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 […]
New agreement ensures a strong future for legal aid in Alberta
Left to right: Ryan Callioux, KC, board chair, Legal Aid Alberta; Mickey Amery, KC, Minister of Justice and Attorney General; Stacy Petriuk, KC, President-Elect (2025-26) of the Law Society of Alberta On July 16, 2025, the Government of Alberta, the Law Society of Alberta, and Legal Aid Alberta signed a new Governance Agreement that secures […]
Legal Aid Alberta serves Albertans 24/7
Demand for Legal Aid Alberta never rests. Just as police work around the clock, Legal Aid Alberta lawyers are also on the job 24 hours a day to protect Albertan’ rights and ensure the Rule of Law is followed. Legal Aid Alberta Staff Lawyer Jana Skarsen appeared on Global News Morning Edmonton to discuss […]
Legal Aid Alberta reaffirms commitment to reconciliation on National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 21 marks National Indigenous Peoples Day — a time to celebrate the rich cultures, contributions, and histories of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples across Canada. At Legal Aid Alberta (LAA), the day is also a moment to reaffirm a deeper, ongoing commitment: access to justice and reconciliation. For LAA, access to justice […]
How Gladue reports help courts set sentences
The over representation of Indigenous people in the justice system has been well documented. A Government of Canada survey indicates that while Indigenous people make up five per cent of the total Canadian population, the number of Indigenous people in federal prisons is 21 per cent. That figure rises to an average of 42 per […]