Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) provides legal services to financially eligible Albertans. Some services, such access to Duty Counsel lawyers, are available to all regardless of financial eligibility. LAA has implemented the Early Appearance Assistance initiative in order to improve the access to Duty Counsel lawyers for Albertan who are not financially eligible for a LAA appointed lawyer.
Albertans can contact LAA in advance of their court date to discuss their case with a Duty Counsel lawyer. These Duty Counsel lawyers can help explain the charges and options available, and answer questions on the legal matter or court procedures. This initiative helps Albertans without a lawyer better understand the criminal justice system and helps limit potential delays in the legal matter.
