It is available to anyone requesting it, although if the court is very busy, priority is given to persons in custody. The duty counsel service is a major legal aid program. Individuals may also apply to have a lawyer appointed to represent them. To receive legal aid in this way, the applicant must be financially eligible and have the type of problem that the Legal Aid Society is allowed to cover. Persons who receive legal aid are required to repay unless it would cause severe hardship.
Many people repay by means of small monthly payments.
There is no interest charged. A Board of Directors that deals with policy issues governs the Legal Aid Society, which in turn is responsible to the Law Society of Alberta and the Minister of Justice for Alberta. Board members are not paid for their service on the board. There are 11 Legal Aid offices in the province. The provincial office is located in Edmonton, sharing space with the regional office.