For criminal lawyers

Information for criminal lawyers on Legal Aid Ontario certificates or working on legal aid cases.

Updates

• Anti-Black racism resource guides
  These resources provide practical tips for how lawyers can practice cultural competence to be an “ally” and “accomplice” to Black clients and how best to raise the issue of anti-Black racism at the bail stage.
  Learn more.

• Independent Legal Representation Services under Section 276/278.
  LAO administers the submission of accounts and payments of ILR Services provided under Section 276/278 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
  Learn more.

• Coverage for bail transcripts for habeas corpus applications without advance authorization
  Roster members must forward the transcript invoice to gencasemgmt@lao.on.ca prior to billing to allow the transcript disbursement expense to be added to the certificate.
  Learn more.

• Expedited habeas corpus application for bail hearings
  This application is to be submitted in cases where a client was ready to proceed with a bail hearing and the hearing was adjourned due to court or Crown unavailability. Counsel should provide a brief opinion regarding the legal merits of a habeas corpus application in the form.
  Learn more.

• Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs)
  LAO provides funding for IRCAs for individuals who self-identify as Black or as member of another racialized community who:

  1. has a legal aid certificate and
  2. is facing jail time of two years or more, or is a youth is facing a custodial sentence (open or closed custody facilities).

  Read more

  Clients who self-identify as Black do not require a court order to obtain an IRCA.

  Clients who self-identify as a member of any other racialized community require a court order to obtain an IRCA.

Accounts and billing

• All you need to bill us for services.

Forms

• Plea comprehension inquiry form facilitates informed guilty pleas and protects both LAO clients and lawyers.
• Lawyer inmate request for legal aid service. Application form for the Toronto South Detention Centre project.
• For all other forms, visit our forms library.

Standards

• Criminal law standards. What you need to be authorized to provide criminal legal aid services.

Projects and programs

• Mentorship
• Case management for complex criminal cases likely to cost more than $8 K.
• Bail Strategy, our commitment to making bail faster and fairer.

Criminal youth and criminal mental health training

LAO is pleased to offer CPD-accredited training for roster members providing legal aid services in criminal mental health and criminal youth cases, as follows:

• Criminal youth training for criminal law practitioners: video & training session library. You must be a registered service provider and logged into LAO LAW to access this training.

  • A series that reviews representation of young people under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Topics include professional and ethical issues, youth bails and youth sentencing.

• Mental health training for criminal law practitioners: video & training session library. You must be a registered service provider and logged into LAO LAW to access this training.: video & training session library. You must be a registered service provider and logged into LAO LAW to access this training.

  • A series exploring critical aspects, including matters related to individuals found not criminally responsible (NCR), fitness assessments, the crucial role of amicus and more.

• Job aid for adding either criminal youth or criminal mental health training to Legal Aid Online.

Research and resources

• LAO Law
  Legal Aid Ontario’s research department. You must be a registered service provider to use this service.

• Legal Resources
  A list of Law Society resources and other organizations that provide legal information and services in Ontario.

• A Guide to Law in Ontario: Criminal Law
  Steps to Justice: questions and answers for accused persons going to criminal court.

  • Going to Criminal Court
    • What happens on my first appearance?

• General Criminal Trial Court Info Guide
  A guide that provides accused person with general information about criminal trials. (Click here for PDF version)

• General Criminal Law Information
  A resource on the Ministry of the Attorney General website that provides information on Criminal Law in Ontario.