Access to justice milestone: Legal Aid Alberta surpasses 120,000 bail hearings for Albertans held in custody
Justice of the Peace Bail Program ensures Albertans have proper legal representation at no cost during one of the most difficult points in their lives. This year marks over 120,000 bail hearings completed by Legal Aid Alberta (LAA) lawyers. Imagine this: you’re driving, and the police pull you over. They take your cell phone and […]
Student placement program offers hands-on experience to legal education
Law student Casey Caines shares her experience in the student placement program with Legal Aid Alberta At the beginning of her legal career, Casey Caines was unsure of what area of law she wanted to practice in—but a placement at Legal Aid Alberta led her one step closer to her answer. “I wouldn’t […]
LAA President, Board Chair each awarded Queen’s Counsel designation
Awards recognize exceptional merit and exemplary service in the Canadian justice system Members of the Legal Aid Alberta community have been awarded the prestigious Queen’s Counsel designation. The QC designation is a centuries-old tradition originating in England in 1603. In Alberta, the title is conferred on lawyers by the Minister of Justice and […]
Ask a Lawyer: Refugee options for those fleeing war in Ukraine and elsewhere
Williams appeared on Ask a Lawyer to share Legal Aid Alberta’s involvement in supporting individuals with immigration and refugee claims, and other ways Canadians can provide aid to those seeking refuge. As the world continues to watch the devastating crisis in Ukraine, the Government of Canada has announced additional supports for those seeking refuge with […]
Your questions about bail, answered
Albertans are innocent until proven guilty. But upon arrest, and prior to having their day in court, they are at a distinct disadvantage. What does it mean to be ‘out on bail’? We hear it all the time in movies, but most Albertans are unsure of their rights and how to exercise them […]
Ask a Lawyer: Holistic approaches to legal problem-solving
Legal Aid Alberta’s Criminal Trial Group recently marked its first year in operations with an appearance on Ask A Lawyer to share insights on how holistic approaches to lawyering can benefit client-lawyer relationships. Legal services manager and lawyer, Inayat Jetha goes into detail on how the Criminal Trial Group assists Alberta’s most disadvantaged populations, particularly those […]
Celebrate International Women’s Day 2022
#BreakTheBias is this year’s theme for International Women’s Day. March 8 is International Women’s Day. At Legal Aid Alberta, we’re celebrating the incredible contributions and leadership of women in the legal profession. We recognize that we are all responsible for breaking the bias in our personal and professional communities in favour of inclusive and […]
Crisis in Ukraine underscores the importance of standing up for human rights and calling out abuse of power
At Legal Aid Alberta we stand for the protection of human rights and equitable access to justice. Like the rest of the world, we are watching in horror and sadness as the invasion of Ukraine continues to take the lives of so many. At Legal Aid Alberta we stand for the protection […]
Webinar highlights challenges faced by refugees and immigrants in the claimant process
On Feb. 28, Legal Aid Alberta hosted an Immigration and Refugee Law Training webinar for LAA roster lawyers featuring LAA staff lawyer Ruth Williams, and members of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. On Feb. 28, Legal Aid Alberta hosted an Immigration and Refugee Law Training webinar for LAA roster lawyers featuring […]
Criminal Trial Group is taking on Alberta’s most complex client cases
A Legal Aid Alberta Criminal Trial Group marking its first year of operations has been in court defending youth and adults who have changed lawyers multiple times and are facing extraordinarily challenging personal issues such as mental health, addiction, and housing. “It’s not always the complexity of the legal matter itself that is challenging […]