Changes to Alberta’s legal aid plan will focus on providing a broader range of services that are cost-effective and tailored to meet client needs. Changes will be effective April 6, and are in response to a complete review of the legal aid plan and discussions between Legal Aid Alberta and Alberta Justice officials.

“I am confident that these changes will allow Legal Aid to operate more efficiently and effectively while still meeting the needs of vulnerable Albertans,” said Alison Redford, Minister of Justice and Attorney General. “Legal Aid is about access to justice, and we want to ensure that it is sustainable and able to continue to make a real difference in the lives of Albertans.”

From June-November 2009, in cooperation with Alberta Justice and the Law Society of Alberta, Legal Aid Alberta undertook a full review of the legal aid plan. The Minister of Justice approved the recommendations for changes that were proposed by Legal Aid Alberta. As of April 6, Legal Aid Alberta will begin implementing, as one-year pilot projects, several of the recommendations from the review, including:

• Creating Legal Services Centres throughout the province that will provide an upfront assessment of clients’ legal needs and will refer clients to the appropriate legal service;
• Temporarily reducing Financial Eligibility Requirements for clients receiving expanded criminal duty counsel services and those clients receiving services provided through certificates for limited or full legal representation;
• Expanding Criminal Duty Counsel in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Lethbridge;
• Tailoring Limited Scope Representation services to meet specific client need;
• Offering family mediation services beginning in Edmonton and Calgary, and
• Restructuring Legal Aid Alberta’s Immigration and Refugee Services to address client needs.

“The temporary changes to Legal Aid Alberta’s financial guidelines are necessary for continuing to allow Albertans to access essential legal services. Government funding for legal aid has sustained itself, but Legal Aid Alberta is affected by loss of significant funds from the Alberta Law Foundation and other revenue sources as a result of the economic downturn,” said Colin Kloot, Chair of the Legal Aid Alberta Board of Directors. “Making cost-saving changes to the legal aid plan is necessary to ensure access to justice for Albertans in need well into the future.”

Legal Aid Alberta will also be expanding the legal services it offers in the Wetaskiwin region in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Other issues addressed in the review include governance structures, supporting the use of non-lawyers in the provision of targeted legal services and continuing to leverage technology to provide more efficient and effective services. To view the complete report and recommendations, please visit the LAA homepage. 

Legal Aid Alberta and Alberta Justice will evaluate these pilot projects after one year. For more information on these initiatives or Legal Aid Alberta please visit the LAA homepage.