No Cree Court at the Darby Morin Center in March until Tuesday April 14th. Thursday the Trials start and continue until Friday.

Youth aged 12 to 17 are eligible for Legal Aid.

If you receive social assistance, you are eligible for Legal Aid.

If you receive band assistance, you are eligible for Legal Aid.

If you are working and you have a low income, you are probably eligible for Legal Aid.

Legal Aid looks at:

• how much money you make
• how much money your spouse makes
• how many children you have

Source: https://legalaid.sk.ca/legal-help/am-i-financially-eligible-for-legal-aid/

How do I know if I’m eligible for Legal Aid?

Legal Aid Saskatchewan provides legal advice and representation in court to people who cannot afford to pay for such services if:

-you are financially eligible
-your legal problem is covered by Legal Aid Saskatchewan guidelines
-your legal problem has professional merit, in the opinion of Legal Aid Saskatchewan

Who provides Legal Aid?

Legal Aid Saskatchewan employs more than 170 lawyers, legal assistants and support staff in offices located throughout the province.

How do you decide if I am financially eligible?

The financial test has two parts — the asset test and the income test. Legal Aid staff determines if you have enough money/assets available to pay your lawyer without Legal Aid’s help.

If you are on social assistance, disability assistance (SAP/SAID) or band assistance, you are usually eligible for legal aid, depending on your available assets.

What kinds of cases are covered?

If you financially qualify and your matter has professional merit, Legal Aid may be able to provide assistance in the following areas:

Criminal Charges (Adult): An offence that would likely result in jail time or loss of employment if you are found guilty (for example, assault, theft, break and enter, fraud, impaired driving causing bodily harm).
For Criminal Charges (Youth): As of April 7, 2008 Legal Aid Saskatchewan provides legal services to all youths charged under the YCJA.
Family Matters: Child custody, child or spousal support payments, divorce, access to see your children, or help if your children have been taken away from you or there are threats that they will be taken away.
This is not a complete list — talk to your local Legal Aid office about your specific case.

How do I apply for Legal Aid?

Phone the Application Centre at 1.800.667.3764. The phone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:45 p.m.

You will need paperwork to support your application for Legal Aid.

Some form of identification (social insurance card, Treaty card, driver’s licence, etc.).
Any documents relating to your case, such as court orders, separation agreements, papers related to your criminal charge.
Proof of your current income (pay stubs, social assistance/disability assistance cheque stubs, etc.).
Up to date bank books or statements.
Income tax returns (if you are self employed or seasonally employed).
Proof of the value of your assets, such as your car or RRSPs.
How long does it take?

The staff may be able to tell you right away if you are eligible. They may ask you to complete some papers before you fill out an application. Make sure to tell Legal Aid staff if your situation is an emergency or if a court date has been set.

I need help with a family matter but I have been denied Legal Aid Services. What do I do?

We have a complaint process in place for applicants to family law services. You can file a complaint to the CEO within 20 days of being denied. The complaint form is attached to the denial.

Chief Executive Officer
Legal Aid Saskatchewan – Head Office
400-201 21st Street East
Saskatoon, SK S7K 0B8
headoffice@legalaid.sk.ca

What if I can’t get Legal Aid?

If you cannot get Legal Aid, you can still get legal information.

Phone PLEA (Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan) in Saskatoon at 306.653.1868
Get printed information from the Legal Aid office, Government offices, Court houses, libraries or online.
Phone CLASSIC (Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City) in Saskatoon at 306.657.6100
Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan runs free legal clinics across the province where lawyers provide clients who cannot afford a lawyer or have been found ineligible by Legal Aid up to an hour of free summary legal advice. Call 1.855.833.7257 or 306.569.3098 (Regina) to book an appointment. NOTE: income testing does apply.

Source: https://legalaid.sk.ca/community-resources/general-legal-aid-fact-sheet/

The lawyer’s job is:

To provide legal advice, explain choices for you and the results you might expect.
To tell you what to expect and advise you of the progress of your case in a way you can understand. If you do not understand, don’t be afraid to ask. They are trying to assist you with your legal problems and it is important that you are aware of what is being done on your behalf.
To speak for you and to represent you in Court and in discussions on your case and provide you with any offers of settlement.

It is not a lawyer’s job:

To do whatever you want, whether or not there is any likelihood of success of your request.
To provide emotional, marriage or non-legal counselling, as this requires special training. Your lawyer may be aware of community services and resources. Don’t be afraid to ask.
To enter a plea of guilty when you do not admit to doing anything wrong.
Working With Your Lawyer (brochure)

Confidentiality

Your lawyer needs to know everything about your case. What you say is completely confidential and will not be disclosed without your permission, except as required by law. Unless you need an interpreter or translator, the lawyer will want to meet with you alone. If you bring a friend, advocate or family member when you see the lawyer, the lawyer will ask them to wait in the waiting room. This is because your friend, advocate or family member could be asked to testify in Court about what was heard in the lawyer’s office.

