Panel standards

The panel standards set out requirements for admission and continued standing on the duty counsel advice lawyer panel. There are panel standards in place for the following types of advice lawyers:

• Advice lawyer - Mental health
• Advice lawyer - Correctional institutions
• Advice lawyer - Refugee and immigration
• Advice lawyer - Domestic violence

District area directors (DAD) and supervisory duty counsel (SDC) provide ongoing guidance and assistance. Additional supports include administrative/procedural training relating to the role of duty counsel, and a duty counsel manual. The manual provides information on the role of all types of duty counsel.

There are also case law summaries available through LAO LAW, a duty counsel hotline, and annual performance feedback from district area directors or supervisory duty counsel.

When deemed appropriate, the district area director or supervisory duty counsel has the discretion to empanel a lawyer who does not meet the experiece standards.

Any lawyer who is empanelled to do legal aid certificate or duty counsel work may apply to become a member of an advice lawyer panel by submitting an a application to the appropriate district office. Lawyers are subject to a three-month probationary period, and are required to shadow supervisory duty counsel or experienced duty counsel.

At the end of this period, the district area director or the supervisory duty counsel provide the applicant with performance feedback. Using their discretion, the DAD/SDC can decide whether to admit the applicant to the panel or extend the probation period for an additional three months.

LAO monitors lawyer feedback on training programs, tracks remedial support activities and reviews summary reports of performance feedback from LAO district area directors and supervisory duty counsel.

Please contact your district area director or supervisory duty counsel with any additional questions.