Legal Aid Alberta

Thank you to everyone who joined our Duty Counsel Day webinar on Tuesday! Duty counsel lawyers from Alberta and Ontario shared the realities, rewards and challenges of working in criminal and family law, from what a typical day looks like to the skills and experiences that help them succeed. If you couldn't join us or would like to revisit the conversation, the recording is now available on our YouTube channel! 🎞️Watch the recording: youtube.com/watch?v=G19dE2tQ… #DutyCounselDay2026 #AccessToJustice

Ahead of Duty Counsel Day on Oct. 27, here's a story worth reading about how duty counsel lawyers are making a difference beyond the courtroom. For people in remote First Nations communities, getting to court isn't always easy. Through partnerships with Indigenous communities across Alberta, Legal Aid Alberta's duty counsel lawyers are helping people overcome these barriers, access legal advice and build trust along the way. Read how listening to communities and working together can make justice more accessible: legalaid.ab.ca/news/first-na… #DutyCounselDay2026 #AccessToJustice

What is duty counsel, and why does it matter? Every year, duty counsel lawyers provide legal assistance more than 1.7 million times across Canada, helping people understand their rights and navigate the justice system when they need support most. Oct. 27 is Duty Counsel Day, a day to recognize these everyday legal heroes and the important work they do in communities across Canada. Watch the video to learn how duty counsel make a difference and why their work deserves recognition. Learn more: knowdutycounsel.ca #DutyCounselDay #AccessToJustice #LegalAidAlberta

Interested in criminal or family law, courtroom advocacy or access to justice? This Duty Counsel Day, join legal aid lawyers from Alberta and Ontario for a virtual discussion about the realities, rewards and challenges of their everyday work helping people navigate the justice system. 📅 Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026 🕑 2 p.m. MT Bring your curiosity and questions. Register now: events.teams.microsoft.com/e… #DutyCounselDay #Lawyers #LegalAdvice #DCDay2026

Welcome to Legal Aid Alberta’s Board of Directors, Meryl Whittaker, LLB, MBA, ICD.D and Kristy Isert! Both bring extensive experience in governance, law and public service to support our work to improve access to justice for Albertans. We are also pleased to share that Brad Pickering and David Linder, KC, will continue as board chair and vice chair for another year. Thank you to outgoing board members Daniela O'Callaghan, B.A., LL.B., C.I.C and Sonya von Heyking CPA, CA, CIA, ICD.D for their leadership and dedication to LAA. Learn more about our new board members: legalaid.ab.ca/news/laa-news… #LegalAid #BoardofDirectors #AccessToJustice

Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving long weekend! 🍂 Legal Aid Alberta offices and phone lines will be closed on Monday, Oct. 12, for Thanksgiving. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, Oct. 13. We hope Albertans find time to slow down, recharge and enjoy the company of family, friends and loved ones. #Thanksgiving #LegalAidAlberta

Did you know that Legal Aid Alberta duty counsel lawyers assisted more than 125,000 people across Alberta in 2025? Duty counsel provide free, on-the-spot legal assistance to people navigating the court system, helping them understand their rights and options. With Duty Counsel Day coming up on Oct. 27, LAA criminal duty counsel lawyer Dominique Giesbrecht appeared on Global Edmonton's Ask a Lawyer segment to explain the important role duty counsel play in Alberta’s justice system. Watch the interview: legalaid.ab.ca/news/duty-cou… #DutyCounselDay2026 #AccessToJustice #LegalAidAlberta

Huge congratulations to our roster lawyer, Lionel Chartrand, on receiving the Law & Justice award at the 2026 Aboriginal Role Models of Alberta awards! Lionel was honoured this past Saturday alongside recipients whose leadership and contributions help strengthen communities across Alberta. We’re pleased to celebrate this recognition with you, Lionel. Congratulations to you and all of this year’s recipients! Learn more: ravenradio.ca/2026/10/04/202… #Law #Justice

This is a story you don’t want to miss. Dr. Sasha Reid, a family lawyer at Legal Aid Alberta, has taken an unconventional path to advocacy. From teacher and researcher to lawyer, she also created Canada’s largest database of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Sasha is committed to standing up for people who cannot advocate for themselves, using the database she has built to help families and communities and bringing that same passion for advocacy to her work at LAA. Read Sasha’s journey and how her diverse background and experiences shape the work she does today: legalaid.ab.ca/news/passion-… #AccessToJustice #MMIWG #LegalAid

Legal Aid Alberta is hiring a full-time, permanent Staff Lawyer in Family Law for our Red Deer office. If you have significant family law experience, particularly in child welfare, Emergency Protection Orders and representing children in high-conflict family law matters, we want to hear from you. Learn more and apply: jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-US/l… #LegalAidAlberta #RedDeerJobs #LegalCareers #FamilyLaw

Legal Aid Alberta offices and phone lines will be closed on Sept. 30 in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day honours the children who never returned home, survivors of residential schools and the families and communities forever impacted. It is a time for reflection, remembrance and a continued commitment to reconciliation. Our team members are encouraged to take time to reflect, learn and participate in Indigenous activities. We'll be back on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 8:15 a.m.

In recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, more than 80 Legal Aid Alberta team members gathered in our Calgary and Edmonton offices or joined online to learn more about our ongoing work toward reconciliation and how we can better support Indigenous clients and communities. Indigenous Relations Lawyer Aaron Sparvier and Legal Services Manager Lori MacKay shared how LAA is building relationships with Indigenous communities, listening to their needs and working together to provide culturally informed and community-responsive legal services. Thank you to everyone who joined us to listen, learn and reflect. Today was an opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to reconciliation and the work ahead. #NDTR #Indigenous #AccessToJustice

What happens when legal services meet people where they are? Legal Aid Alberta offers duty counsel office hours in several First Nations communities across Alberta, reducing barriers such as transportation to court by helping Indigenous people access free legal advice closer to home. The Mînî Thnî duty counsel pilot project, launched two years ago, has since expanded to other communities across Alberta. The approach grew from listening to communities, building relationships and working together to find solutions that respond to local needs. Read more about how in-community duty counsel services are improving access to justice and supporting LAA’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation: legalaid.ab.ca/news/first-na… #NDTR #Indigenous #AccessToJustice

It was a busy Friday at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law Career Day! ⚖️ Legal Aid Alberta lawyers enjoyed meeting law students, answering questions about careers at LAA and sharing what it’s like to work in legal aid. It’s always great to connect with students who are passionate about the law and access to justice. We hope to see some of you at LAA in the future! #LegalAidAlberta #UAlbertaLaw #LegalCareers #AccessToJustice

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is this week. Let’s revisit the story of Legal Aid Alberta duty counsel lawyer Justin Hjelsvold and his perspective on why Indigenous representation matters in the justice system. Justin shares his journey from a 15-year career in drywall to becoming a lawyer, what motivated him to change careers, how he learned about his Indigenous identity as an adult and how he builds trust with clients and community. Read Justin’s story to learn more about the need for Indigenous lawyers in the justice system and the difference representation can make: legalaid.ab.ca/news/laa-news… #NDTR #TruthAndReconciliation #IndigenousRepresentation #AccessToJustice

Do you, or a lawyer you know, have an interest in becoming a roster lawyer with Legal Aid Alberta? Join our upcoming information session webinar to learn what the role is really like, from the meaningful work and everyday responsibilities to the impact you can make for Albertans who need legal support. legalaid.ab.ca/join-the-rost… #Career #Lawyer #LegalAid

𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘁𝘂 𝗞𝗵𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 Legal Aid Alberta was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Chief Justice Ritu Khullar. As Chief Justice of Alberta and Chief Justice of the Courts of Appeal of Alberta, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories, Chief Justice Khullar was deeply committed to protecting access to justice and upholding the rule of law. She was defined by the thoughtfulness, compassion, integrity and intelligence she brought to a remarkable career in private practice and, later, the judiciary. Her service to Albertans and to Canada continues to inspire us, and her legacy will endure through the generations of legal professionals who follow in her footsteps. On behalf of Legal Aid Alberta's Board of Directors and staff, I extend our deepest condolences to Chief Justice Khullar's family, friends and colleagues. John Panusa, KC President and CEO, Legal Aid Alberta #InMemoriam #LegalAid #AccessToJustice

The September long weekend is here! ☀️ Legal Aid Alberta's phone lines and offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7, for Labour Day. Regular hours resume on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable long weekend! #LabourDay #Alberta

Understanding a person's background and experiences can be an important part of understanding their interactions with the justice system. As National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaches, Legal Aid Alberta bail hearing lawyer Andre Landry reflects on what he has learned through more than a decade of representing Indigenous clients in rural Nova Scotia, Nunavut and Edmonton. He discusses the ongoing impacts of intergenerational trauma and systemic barriers, the overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in the justice system and the importance of culturally responsive approaches. Watch the full interview: legalaid.ab.ca/news/understa… #NDTR #indigenous #LegalHelp

Another school year has just begun! 🎒📚 For co-parents, that might bring questions about child support, school expenses, extracurricular activities and changing parenting arrangements. Get a quick back-to-school lesson from Legal Aid Alberta staff lawyer Jessica Chapman, with practical tips and considerations for co-parenting families. Watch the interview: legalaid.ab.ca/news/laa-news… #backtoschool #coparenting #familylaw