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I Need Legal Help
Legal Aid Alberta provides services that help Albertans get access to justice.  If you need legal help, please choose the option that is the best fit for your situation or is the closest to answering your questions:
How do I get a lawyer?
Applying for legal aid coverage can be done at your nearest LAA Regional Office.
I need legal help today
Do you have a legal question? Just need some information? Do you have court today?
Do I qualify for support?
Legal aid coverage is determined by financial eligibility.
I am a youth (under 18)
Do you think you might have a legal problem and need to talk to someone? Read more...
I have applied, what's next?
Now that you've applied for legal aid, how long will it take me to get a lawyer? Read more...
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    Do I Qualify for Support?

    Financial Eligibility Guidelines

    To determine if an applicant is financially eligible, LAA uses the following financial eligibility guidelines:

     

    FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES (Effective April 6, 2010)**
    Based on applicant's net income

     Household Size

     Monthly Net Income Level

    Annual Net Income Level 

     1 person

    $919.00

    $11,000.00 

     2 persons

    $1,140.00 

    $13,680.00

     3 persons

    $1,620.00

    $19,440.00

     4 persons

    $1,750.00

    $21,000.00

     5 persons

    $1,883.00

    $22,596.00

     6+ persons

    $2,014.00

    $24,168.00

    CONTRIBUTION RANGES (Effective April 6, 2010)**
    If your income falls within the following ranges, legal aid coverage may be granted on the condition that payments are made. (e.g. down payment, monthly payments, etc.)

     Household Size

     Monthly Contribution Range

    Annual Contribution Range

     1 person

    $919.00-  $1,225.00

    $11,028.00-$14,700.00 

     2 persons

    $1,140.00-$1,516.00 

    $13,680.00-$18,200.00

     3 persons

    $1,620.00-$2,158.00

    $19,440.00-$25,900.00

     4 persons

    $1,750.00-$2,333.00

    $21,000.00-$28,000.00

     5 persons

    $1,883.00-$2,508.00

    $22,596.00$30,100.00

     6+ persons

    $2,014.00-$2,683.00

    $24,168.00-$32,200.00

    **this will require a full assessment of your financial situation, which includes:

  • Detailed employment/income history for your family for the past 12 months
  • Net family income for the past 30 days
  • Amount of any child or spousal support paid, and daycare expenses
  • Equity in Real Property
  • Cash on hand (combined bank balances); details of monthly expenses
     
  • 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. If not, our Recoveries Department will only contact you to set up payment options once we start receiving bills from your lawyer.

     

    Cases That We Cover

    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
    • some non-family civil 
     
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