Table 1
Legal aid in Canada, 2013/2014Note 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Legal aid in Canada Total legal aid plan revenue, Total legal aid plan expenditures, Total legal aid applications, Total legal aid applications approved for full service and Total private and staff lawyers providing services, calculated using thousands of dollars and number units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Revenues refer to all monies received by the legal aid plan for assistance in the provision of legal aid services. Funding is received by legal aid plans from three main sources: government contributions, client contributions and cost recoveries, and contributions from the legal profession.
Expenditures refer to the actual gross dollars expended by the legal aid plan in a given fiscal year. Expenditures made on behalf of the plan by other agencies are not included. Expenditures in a given year do not necessarily match funding for that year since legal aid plans may operate using reserve funds, or may operate in surplus.
An application refers to a formal request, evidenced in writing, whereby a person applies to a legal aid office for assistance. The total number of applications reported for the fiscal year include all such applications filed during that time, irrespective of when the application was approved or rejected. When aggregated, the total number of applications reflects the number of individual requests for summary and full service assistance, rather than the total number of persons seeking assistance.
Approved legal aid application counts refer to full service applications only. An approved application for full service refers to an application for legal assistance which is granted as described in a certificate, referral, or any other authorization denoting that the applicant is entitled to legal aid services.
Over the past few years, Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) has introduced a modernization strategy for service delivery, which includes a mix of alternative service models and providers, such as the LAO Call Service Centre, and additional summary legal advice provided by court house workers. The change in service delivery has resulted in fewer clients making a formal written application, as well as a correspondingly lower number of total legal aid applications approved for full service.
In 2010/2011, Legal Aid Alberta began implementation of a new Legal Services Centre delivery model. In this model, a client receives upfront assessments of their legal needs and then is directed into the appropriate stream of legal service. Based on their needs and financial eligibility, clients receive a service plan that comprehensively guides them through the best path of action for their individual legal issue. Eligible clients receive services ranging from referrals and legal information to brief services and limited scope or full representation. Formal written applications have been replaced with assessments. These assessments have resulted in fewer clients receiving full representation.
