Expired Governance Agreement
To Albertans, we are completely committed to resolving this matter as soon as possible. On July 2, the Legal Aid Alberta Board of Directors shared a message with our employees, roster lawyers, and stakeholders regarding the expiration of the Governance Agreement with the Government of Alberta. The full message is available here […]
Gladue Report validation requirements, effective July 15
Legal Aid Alberta, together with our expert network of 1,200 roster lawyers across the province, is proud of its role in ensuring access to justice for all Albertans—including many of the most vulnerable residents of our province. Part of this role is to periodically review Tariff items to ensure that they are well implemented and […]
Lawyer Portal service outage July 5; DC Portal bug fixes
Lawyer Portal will be unavailable from Friday, July 5 at 5 p.m. until Saturday, July 6 at 11:59 p.m. in order to implement several minor bug fixes to DC Portal. Changes include: Users will now be able to see if an update to a client’s financial information is required. The link to the Financial Eligibility […]
Truth and reconciliation: Legal Aid Alberta’s commitment to better serve Indigenous clients and communities
“Whether we’re on the frontline of intake, a lawyer, or in administration, everyone in our organization benefits from compassion because it makes us who we are at LAA.” Legal Aid Alberta is committed to working toward positive change in the legal system for Alberta’s Indigenous, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. LAA Indigenous Liaison Aaron […]
Legal Aid Alberta earns sportsmanship award and finishes second overall at the Edmonton Corporate Challenge
“It’s a ton of fun and makes me feel more connected with my coworkers.” Jon Mastel, stakeholder engagement advisor and Corporate Challenge participant In an impressive display of teamwork, determination and competitive spirit, Legal Aid Alberta clinched second place in our division at this year’s Edmonton Corporate Challenge. The competition was as fierce as […]
Lawyer Directory assists Legal Aid Alberta clients in finding help faster
A new Lawyer Directory is available on the Legal Aid Alberta website, making it easier for clients to find the lawyer of their choice. Legal Aid Alberta’s new Lawyer Directory offers an online listing of Alberta lawyers who take legal aid cases and have chosen to be listed. The directory is searchable by name, courthouse […]
Reminder: Timesheets and criminal invoices
Keeping detailed time sheets remains the best practice, and detailed time sheets will always be required for criminal files: in which Extra Hours are claimed under tariff item 11.19, or that fall under the Hourly Case Management program. We recognize that many criminal lawyers do not keep detailed time sheets as a standard operating procedure, and do […]
Gladue principles decision
R v AD, 2024, a recent case from the Alberta Court of Appeal, highlights the far-reaching importance of Gladue reports and principles. The Crown successfully appealed a sentence on the grounds that the defendant’s Gladue report was taken into consideration, but not Gladue principles related to the victims. The decision highlights the importance of sections 718.04 and 718.201 of the Criminal Code which are […]
Time sheets and criminal invoices
Keeping detailed time sheets remains the best practice, and detailed time sheets will always be required for criminal files: in which Extra Hours are claimed under tariff item 11.19, or that fall under the Hourly Case Management program. We recognize that many criminal lawyers do not keep detailed time sheets as a standard operating procedure, […]
As Pride Season begins, Chuck Easton discusses legal rights and protections with CBC
Legal Aid Alberta family lawyer Chuck Easton appeared on the Wise Counsel segment of CBC radio’s Edmonton AM morning show on June 12 to discuss legal rights and protections for members of the LGBTQ2S+ community. Easton was speaking as the incoming chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance section (SAGDA). Easton has […]