LEGAL AID ALBERTA 50 YEARS
Albertans value the rights and freedoms we are guaranteed as Canadians. Legal Aid Alberta stands up for these fundamental legal rights, 50 years and counting.
Celebrate access to justice in Alberta
Welcome to the Legal Aid Alberta 50th anniversary commemorative website.
For 50 years, Legal Aid Alberta has been at the forefront of the fight for equal access to justice. Though the law, society and our organization have changed in many ways over the years, demand for legal aid services has stayed constant. Fifty years after helping our first clients we are still here – legal protectors for Albertans in cities and towns everywhere.
This occasion offers the opportunity to discover access to justice through a historic lens. Explore how legal aid services have evolved since our humble beginnings in 1973, to our current work breaking down barriers within an adversarial justice system. Learn about our ongoing efforts to make legal aid services more efficient and accessible for all Albertans.
Resolving legal problems for Albertans and protecting the rule of law for everyone has guided us for the past 50 years, and it will continue to be the foundation of our work for the next half-century.
Discussions regarding legal aid in Canada have a rich history that traces back to the 1930s. In the province of Alberta, the initiative to establish legal aid services took shape during the 1960s and reached a significant milestone with the official establishment of Legal Aid Alberta on May 24, 1973.
Back then, we had just 16 employees between Calgary and Edmonton. Just shy of 7,500 case files were started in that first year.
Today, Legal Aid Alberta services and impact have grown exponentially along with the need. Our 300 employees and 1,200 roster lawyers work tirelessly to solve complex legal problems for people across the province. We are among the most influential voices for access to justice and we are Alberta-wide.
Legal Aid Alberta through the years
1973 Highlight
LAA incorporates under Legal Aid Society of Alberta
1990s – 2000s
1994 Highlight
LAA’s Staff Duty Counsel Program begins
1990s – 2000s
2021 Highlight
Duty Counsel Day celebrated across Canada
2010s – present
News Archive
The threads of Legal Aid Alberta’s history are woven into the fabric of the province in public record sources including news media. From the outset, news outlets followed the growth of a new organization dedicated to helping Albertans facing serious legal challenges.
This archive provides a glimpse into our story in those early days.
Our impact
We are Alberta wide.
Access to justice is a fundamental right no matter where you live. Legal Aid Alberta’s reach spans the province.
This map shows the locations where there are active files for criminal, family and immigration cases from 2022-23. Hover over the circle icons to view areas of the province with over 1,000 active certificates.*
Fort McMurray
1,118 certificates
Grande Prairie
1,647 certificates
St. Paul
1,168 certificates
Edmonton
20,473 certificates
Wetaskiwin
1,497 certificates
Red Deer
2,814 certificates
Calgary
16,552 certificates
Medicine Hat
1,464 certificates
Lethbridge
2,481 certificates
We are innovators
We’re constantly seeking new ways to better support and serve Albertans.
Public Education Series
We’re here to help you understand your rights and how to deal with legal challenges.
Get involved
Join us in celebrating Legal Aid Alberta’s 50th anniversary.
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