Additional interim increase in pay from Alberta government for private practice lawyers taking legal aid cases

Legal Aid Alberta will implement 25 per cent rate increase effective Jan. 1

The Ministry of Justice has authorized a further interim increase to the tariff rate and tariff items of 25 per cent to be effective January 1, 2023. This increase will bring the hourly tariff rate to $125 from $100. This new rate follows the first interim increase of 8.225 per cent that was authorized by the Ministry effective October 6, 2022.  

In response, the criminal defence Associations across Alberta have announced that they have voted to suspend the job action in coordination with the implementation of the new rate. The new hourly tariff rate of $125 will be implemented by Legal Aid Alberta effective January 1, 2023.  

LAA does not control the tariff rates paid to roster lawyers and these decisions are solely under the control of the Ministry. LAA supports the increase to the hourly tariff rate and continues to remain focused on helping Albertans along with our roster partners.  

Legal Aid Alberta Fast Facts  

• 35,000 clients 
• 61,000 active files 
• 1,200 roster lawyers 
• 300 staff 
• 75 communities served 
• 50 years helping Albertans 

Definitions 

• Roster lawyers who do legal aid are not employees of LAA but are contracted by LAA to provide legal advice and representation services. Roster lawyers come from the private bar, which means they have their own practice and/or work for a private law firm. Learn more.   
• Staff lawyers work as employees at Legal Aid Alberta. They bring special knowledge and skills to serve people facing significant legal and life challenges. Staff lawyers practice criminal, family and immigration law and provide duty counsel services in docket and therapeutic courts across the province.  
• Tariff of fees (tariff): The Legal Aid Alberta Tariff of Fees dictates how lawyers accounts should be paid/how much they may bill their clients. Learn more. 

Related News: 

• A message to roster lawyers from the LAA Board of Directors, CEO, and Executive Team 
• Interim increase to LAA Financial Eligibility Guidelines and tariff rate  
• Legal Aid Alberta adjusting operations in response to escalating job action by criminal defence lawyers  
• Legal Aid Alberta prepares for escalating job action by criminal defence lawyers  
• One day at a time: Legal Aid Alberta managing withdrawal of duty counsel services by contracted criminal defence lawyers  
• Legal Aid Alberta responds to possible withdrawal of services by some private sector roster lawyers  

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