In brief: News for lawyers

Starting January 2024, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) will be introducing optional enhanced training for members of LAO’s roster geared to those who provide criminal legal aid services. This training will provide roster members the opportunity to further strengthen their knowledge and quality of service when providing criminal legal aid services to youth clients charged under…

Legal Aid Ontario has raised the amount paid to lawyers who provide legal aid services in remote northern areas. On Oct. 16, the Guaranteed Daily Rate increased by five percent for: Services rendered in fly in locations or locations at least 200 km from a lawyer’s regular place of business, and the place where the…

To support efficiency in bail courts, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) now has an expedited process for habeas corpus application certificates. While LAO already covers habeas corpus applications, this new expedited process for bail hearings allows for a simplified application process and timelier response. Criteria for application The new application is to be submitted in cases…

Legal Aid Ontario’s amendments to the fees it pays its roster members comes into effect today. Beginning today, LAO is increasing the hourly rates for roster lawyers and the amount paid for block fees. increasing the number of hours allocated under the hourly tariff. allowing per diem duty counsel to bill according to their…

LAO is working to attract and retain lawyers to provide high-quality services to legally aided clients. This is why, effective October 16, 2023, LAO is improving the compensation structure for private bar lawyers who are paid to do legal aid work. The compensation structure for legal aid lawyers in Ontario has remained largely unchanged over the…

Basis of Claim (BOC) upload and Refugee Protection Division (RPD) hearing authorization requests: requirements Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is writing to notify roster members providing refugee law services of a process change that is coming into effect immediately. Further details on the process change, including instructions on how to ensure Basis of Claim (BOC) forms…

LAO to consult on minimum experience requirements for Ontario Review Board roster Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is consulting on introducing minimum experience requirements (MERs) in the Legal Aid Services Rules for the existing Ontario Review Board roster. At the same time, LAO proposes revoking the unimplemented MERs for youth criminal and criminal mental health sub-authorization….

LAO to consult on implementation date change for youth criminal and criminal mental health requirements Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is consulting on a new implementation date of Jan. 1, 2024, for two new areas of law—youth criminal and criminal mental health matters. Under the Legal Aid Services Rules, the effective date was originally June 1,…

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…

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is making its Immigration Detention Representation Program (IDRP) a permanent service, following a successful pilot which has significantly increased the number of people in immigration detention who have been able to get legal help. High demand for IDRP services LAO created the Immigration Detention Representation Program in 2021, made up of…