To ensure a civilised society, it is crucial to have rules and laws that regulate how the public operates. The reason for having laws is simple: they help society have structure by defining people’s rights and obligations. While the modern law system enables citizens to operate fairly independently and tries to keep its interference in people’s daily lives to a minimum, it is impossible to avoid it completely. As in a civilized society, one cannot operate in exclusion of laws, it is also crucial to ensure that people have basic knowledge of the law and the means to engage legal services when needed.
The Canadian government introduced the concept of legal aid as a great step in this direction. Legal aid is a system where the government ensures that people can get legal assistance and representation even when they are not in a financial position to afford it. To make it happen, legal services are provided at subsidized rates to individuals who are unable to afford legal representation. This way, it is ensured that everyone, regardless of their financial situation, has access to justice.
However, despite the system’s clear upside, there is a serious myth that a legal aid lawyer Toronto is not a good lawyer, not on par with the private lawyers with their own practices and big names associated with them. It is assumed that these lawyers are working on low rates because they cannot land good clients independently due to a lack of knowledge and skills. People often associate the subsidized price with the quality of representation they will get, which cannot be further from the truth. This not only tarnishes the initiative’s value but also discourages people from getting stellar help at more affordable prices.
A legal aid lawyer Toronto, like the big-name lawyers, is a fully capable lawyer, with extensive knowledge of the legal system, and years of experience in dealing with various kinds of legal battles, especially for the under-represented. Not only can they assist you by providing accurate information, but they can also represent you without a hitch. They sometimes have more extensive knowledge of the legal system than others, given the sheer number of cases they have handled during their career.
Understanding The Legal Aid System
The system is primarily managed by the provinces and territories, with the federal government providing funding and support. Here are certain key factors to better understand the system:
Structure:
The federal government funds and supports legal aid services in the provinces and territories, but the provincial and territorial governments manage the actual delivery of services.
Funding:
The Canadian government supports legal aid services through the Department of Justice Canada’s Legal Aid Program and Access to Justice Services Agreements.
Types Of Legal Aid:
Legal aid can be available for various legal matters, including criminal, family, refugee and immigration, and mental health law.
Eligibility:
Eligibility for legal aid typically depends on financial status and the specific legal matter.
Conclusion
Legal Aid Canada is a federally funded legal aid program that aims to ensure access to justice for economically disadvantaged individuals by funding legal services in criminal and civil matters. These programs are implemented and administered by individual provinces and territories with their own policies and procedures.
Featured Image Source: https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/02/12/14/00/justice-2060093_1280.jpg