Duty Counsel Day — A day to celebrate everyday legal heroes
Published: October 26, 2026
Click here to download image. Oct. 27 is National Duty Counsel Day. This is a nationwide initiative led by Legal Aid Plans of Canada to recognize the essential role duty counsel lawyers play in helping people navigate the justice system and access legal support when they need it most.
Duty counsel are legal aid lawyers who deliver court-based legal services to eligible clients across Canada. They can assist people who suddenly find themselves in the justice system to understand their rights, what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what options are available. The justice system can feel complex and overwhelming, and duty counsel work to cut through the confusion that could lead to bad outcomes and disrupt or delay the legal process.
To celebrate, Legal Aid Ontario is recognizing duty counsel and their contributions, supporting learning about Duty Counsel Day in the classrooms of Ontario, and hosting a webinar with Legal Aid Alberta for law students to learn more about this role and its crucial part of the justice system. For more information about these events and others, visit knowdutycounsel.ca.
Meet some of the duty counsel who work for Legal Aid Ontario.