If you have a court appearance and are unrepresented, you may wish to speak to Duty Counsel. Duty Counsel are lawyers who can give immediate legal assistance to people without a lawyer, for free. You do not have to qualify financially. In most cases, you do not even need to visit a Legal Services Centre ahead of time.
If you are unrepresented for your first court appearance, simply go directly to the courthouse where the matter is being heard and ask to speak to Duty Counsel.
What Duty Counsel Can Do For You
Duty Counsel can provide information, guidance and advice to you prior to your appearance. Depending on the situation, they may make speak to the court on your behalf. Keep in mind, Duty Counsel help people who are unrepresented at the first court appearance only and can only offer limited basic services. Should you require full representation by a lawyer for the remainder of your case, Duty Counsel may direct to you apply for legal aid (or hire a lawyer privately).
LAA assigns Duty Counsel to following docket courts in Alberta:
Available province-wide
- Criminal (Adult & Youth)
- Provincial Court - people seeking Emergency Protection Orders*
- Court of Queen's Bench - people involved in the confirmation of Emergency Protection Orders*
- PChAD (Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act) matters*
- Mental Health Review Panel hearings*
Available in Calgary & Edmonton only
- Family Court
- Child Welfare Court
*If you are dealing with one of these issues, you may wish to call the Legal Services Centre prior to attending court. Duty Counsel for these matters only appear as needed.
Please note that Duty Counsel's first priority is to assist accused persons that are in custody.
Wetaskiwin Family Duty Counsel Pilot Project
As of September 14, 2011, Duty Counsel services will be available in Family Court at the Wetaskiwin Provincial Court. This new service offering will be conducted on a limited, pilot-project basis over the next several months. For this pilot, Legal Aid Alberta's Family Law Office will provide an experienced Staff Lawyer for Provincial Court docket days in Family Court (family and child welfare matters).