Legal Aid Alberta is making it easier and faster for Albertans to access the legal help they need

A look at some of the ways LAA is improving services to enhance access to justice

Every day across Alberta, Legal Aid Alberta helps hundreds of individuals and families by offering skilled legal representation, advice and support. We’re there in courthouses, hearing rooms, hospitals and jails. 

We make justice more accessible for everyone. Our focus is on connecting Albertans with the right lawyer for their needs, making it simple to apply for services, and genuinely listening to our clients’ concerns so we can improve. 

We’re proud of the progress we’re making to better serve Albertans. When Legal Aid Alberta clients receive quality legal aid services and representation, the Rule of Law is protected and all Albertans benefit. Here’s a look at some innovations that have improved the legal aid experience: 

Albertans have more options when applying for LAA services.
Duty counsel lawyers at Alberta courthouses now have technology at their fingertips to help Albertans on the frontlines more effectively, rather than advising them to call LAA’s busy Contact Centre and wait on hold. 

Online tools: 

• Client Gateway is used by lawyers to apply for legal aid coverage on a criminal matter. The application only takes only a few minutes and creates much-needed capacity on LAA’s phone lines.  
• Duty Counsel Portal is used to quickly check someone’s application status on the spot. 

Rural Albertans have equal access to legal support.
LAA has changed the travel guidelines to compensate lawyers for their mileage used for all client visits across Alberta, as long as they are preferred counsel. This will help rural Albertans receive the same access to quality legal representation as Albertans in the cities. 

Clients are having their concerns heard and handled swiftly.
If clients or lawyers have an issue, we want to hear it. An online standardized concerns form ensures Albertans are being heard, and that their feedback and concerns are reaching the right people. Input from clients, lawyers and the public help LAA improve its services to stakeholders. 

Albertans now have an easier time finding the lawyer they want.
During one of the most stressful times of their lives, Legal Aid Alberta clients shouldn’t have to worry about finding a lawyer – especially the right lawyer.  

LAA’s Lawyer Directory allows eligible clients to choose their preferred counsel, reducing the amount of time it takes to find quality representation. Clients can access a searchable list of hundreds of lawyers who accept LAA certificates with the ability to filter by area of law, court location and spoken languages. 

__________________________________

Demand never stops 

Legal Aid Alberta is a cornerstone of Alberta’s justice system, assisting Albertans nearly 290,000 times every year across 75 communities. 

Our work in the past year includes:   

• 120,000 duty counsel assists in court   

• 80,000 calls handled by our Contact Centre 

• 41,000 new representation certificates issued for criminal, family, and immigration cases 

• 32,000 bail hearings   

• 14,000 calls from police stations for legal advice 

• 2,500 emergency protection orders to keep families safe

Share this article.