Case management
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) provides case management programs for lawyers authorized to provide criminal and family services who take on certain costly and complex cases and proceedings.
For criminal matters, LAO provides:
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Big Case Management (BCM), which may set budget limits for the most costly and complex criminal trial defences that LAO funds—criminal cases expected to cost more than $20,000 (for non homicide cases) or $30,000 (for homicide cases).
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Mid-level case management, for complex criminal cases, such as homicide, sexual assault, and offenses committed with firearms that are likely to fall above $8,000 and below the Big Case Management threshold. Some criminal matters will be streamed to mid level case management for assessment and management.
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Judge-Led Intensive Case Management Court (JICMC) certificates are time-limited and meant to help the Ontario Court of Justice as it addresses the backlog due to the COVID‑19 pandemic in case management court.
For family disputes, LAO provides family case management for:
- Child, Youth and Family Services Act matters likely to cost more than $8,000 (with the exception of supervision orders)
- Family/domestic matters likely to cost more than $12,000
Related Pages
Mid-level Criminal Case Management
LAO developed mid-level case management for criminal matters (and family case management) in response to feedback from the private bar during LAO’s province-wide consultations on discretion. It provides lawyers managing costly, complex criminal cases likely to fall above $8,000 and below the Big Case Management threshold ($20,000 for non‑homicide, $30,000 for homicide) with cost certainty,…
LAO Family Case Management (FCM) provides roster lawyers who are managing costly, complex cases under a family legal aid certificate with more predictability and adequate resources to deliver high‑quality, cost‑effective services. Family law cases eligible for the FCM program include: CYFSA matters (except supervision orders) likely to cost more than $8,000; and Domestic family matters…
The Big Case Management (BCM) program governs the most expensive and complex criminal trial defences Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) funds. Under the BCM program, LAO may set budgets for complex criminal cases expected to cost more than $20,000. In these cases, LAO establishes individual budgets rather than using its standard tariff system to determine the maximum hours available…