7 answers to common questions about how legal aid works in Alberta
Who does Legal Aid Alberta serve? Who qualifies? What type of cases do we handle? Answering questions about how we protect access to justice in Alberta. Legal aid is essential to society to protect access to justice. Legal Aid Alberta protects people’s rights, represents the best interests of children, youth, families and newcomers to […]
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 […]
New Board executive, 3 members appointed to Legal Aid Alberta Board of Directors
Brad Pickering appointed Chair; David Linder, KC, appointed Vice Chair; Roseanne Carey, Clint Warkentin and Tamar Epstein join Board Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) is pleased to announce that Brad Pickering has been appointed Chair of the Board of Directors and David Linder, KC, has been appointed Vice Chair. In addition, we are excited to welcome three new members to our Board of Directors: Roseanne Carey, Clint Warkentin and Tamar […]
Co-parenting during the holiday season
The winter holiday season is a special – and stressful – time of year. For families who are co-parenting, especially for the first time, there’s pressure to make the holidays memorable for kids while co-ordinating with the other parent. The best tip for parents, says LAA staff lawyer Victoria Foster, is to put the best […]
Supporting Albertans facing family violence matters
November is Family Violence Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness of this serious issue, and the ways Legal Aid Alberta can support claimants and respondents in these matters. Legal Aid Alberta staff lawyer Jessica Chapman appeared on Global Morning News in Edmonton to discuss Emergency Protection Orders and other legal tools that can […]
Duty Counsel: Your first line of defence
Going to court can be a stressful experience for anyone. Fortunately, Canadians have a Charter right to legal representation and legal aid organizations across the country provide duty counsel lawyers free of charge to Canadians who need on-the-spot legal advice. In Alberta alone, Legal Aid Alberta duty counsel provided assistance 135,000 times in courtrooms all […]
Office closure on Sept. 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) offices and phone lines will be closed in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On Sept. 30, we observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, a day dedicated to remembrance and reflection, acknowledging both past and present, and committing to making a difference now and in the future. […]
The role of youth duty counsel in the justice system
The Youth Criminal Justice Act ensures that young people are treated fairly – and differently than adults – if they come into conflict with the law and face criminal charges. Legal Aid Alberta staff lawyer Nancy Cush, who has more than 25 years of experience in this area of law, appeared on the Global […]
Reuniting families in child welfare cases
Regardless of a family’s background, there can be times when circumstances in a home put a child’s well-being at risk. In those instances, the child can be removed from the home until the parents are better able to care for the child. That’s where Legal Aid Alberta lawyers like Doug McLachlan come in. McLachlan appeared […]