Description:
Legal Aid Workers assist lawyers and paralegals with criminal and family law court proceedings with an emphasis on resolving matters as set out below.
General
- Determine legal and financial eligibility for certificate and duty counsel services based on LAO eligibility criteria.
- Triage and interview clients to: Gather information about the client's case; assess client need, including the early identification of vulnerable clients, to determine the appropriate LAO service for the client; prepare them to have a productive meeting with duty counsel; and assist in case management procedures.
- Provide basic information about the law, forms, and court process
- Provide referrals to other internal and external programs and resources
- Perform searches and commission affidavits of clients, as appropriate
- Prepare reports and submit accounts/dockets, as required, in accordance with LAO policies
- Assist with training/onboarding colleagues and per diems
- Participate in working groups, pilots and LAO initiatives
- Stakeholder engagement and public legal education
- Other duties and administrative tasks as assigned
Criminal Law
- Speak to routine administrative matters in court (e.g. adjournments in Case Management Court and Video Remand Court)
- Assist with bail planning, including by interviewing potential sureties and making referrals to bail programs and other supports
- Assist with file management, and record keeping, including requesting and organizing disclosure and timely creation and maintenance of electronic duty counsel worksheets in Service Integration (SI)
- Assist with scheduling and filing materials for court
- Other duties as assigned
Family Law
- Prepare and draft documents for family law and child protection proceedings under the supervision of a lawyer
- Assist with file management, conflict checks, and record keeping, including requesting and organizing documents and updating Case Center
- Assist with scheduling, service of documents, and filing materials for court
- Other duties as assigned