Sharing the knowledge: LAA hosts day-long child welfare law seminar
“Ensuring that clients involved in the child welfare system receive high quality representation is very important to Legal Aid Alberta. Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) has hosted its first day-long virtual training session on child welfare law, with about 100 staff and roster lawyers from northern Alberta in attendance. “Child welfare is one of our priority areas in family […]
‘Locked down’ or not, Albertans still need legal help and access to justice: Legal Aid Alberta President and CEO
As Alberta works through the third wave, it’s time to remember those serving on the frontlines of the justice system. Courts are considered closed, but what does that mean for those seeking justice and legal help? “Domestic violence didn’t go away on lockdown. People still need legal assistance. What happens to vulnerable people […]
LAA’s frontline lawyers have a huge impact on the lives of domestic violence victims
Legal Aid is helping protect people from physical, emotional, psychological, or sexual abuse As we face a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Legal Aid Alberta family lawyers and Alberta courts are continuing to support families and individuals grappling with the domestic violence, substance abuse, isolation and economic and cultural struggles. Family lawyers on […]
Mental health and the law: How a therapeutic approach is making a difference
Legal Aid Alberta lawyer Amna Qureshi appears on the May 4, 2021 episode of the “Ask a Lawyer” segment of the Global Morning Show in Edmonton. Watch: Mental Health and the Law Qureshi explains the workings of Edmonton’s Mental Health Court, a therapeutic court that helps individuals in conflict with the law who are also […]
Is chasing paper a thing of the past?
Just think of all the paper we haven’t used in the past year! This week we observed Earth Day at a time when many of our habits and impacts on the environment have changed radically. Daily commutes to the office and the CO2 emissions associated with them feel like a thing of the past. […]
Busted: Five Myths about Legal Aid Alberta
For one reason or another, the legal profession lends itself to books, plays, and big- and small-screen dramas. Everyone has their favourites. (We’re partial to Suits, the CBC’s Diggstown, and on the big screen, The Verdict.) But these productions are and fictions that can give people the wrong idea about the legal profession and what goes on […]
Ask A Lawyer: immigration and refugee claims and the pandemic
Legal Aid Alberta responds to new challenges and changes to the way applications are handled. “Ask a Lawyer” is a monthly segment on Global News Morning Edmonton at 7:40 a.m. on the first Tuesday of the month. Watch: Legal information about immigration and refugee claims during the pandemic The pandemic has ramped up […]
On the frontlines with Legal Aid Alberta family lawyers
LAA family lawyers Vanessa Cork, based in Lethbridge, and Kevin Livingstone, in Wetaskiwin, work with families in crisis. Domestic violence is an unfortunate reality in Alberta communities large and small. Legal Aid Alberta has staff and lawyers in nine offices around the province who work with families in crisis on issues ranging from spousal […]
In cases of life or death, Legal Aid Alberta guides refugees to safety in Canada
“You’re saving lives and saving families, and giving people hope.” Political debate and commentary on social media is often highly charged. In our democracy we value our right to speak critically of governments, without recrimination. That’s not the case everywhere. For Muhanad Shaukat, speaking out against the military regime in Sudan ended with death […]
Three cheers for LAA’s new board of directors
Legal Aid Alberta welcomes trio of new directors taking seats at the table. Catherine Braeuer, Brad Pickering, and Kent Teskey, QC, have been appointed to three-year terms on Legal Aid Alberta’s board of directors. An independent, non-profit organization that provides legal services, the board of directors are ambassadors for LAA and provide oversight of the […]