Celebrating 53 years of protecting access to justice
Legal Aid Alberta continues to evolve and meet the legal needs of Albertans. For more than five decades, Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) has been a cornerstone of access to justice, supporting Albertans through some of life’s most complex and urgent legal challenges. Today, LAA continues to build on that legacy with a clear focus […]
Meet Legal Aid Alberta’s summer students
Summer student program gives future lawyers important experience in child welfare, family, immigration and adult criminal defence. For a second-year law student looking to gain valuable hands-on experience in the legal profession, Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) more than delivered. Within his first week on the job as an LAA summer student, Ethan Simmons says he […]
Mental Health Court in Edmonton: How it works
Legal Aid Alberta plays an important role in Mental Health Court and protecting access to justice. Mental Health Court is a specialized court in Edmonton for adults charged with a crime who also have a mental illness. The court focuses on addressing the underlying mental health issues that can contribute to criminal charges, with the […]
Growing number of Albertans value Legal Aid Alberta for its positive impact, role in protecting access to justice: poll
New independent study shows rising public trust, awareness and positive impact on the lives of Albertans. More Albertans than ever understand and value the positive impact that Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) has on the lives of citizens in the province. A province-wide poll by the independent research firm Leger found that recognition of […]
Celebrating the women of Legal Aid Alberta
On International Women’s Day, March 8, we celebrate the women whose knowledge, talent and commitment are critical to protecting access to justice. Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) exists to protect access to justice through high-quality legal representation, especially for our most disadvantaged. This work takes a team of dedicated leaders, lawyers and professional staff […]
Woman to woman: Two Legal Aid Alberta lawyers on the role of women in law, leadership and fair justice
Legal Aid Alberta staff lawyers Katie Clackson and Krista McFadyen on why it’s important to see more women in the courtroom, and the role of women, equality, inclusion and empathy in a healthy justice system. Women have long played a transformative role in the legal profession in Canada, advancing access to justice, strengthening public […]
Legal Aid Alberta celebrates staff at long-service awards
Legal Aid Alberta celebrates 35 long-time employees When Tahira Karim first joined Legal Aid Alberta (LAA), she was an ambitious articling student seeking opportunities to deepen her courtroom experience and litigation expertise. Tahira, a University of Ottawa law grad, was already applying her knowledge while articling at another law firm. Thanks to the mentorship of […]
Who speaks for the kids? Representing children in family court
Legal Aid Alberta staff lawyer Douglas McLachlan explains how children and youth are represented in court. For most Albertans, Family Day is a chance to take a break and spend quality time with our loved ones. But for many families, reality is much different, especially when a child’s safety or home environment is at […]
Separating fact from fiction in the Canadian legal system
Legal Aid Alberta staff criminal duty council Cameron Mitchell joined Global Edmonton to help unpack some of the facts from the fiction, from arrests and police interrogations to what to what to expect in the courtroom.
Legal Aid Alberta’s 2025 in review
How Legal Aid Alberta has protected access to justice for Albertans across the province. 2025 was a critical year for Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) and our role in protecting the legal rights of Albertans. This year, LAA delivered legal services to hundreds of thousands of clients across Alberta, from almost 125,000 duty counsel assists […]