There are many different kinds of libraries that support and provide access to our Canadian legal system, including courthouse libraries, legislative libraries, public libraries and more. Libraries are essential to sustaining democracy and accessing justice. They retain and preserve official … [Read more...]
The Law is All Around Us: A Case for Public Legal Education and Information
Greater legal capability - the ability to understand and use legal information - helps people to learn the right vocabulary, formulate questions, decide on next steps, decide who to talk to, etc. Learning about the law is not just something you do when confronted with a serious legal issue. … [Read more...]
A Look Back at Women’s Rights
International Women's Day celebrates the achievements of women and provides an opportunity to look back at the evolution of women's rights, including about voting, holding political office and owning property. Today is International Women’s Day, celebrated around the world each year on March … [Read more...]
An Overview of Specialized Courts & Restorative Justice at Provincial Court in Edmonton
Edmonton's Indigenous Court, Mental Health Court and Drug Treatment Court use restorative justice principles in sentencing a person convicted of a criminal offence. The Edmonton Indigenous Court, Edmonton Mental Health Court and Edmonton Drug Treatment Court are three specialized courts in the … [Read more...]
Hot Legal Topics of 2022
You asked and we answered - questions about interest rates, rent increases, layoffs and terminations of employment, grants of probate and conversion therapy. As another year ends, it’s a time to reflect back on the year that was and look forward to the year that will be. I think many of us are … [Read more...]
Dealing Effectively with Self-Represented Litigants: A view from the bench
Nine tips for anyone involved with self-represented litigants (SRLs), including a look at the responsibilities of lawyers and the court. I can only speculate on the reasons for the surge over the last 20 years in people representing themselves in all forms of litigation. One may be the high cost … [Read more...]
How legal coaching can help if you are representing yourself in court
Gaining in popularity, legal coaching is an unbundled legal service that allows you to hire a legal helper to do a specific job for you. With Legal Aid services chronically underfunded and the average cost for a lawyer steadily increasing, it is no wonder more and more people are representing … [Read more...]
How PLEI Resources Can (and Cannot) Help Self-Represented People
Reliable and current public legal education and information (PLEI) resources can help self-represented people prevent and resolve legal problems in many situations. What is PLEI? PLEI stands for public legal education and information. While it may seem self-explanatory, one description of what is … [Read more...]
Do you need legal information? Start at Alberta Law Libraries
Alberta Law Libraries offer guidance and free access to legal materials and forms. If you are dealing with a legal problem, or if you need to appear in court and do not have a lawyer, you are welcome to visit Alberta Law Libraries for assistance and free access to legal materials. Understanding the … [Read more...]
Regulating Paralegals in Alberta
The Alberta Association of Professional Paralegals is advocating for regulation of paralegals and is already working to develop quality education programs. In response to the growing access to justice issue in Alberta, legal stakeholders are trying to figure out what they can do to ease the … [Read more...]
