In brief: News for lawyers

As part of our ongoing response to the COVID‑19 pandemic, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is working to offer more business support and information to lawyers. We are committed to instituting interim business solutions, and are eager to work with you while cooperating with the courts and Ministry of the Attorney General to maintain access to justice….

In recognition of the high risk that detained clients may face from the COVID-19 pandemic, our refugee law offices are giving priority to legal services for clients in immigration detention. Staff counsel in Toronto and Hamilton are available to provide detention review hearing representation to clients in immigration detention in central, southern or northern Ontario…

Working with justice partners, Legal Aid Ontario is taking steps to ensure the safety of our clients, staff and stakeholders in our effort against COVID-19 (coronavirus), as well as the continuity of service.

Bill C‑75 amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada include the hybridization of about 118 straight indictable offences, and standardization of a new maximum term of imprisonment for the majority of summary conviction offences to two years, less a day. Legal Aid Online will be updated to reflect this on February 23rd. Changes will include: Adding “Summary Conviction” to the election…

As of February 3, 2020, LAO’s Family Case Management program is expanding to include: family or domestic cases likely to cost more than $12,000, including fees and disbursements child protection cases likely to cost more than $8,000, including fees and disbursements This is in addition to helping lawyers manage costly and complex CYFSA‑extended society care…

Deadline extended to May 31, 2020 The annual self‑report for panel lawyers is now available in the Personal Info section of Legal Aid Online. You must complete your self‑report by March 31, 2020 to renew membership on legal aid panels, confirm ongoing compliance with panel standards, and update your panel standing. This takes just a couple…

Thanks to client feedback, we’ve updated our policy to clarify that all family law services are available to incarcerated clients, when they meet LAO’s legal and financial eligibility requirements.

Following Bill C-97 amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that now require mandatory hearings in some pre-removal risk assessments, LAO will now cover all clients with a PRRA certificate who are scheduled for a PRRA hearing.

In addition to Legal Aid Ontario’s own commitment to accessibility, LAO is required by law to be compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

On November 18, 2019 LAO will provide some additional family duty counsel services.