October 27 is Duty Counsel Day! It is a day dedicated to raising awareness of the vital role that duty counsel plays in protecting access to justice.
Demand for duty counsel never stops. Last year alone, duty counsel assisted more than 135,000 Albertans across the province. Nationally, this figure rises to more than 1 million assists per year.
In Alberta, duty counsel provides legal assistance and advice in family and criminal docket courts, at bail hearings, taking calls 24/7 from those newly arrested or detained and assisting in cases of family breakdown and family violence.
This work is challenging and rewarding.
At present, Legal Aid Alberta is looking to add to our duty counsel complement to attend criminal courts in:
High Level (and circuit points)
High Prairie (and circuit points)
Peace River (and circuit points)
Rocky Mountain House
Lethbridge
Brooks
Medicine Hat
If you are an experienced lawyer in the areas of criminal law and are interested in providing duty counsel services in these locations, please contact
[email protected] for more information on the application process and selection metrics.
Learn more about Duty Counsel Day: