Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

This page provides guidance on common billing and fee inquiries received by Roster Services Liaison team who provide support to our roster lawyers in both areas. Content will be updated on an ongoing basis.

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When to update an Indigenous Background Report

When invoicing under s.11.10 – Gladue/Impact of Race and Culture Assessment Fee, counsel should not reference an aged Indigenous Background Report or Gladue submissions without a fulsome updating. 

 

If a Indigenous Background Report or Gladue submissions was completed more than two years ago, it is inappropriate to use that report, or reference those submissions, without updating it (them) in a comprehensive manner.

 

Updated April 15, 2026

Eligibility for invoicing 11.07 and 11.08

Counsel cannot bill 11.07 – Non-trial Resolution when withdrawing from record unless the matter was scheduled for trial or preliminary hearing within 60 days of the date of withdrawal. Neither 11.07 – Non-trial Resolution nor 11.08 – Multiple Information Resolution can be billed if counsel is removed from record when there was no trial or preliminary hearing scheduled.

 

If counsel withdraws from record on a date where the matter was scheduled for Summary Disposition and the disposition does not proceed, counsel is not permitted to bill any outcome fee.

 

Updated March 12, 2026

Next step for matter at warrant or loss of contact

If a matter goes to warrant or there is loss of client contact, it is recommended that counsel submit a final invoice to complete services on the certificate within 90-days of warrant or loss of client contact. Client would be required to contact Legal Aid Alberta to re-apply for services.

 

Updated March 12, 2026

Validation requirement for Gladue/IRCA fee

The 11.10 – Gladue/Impact of Race and Culture Assessment (IRCA) Fee is billable when Gladue or IRCA reports are used in court or when counsel makes their own submissions to the Court in a similar manner.  

 

An attachment showing that counsel has reviewed the client’s Gladue or IRCA factors and used them to advocate for culturally appropriate restorative justice options is required when billing this fee. 

 

When billing the Gladue/IRCA fee without an official Gladue/IRCA report, or if the official report is over two years old, counsel must attach a document that confirms they meet all three criteria: 

 

  1. Counsel interviewed the client about their Gladue or IRCA factors. 
  2. Counsel contacted extended family and other community supports to identify and confirm supporting information. 
  3. Counsel put forward culturally appropriate restorative justice options for sentencing or bail to the Court. 

  

Simple confirmation of the first two criteria is required (for criterion #2, indicate who was contacted), and then a brief description of how counsel used the information they obtained to argue for culturally appropriate restorative justice options for sentencing or bail. 

 

The Gladue/IRCA fee is intended to compensate counsel for time (equivalent to three hours at the hourly rate) preparing and using these factors to help the client. The fee being equivalent to three hours of work means that counsel’s attachment should demonstrate that a significant amount of time was spent to entitle counsel to this fee. 

 

This fee is used once per client if counsel has multiple certificates for the same client. 

 

Updated Feb. 26, 2026

Notifying LAA of deceased client

If counsel is notified that a client is deceased, please submit a final invoice within 30 days of being notified, and indicate in the invoice comments that the client is deceased. 

 

LAA’s billing process requires notification of a client’s death (a death certificate is not required).

 

Updated Feb. 26, 2026

Request for additional information to support invoicing review

If additional information is required to support invoicing review, the Roster Services Liaison will email the certificate lawyer with the request which may include: 

 

  • Status Update 
  • Supporting documents; or 
  • Clarification 

 

A response to the request is due within five business days. If no response is received within five business days, the invoice will be rejected and counsel is required to submit the requested information before re-submitting the invoice.

 

Updated Feb. 26, 2026

Interim (regular) billing – active certificates

Legal Aid Alberta requires lawyers to submit an interim (regular) invoice every 12 months on an active certificate. There is no minimum billable amount for a regular invoice; it should include any work done in the past 12 months when the certificate matter remains ongoing. 

 

An authorization request for interim invoice review date extension should only be submitted in exceptional circumstances where the matter remains ongoing, but no work has been completed in the last 12 months.  

 

A lawyer will receive multiple reminder emails as the interim invoice due date approaches.  If an interim invoice is not received by the due date, the certificate may be subject to a compliance review, which affect billing eligibility.  

 

The six-month billing deadline supersedes any Interim Invoicing reminders. If the matter has been concluded or counsel withdrew, a final invoice is required within six months. 

 

Updated Feb. 26, 2026

Final billing – completed certificates

Final accounts must be submitted to LAA no later than six months after the last step taken to complete a certificate. The final bill must include the outcome of the case, the date upon which certificate services were completed and any other materials required. LAA has no liability for the payment of an account rendered more than six months after the completion of services covered by the certificate. 

 

Updated Feb. 26, 2026

Voiding LAA invoices

When an invoice needs to be corrected after it has been paid, LAA must void the invoice. Our system records a voided invoice by creating a credit line item.

 

As a result, you will see both the original invoice and a corresponding credit entry on your statement summary in the Lawyer Portal. If the invoice is voided during a different invoice submission period from when it was paid, the adjustment will apply to a later EFT.

 

In this example, you were previously paid for invoice 01234568 on Jane Client’s certificate C4567892 on an earlier EFT (July 15th), and in August you realized there was an error in your bill and you asked LAA to void it.

The original invoice remains visible for audit purposes, while the credit line item reverses its financial effect. The invoice and credit offset one another, resulting in a net value of zero.

Future payments would be reduced until the full amount of the credit has been recovered. This recovery may occur against invoices submitted on the same client file or on other LAA files, as applicable.

 

Updated Aug. 28, 2026

Moving Firms? A Reminder About Certificates, Billing, and GST Information

If you are moving from one law firm to another, please remember that your Legal Aid Alberta certificates and billings belong to you as the roster lawyer, not to your firm.

 

Before your move, we recommend discussing with your current and new firms how certificate work and billing will be handled. Depending on the agreement between you and your firm, it may make sense to submit outstanding accounts before the effective date of your move or wait until after the change has been completed.

 

To help avoid payment delays and administrative issues:

  • Review any open certificates and outstanding accounts before your move.
  • Consider the timing of invoice submissions in accordance with your firm’s internal arrangements.
  • Notify Legal Aid Alberta as soon as possible of your firm change.
  • Ensure your bank account information for direct deposit is changed when applicable. This must be changed in the Lawyer Portal.
  • Ensure to notify LAA if your GST number needs to be changed.

 

Billing submitted under an incorrect firm, GST number, or lawyer profile may result in payment delays and may require administrative corrections.

 

Taking a few minutes to plan ahead can help ensure a smooth transition and timely payment of your accounts.

If you have questions regarding a firm change or updating your lawyer profile, please contact [email protected].

 

Updated Aug. 28, 2026

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