients should expect to receive their statement every other month. (This statement comes from LAA, not your lawyer)  Your statement will include the amount that is due that month, along with the balance remaining on your account.  The following options are available to pay your bill:

  • Pre-authorized withdrawals; payments come out of the client’s bank account each month. (clients have the option of selecting the date and amount of the payments)
  • Online/telephone banking
  • Cash, cheque or money order paid in person, at your local LAA office. (Payment by debit card can be made at the Edmonton and Calgary offices)
  • Mailing a cheque or money order

When making a payment (in person or in the mail) please be sure to include your LAA account number and first and last name(s).

 

Settlements

If your lawyer is able to get a money settlement in your case (Example: funds are divided from the sale of a home in a divorce case), they cannot automatically release that money to you without LAA’s permission, as we may ask that some of the money be held back to pay your LAA bill.

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