Legal Services Centres

Legal Aid Alberta is pleased to announce the opening of the Calgary Legal Services Centre (LSC) effective June 28, 2010.  This follows the opening of the Edmonton LSC on April 6th, 2010.  Due to high demand in specific areas of law, the Calgary LSC will initially provide clients access to legal information, referral and brief services (in family, criminal, civil and immigration matters) with legal advice in immigration and non-family civil matters. Legal advice will be expanded to all matters by the fall.

The objective of the LSC is to provide an upfront assessment of the clients’ legal needs and channel clients into the appropriate stream of legal services.  The province-wide launch of the LSC continues throughout 2010/11. 

Eligibility for legal aid has changed

Note:  As of April 6, 2010, LAA's eligibility guidelines for full representation by a lawyer have decreased by 30%. Our staff will help you with other options that will assist you with your legal issue if you are not eligible for full representation. You will leave here with a clear understanding of what your next step should be.

The LAA Legal Services Centres offer a broader range of services including information and referrals. The Calgary and Edmonton Legal Services Centres have DIFFERENT FINANCIAL GUIDELINES AND SERVICES AS COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE PROVINCE.

When you contact the Calgary or Edmonton LSC, you will be assessed on the phone or in person by a Client Agent.  If your income is above the guidelines below (first column), the Client Agent will be able to refer you an agency that may be able to assist you.  In this instance, LAA will NOT be able to assist you beyond a referral.

Here is how you will be financially assessed at the Legal Services Centres:

FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY

* Legal Aid Alberta is not able to assist clients who are over the income limit from the first column further than a referral to another agency.  These referrals are made by front-line staff known as Client Agents.

Note:  As per Legal Aid Alberta, acceptable net income deductions include source employment deductions, child or spousal support being paid by the family, and daycare expenses.

How am I eligible for full representation?

As of April 6, 2010, LAA's eligibility guidelines for full representation by a lawyer have decreased by 30%. Our staff will assess the merit and nature of your legal problem as well as your financial situation to determine what services you are eligible for.  If you do not qualify for full representation (a lawyer in court) our staff will help you with other options that will assist you with your legal issue so that you will leave Legal Aid Alberta with a clear understanding of what your next step should be.

The financial eligibility guidelines for full representation are the same across the province.  To view LAA's financial eligibility guidelines, please click here.

If I receive coverage for a lawyer to represent me in court, what cases are covered?

We offer coverage for many legal issues, but not all. Legal aid is most often offered for serious criminal charges (where there is a strong likelihood of someone going to jail or losing their job); charges laid under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, family law or immigration cases. Examples of these types of cases include:

•  child support 

• child welfare

• parenting/guardianship

What can I expect if I am referred to a Legal Services Officer?

Legal Services Officers (formerly Legal Aid Officer, LAOs) will meet with you to identify your legal problem and will assess what type of services will best meet your legal needs. Depending on your financial eligibility, you may receive brief services from a staff lawyer (such as advice on how you should proceed). In other cases, you may be referred to other LAA services, to another organization that offers the service you need or we may appoint you a lawyer.

It’s important to understand that appointing a lawyer to your file is no longer LAA's main goal. For example, we may decide that mediation is the best way for you to resolve your family law issue. If our staff determines that you should try mediation first, then this is the service we will guide you through—rather than give you a lawyer to go to court.

What is the difference between a staff lawyer providing brief services and a lawyer who receives a certificate from LAA to represent me?

 Our LSC staff lawyers are here to provide you with access to immediate legal information and advice. They are not here to represent you, attend court or make applications on your behalf. The staff lawyers can assist you in preparing your court documents, preparing you for court, assessing your legal problem and providing legal advice on how to best proceed, preparing you for mediation and providing advice on your mediation agreements or making referrals to outside agencies. They can also provide some brief advocacy by way of phone calls or letters.   

NOTE:  As of July 28, 2010, the Calgary LSC currently employs the services of Immigration Staff Lawyers only.  Staff Lawyers specializing in other areas of law will available to provide brief services to clients as soon as they are recruited.

A lawyer receiving a certificate to represent you, including lawyers from the Family Law Office or private roster lawyers, will act as your legal representative in court proceedings and related matters.

If a lawyer is appointed to my file, can I choose which one I’d like to represent me?

If you have a preference for a certain lawyer (Choice of Counsel), you may indicate it at the time of your assessment; however, Legal Aid Alberta reserves the right to appoint a lawyer to you from an existing list of lawyers who take legal aid cases.

Clients will no longer have the right to choose their lawyer. You can tell us who you would like as your lawyer at the time of your assessment; however, please understand that Legal Aid Alberta reserves the right to appoint a lawyer to you from an existing list of lawyers who take legal aid cases.  To learn more about Choice of Counsel at LAA, please click here.