The clients who are eligible for legal aid coverage have choice of counsel. Legal Aid Youth Offices are in place in Edmonton and Calgary to handle matters on behalf of youths. Staff lawyers assisted by paralegals provide services to individual youths and also perform Duty Counsel services. In those instances where there is a conflict of interest the youth is appointed counsel from the private bar. The Legal Aid Society of Alberta covers all indictable criminal offences, and summary conviction offences where there is a likelihood of incarceration loss of livelihood or unusual circumstances.
Civil coverage is provided in a wide range of cases.
Please refer to the Annual Report for types of cases. A Duty Counsel Program ensures the availability of legal advice and assistance to persons appearing before the Court unrepresented. There is no financial eligibility testing. A Court Ordered Counsel Program for youths is administered by the Legal Aid Society on behalf of Alberta Justice.