LAO to launch outcome reporting project

Published: April 4, 2023

As Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) works to improve access and fairness in the justice system, we rely on roster members to help meet those goals. LAO is grateful to the many lawyers who give life-changing advice and support to thousands of vulnerable and low-income clients.

These individual cases make up a bigger picture of access and equity, a picture that LAO uses to evaluate its work and improve in the future. Collecting data and reporting on outcomes is an important component of LAO’s client-centred approach. It also responds to feedback from Indigenous, Black and racialized communities.

In keeping with LAO’s mandate under LASA 2020 and its commitment to developing metrics, measures and reporting outcomes, LAO will start to collect information on bail and criminal case outcomes beginning May 1, 2023. Currently, roster members provide outcome data on criminal block fee certificates when they submit their final accounts. As of May 1, LAO will also be asking roster members to provide outcomes on all bail matters and case outcomes on criminal offences billed hourly. These outcomes can easily be recorded by selecting from drop-down pick lists and/or check boxes.

Criminal roster members will need to submit any saved draft accounts before April 28, 2023 as saved draft accounts will be deleted as part of the implementation process on April 28. All final accounts created after April 28 will require outcome reporting. More information will be communicated to the criminal roster before the launch Outcomes for appeals, prerogative remedies, and other matters billed on criminal certificates will be implemented in the future.

The data will be used to help LAO and the justice sector in Ontario better understand the outcome of cases involving racialized and Indigenous clients. We will keep you informed on our progress.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to providing legal aid services. If you have any questions about this project, please contact Moya Teklu, Director of Policy.

For billing and reporting questions, please contact the Lawyer Service Centre.

Learn more: Legal Aid Ontario Job Aid: Recording Criminal Case Outcomes