Publication of the National Council of Welfare

Legal Aid and the Poor

A Report by the National Council of Welfare

Winter 1995

Table of Contents

Introduction

Why Poor People Need Legal Aid

Criminal Legal Aid
Legal Aid for Non-Criminal Law
Preventive Legal Aid Services

How Legal Aid Programs Work in Canada

Organization of Legal Aid Programs
Governing Bodies
Financial Resources
Models of Service Delivery

How Good Are Legal Aid Services?

Recognizing that a Problem is a Legal Problem
Knowing that Legal Aid is Available
Willingness to Apply for Legal Aid
Getting to Legal Aid and Finding a Lawyer
Financial Eligibility
Types of Services Covered
Quality and Cost-Effectiveness of Services

How Legal Aid Can Be Improved

Using the Most Cost-Effective Delivery Systems
Seeking Non-Traditional Solutions
Having Good Management
Implementing a Good Federal-Provincial Cost-Sharing Agreement
Abolishing Imprisonment for Fines
Preventing Crime

Summary And Recommendations

Footnotes