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...]
Access to Legal Services in Womens’ Shelters
In December 2015, the Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family (CRILF) published a new report, Access to Legal Services in Women’s Shelters, authored by myself and Dr. Lorne Bertrand, examining access to legal services among clients of women’s domestic violence shelters. The study sampled … [Read more...]
Right to Counsel Includes Access to Counsel
Introduction The right to counsel upon arrest is a constitutionally protected right under section 10(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. On July 18, 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada clarified the importance of this right in the case of R v Taylor (Taylor). In this case, the police … [Read more...]
Long arm of U of A law looking to reach rural Alberta
At some point between birth and death, life calls for at least some legal services. But for rural Albertans, who, like their urban cousins grapple with everything from wills to business deals, vital access to a lawyer isn’t a given. That’s why the University of Alberta Faculty of Law is teamed up … [Read more...]
Calgary Legal Guidance Immigration Program
Navigating the complex web of immigration laws in Canada can be a challenging task for even the most seasoned legal counsel. Now imagine trying to steer through these complex processes alone, after arriving in a foreign country with little money and limited English skills. With cuts to Legal Aid, … [Read more...]