Role of a Legal Assistant

In some cases, you may work directly with a legal assistant. A legal assistant works as part of your legal team and always works under the supervision of a lawyer. The legal assistant has the same commitment to good service as your lawyer.

What can your lawyer expect from you?

Your full name, address and phone number. You must advise your lawyer if you change your name, address and phone numbers. Your lawyer must be able to locate you easily.
Any information requested by the lawyer or legal assistant. Complete all forms to the best of your ability and return them to the office as quickly as possible. Often they cannot do their work until all the information has been collected.
Information on changes in your financial or your family situation. Have you started or stopped working? Has your family size changed?
Keep all appointments. If you are unable to keep an appointment, phone and inform the offices and reschedule.
Note: Failure to do so without a good reason and without notice may lead to withdrawal of legal services.
Attend court dates when requested by your lawyer or when required by the Court.
Note: Failure to do so without a good reason and without notice, may lead to withdrawal of legal services.
Your co-operation. The lawyer is trying to assist you in dealing with your legal problems. This is a difficult time for you. The lawyer’s job is to provide your legal choices, and to suggest some reasonable solutions based on the law, not on what you would like to have occur.
If you wish the lawyer to do nothing further on your case, let the office know. You can always re-apply later if you change you mind.
Making Contact

When you call to make an appointment with your lawyer, ask what you should bring with you. You may be asked to bring all your papers and court documents.
Before you go to the lawyer’s office, write down the details of your case to help you talk about the legal problem more easily. Include dates and names of witnesses.
Make a list of the questions you want to ask. If you are confused or don’t understand something, tell the lawyer.
Tell your lawyer as much as possible about the legal problem even though you may feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. The lawyer is not there to judge you.
Bring a notebook with you to each meeting so you can make notes of what your lawyer says.
When you call the Legal Aid office, tell the receptionist to whom you wish to speak. The lawyers are often in Court, and so may not be available to take your call. If there is a reason someone should return your call immediately, let them know.
Let them know the best time to reach you and your full name and phone number so that someone can call you back, if needed.
If you want to make an appointment or confirm a Court date, the support staff may be able to assist you.
If you need legal advice or have important information to tell your lawyer, please leave a message for the lawyer. If legal assistants are assigned to work with your lawyer, you may leave the information with them. Our offices are very busy and we cannot always respond immediately to your telephone calls. They ask that you call only when necessary.
Feedback & Complaints
If you have a complaint about the way your case is being handled, speak to the lawyer or legal assistant who has been looking after your case about your concerns. Or, write them down and send them to:

Chief Executive Officer
Legal Aid Saskatchewan – Head Office
#400-201 21st Street East
Saskatoon, SK S7K 0B8

headoffice@legalaid.sk.ca

Source: https://legalaid.sk.ca/community-resources/working-with-your-lawyer/

In R v Gladue (1999) the Supreme Court of Canada directed the Courts to consider the circumstances of Indigenous offenders in light of the over-incarceration of Indigenous people. This decision was reinforced by R v Ipeelee, 2012 SCC 13.

Gladue applies to all First Nations people (status and non-status), Inuit, and Métis, living on or off reserve. The Gladue decision requires judges to sentence Indigenous people differently. Whenever an Indigenous person is sentenced for a crime or asks for release on bail, the judge has a responsibility to consider their experiences and background as an Indigenous person. These are called Gladue factors. Gladue factors are presented to the Court in a Gladue report or submission.

For more information, click here – https://legalaid.sk.ca/community-resources/gladue/

Legal Aid Saskatchewan reviews all complaints they receive in a timely manner.

Complaints about Eligibility

Legal Aid Saskatchewan looks into all complaints about eligibility. If you have a complaint about your eligibility for legal aid services, or if you believe someone else is incorrectly receiving legal aid services, you can use a contact form on the link sourced at the end of this section to send your concerns: Contact Legal Aid Saskatchewan (select “Complaint – Notice of ineligibility”).

Because of privacy regulations, if you submit a concern about another person’s eligibility for legal aid, you will not hear about the results of our investigation.

Complaints About a Lawyer or Legal Service

Legal Aid Saskatchewan also investigates complaints about lawyers who represent our clients. If you have a complaint about the way your lawyer is treating your case, try talking to the lawyer about it. If that does not work, you can use the contact form on the link sourced at the end of this section to send your concerns: Contact Legal Aid Saskatchewan (select “Complaint – Lawyer/Legal Service”).

Source: https://legalaid.sk.ca/community-resources/feedback-concerns/