In brief: News for lawyers

It’s not too late to nominate someone for the Sidney B. Linden award! The deadline to nominate someone for the Sidney B. Linden award has been extended to February 10, 2023. The award is named after Justice Sidney B. Linden, the first chair of Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), who has been involved with legal aid for…

The upcoming annual self-report period for 2022 opens on Jan. 3, 2023. All Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) roster members admitted prior to Aug. 10, 2022 must complete and submit an annual self‑report to: renew or retain membership on the legal aid roster and authorizations for all areas of law in which they work confirm their…

Legal Aid Ontario is increasing language interpretation rates on certificate matters from $31.40 to $39.25 for the first hour and from $19.20 to $24.00 for subsequent hours, beginning December 12. The new rates will apply to interpretation services that are provided on or after the effective date. The rate increase is in response to concerns…

Due to routine maintenance and security system upgrades, Legal Aid Online will be unavailable from 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, December 9, 2022, to 11:59 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 10, 2022.  Please refrain from using the site during this period.  For any questions or technical difficulties, please contact the Lawyer Service Centre.

LAO has updated the 2022 lawyer annual self-report to improve the user experience and to assist with the transition of existing roster members to the updated minimum experience requirements. Highlights The 2022 self-report period will be from January 3 to March 31, 2023. You will be notified when the period begins. The self-reporting process remains largely the…

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has developed an Assignment of Judgment for Costs, which includes a corresponding Affidavit of Execution, to be used when a roster member’s client has been awarded costs in a matter covered by a certificate and the costs are not payable directly to LAO. For more information on costs, please see volume…

On Oct. 24, 2022, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) will return to its pre-pandemic eligibility requirements for family law services. This change affects everyone seeking the services of our family law duty counsel and summary legal advice, regardless of whether this help is provided in person or by phone. The same financial test, based on income…

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, LAO implemented temporary emergency changes to its service delivery model to assist vulnerable clients impacted by the pandemic. As access to in-person services resumes, LAO will be winding down many of its temporary emergency measures. Starting on Nov. 18, LAO will no longer: Waive its financial eligibility requirements for…

It’s time to send in your nominations for the Sidney B. Linden Award! The deadline for submission is Friday, January 20, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. The award is named after Justice Sidney B. Linden, the first chair of Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), who has been involved with legal aid for over 37 years. LAO created the Sidney…

Due to routine maintenance and system upgrades, Legal Aid Online will be unavailable from 6 pm ET on August 11, 2022 to 11:55 pm ET on August 14, 2022. Please refrain from using the site during this period. For any questions or technical difficulties, please contact the Lawyer Service Centre.