Delays in submitting duty counsel invoices have a significant impact on Legal Aid Alberta’s ability to manage its financial operations and provide accurate, timely financial reporting.
Administrative Policy 5 (section 6.15) states that “LAA may attach a condition to a duty counsel certificate that requires a lawyer to submit an account sooner than the deadline set out in this policy.”
Effective April 1, 2026, schedule‑based duty counsel certificates must be invoiced no later than 30 days from the service start date listed on the certificate.
In accordance with Administrative Policy 5 (section 6.13), if a lawyer submits an account after this deadline, LAA may, at its sole discretion:
- refuse to pay the lawyer’s account; or
- pay all or part of the lawyer’s account.