Legal Aid News Feed | PovNet - Building Online Community

Lack of legal aid stalls murder case

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 21:00:00 -0700

FRASER VALLEY - A Harrison Hot Springs man charged with murder will face a preliminary inquiry on Aug. 14, despite challenges in finding legal representation. The date was set when Sidney Robinson appeared in Chilliwack Provincial Court.

Hockey player seeks legal aid

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:00:00 -0700

VICTORIA -- The lawyer acting for a Victoria Salmon Kings hockey player is making a request for legal aid.

Spring 2008 - Bafflegab: Community Advocacy & Legal Centre Newsletter

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Topics in this issue include housing and consumer information, Special Diet Allowance, Human Rights process restructuring, Legal Aid Ontario's Aboriginal justice strategy, the end of Back-to-School and Winter Clothing Allowances, social assistance rate restructuring and the Ontario Child Benefit, vulnerable workers, and Criminal Injuries Compensation Board review.

Fate of Nunavut young offenders worries legal aid lawyers

Mon, 12 May 2008 11:31:44 -0700

Legal aid lawyers in Iqaluit say they are concerned about the well-being of young offenders if the Nunavut government moves them out of the Young Offenders Facility.

Head of Legal Aid takes job in Toronto

Thu, 8 May 2008 13:47:13 -0700

The executive director of Legal Aid Manitoba has resigned to take a job in Toronto after months of butting heads with the NDP-appointed chairman of the agency's board of directors. Gerry McNeely confirmed Wednesday he has been hired as the director of Ontario's new Independent Police Review System, an arm's length body that will vet complaints against municipal and provincial police.

Scales of justice unfairly tilted

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:01:19 -0700

It is hard to criticize a government that ponies up additional money to meet an immediate need, even if the amount of money is completely insufficient for the size of the problem. Such is the dilemma posed by Manitoba Legal Aid. This week, the province announced an additional $2 million to increase legal aid hourly rates for private bar lawyers by 40 per cent.

Lawyers too few to handle the need

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:01:18 -0700

A 40 per cent pay raise for legal aid lawyers is being applauded for improving access to justice for the province's poor. But the hike is clearly not the silver bullet for a legal system that suffers from a lack of lawyers in northern and rural communities and a serious backlog in the courts. Evan Roitenberg, president of the Criminal Defence Lawyers' Association of Manitoba, said he's optimistic the higher wage will increase the number of lawyers willing to take legal aid work outside the Perimeter Highway.

Low legal aid fees won't deter St. John's lawyers

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:17:57 -0700

Changes included in the province's planned overhaul of the justice system won't stop some St. John's lawyers from taking high-profile cases.

Legal Aid rates boosted 40%

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:46:23 -0700

Legal Aid Manitoba will hike its hourly wages by 40 per cent in an attempt to boost the number of private bar lawyers representing the province's poorest people, the Free Press has learned. Lawyers handling criminal and family law matters for the government-funded organization will now receive $80 per hour, up from the $57 per hour they've received for the past three years.

Quebec legal aid still out of reach for many: groups

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:03:14 -0700

Quebec Justice Minister Jacques Dupuis said he has no plans to broaden access to legal aid, despite pressure from opposition parties, a coalition of lawyers and social rights advocates.

60% support legal aid

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 21:00:00 -0700

An Ipsos Reid poll in March found about 60 per cent of the 730 B.C. residents questioned expressed strong support for legal aid services in the province.