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Tel:
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Fax:
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Vancouver, BC V6C 3A8
www.lss.bc.ca
Communications
Shaping the Future of Legal Aid and the Justice System in BC
Background
The Attorney General has asked the Legal Services Society to identify ways in which LSS can support
efficiencies elsewhere in the justice system “so that savings can be reallocated to enhance legal aid.” We
have been asked to provide advice on four specific topics:

new legal aid service delivery models;

changes to LSS tariffs to provide incentives for justice system efficiencies;

the use of telecommunications (including the Justice Centre in Burnaby); and

alternative, non-governmental funding streams.
To assist us in developing our advice, we are seeking your suggestions for initiatives that warrant further
research. We encourage you to think broadly about each of the four topics listed above. Your ideas can
include a new project or the expansion of a current LSS service in any area of law, including areas not
currently covered by the LSS tariff.
Examples of new service delivery models could include expanding the roles of duty counsel and Legal
Information Outreach Workers or using designated law firms for certain types of cases. Tariff initiatives
might involve changes to enhance the current incentives for early resolution or to reduce the number of
pre-trial appearances. Telecommunications initiatives could include anything from Skype-based advice
services to expanded use of the Justice Centre in Burnaby (through which Judicial Justices of the Peace
are available at all times to deal with telephone or video bail hearings, search warrants and production
orders). And finally, we have been asked to look for ways to stabilize our non-government funding.
Criteria
As much as possible, your suggestions should aim to:

produce justice system efficiencies as a direct or indirect consequence (e.g., by encouraging
early dispute resolution, or by reducing the number of court appearances or the number of
cases that go to trial);

create measurable cost savings for the justice system;

promote positive outcomes for legal aid clients; and
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
improve access to justice.
The more information you can provide the better, but we encourage you to submit your ideas even if
you cannot provide extensive details about how they meet each of the criteria.
Please provide the following information:
1. A brief summary of your idea(s). If you know your idea is being carried out in other jurisdictions,
please specify.
2. Briefly describe what justice system efficiencies would be created and what the potential cost
savings would be.
3. What are the benefits/outcomes for legal aid clients? How would this increase access to justice?
4. Provide a brief description of how the idea(s) could be implemented, including a rough cost estimate
(if possible), timeline, and scalability (i.e. how easily and widely it can be implemented).
5. A contact person for further discussion about the idea
Suggestions should be no longer than two pages. Please submit your suggestion(s) to Tami Friesen
([email protected]). Below are a template and an example to guide you. If you have any
questions, please contact Tami by email or telephone (604.601.6167).
Background material
When preparing your suggestions, we encourage you to read the following:



Letter from the Attorney General requesting LSS’s advice.
Modernizing BC’s Justice System (Green Paper) This document is the centrepiece of the recently
announced justice reform initiatives. It outlines the challenges BC’s justice system currently
faces and the work that will be undertaken by Geoffrey Cowper, QC, in his review of BC’s justice
system. A backgrounder on the justice reform initiative, including a summary of the Green
Paper, is also available.
You may also be interested in Review of the Provincial Justice System in British Columbia, a
report prepared by the Ministry of Finance’s Internal Audit and Advisory Services section which
was released with the Green Paper.
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Shaping the Future of Legal Aid and the Justice System in BC
Suggestion Form
1. Summary of idea
Provide a concrete description of your idea. Is this being done in other jurisdictions?
2. Justice system efficiencies created
How would your idea make the justice system more efficient? What are the expected cost savings?
3. Benefits/outcomes for legal aid clients
How would this improve access to justice?
4. How the idea could be implemented
What are the costs (estimate if possible) and timeline? Is it scalable?
5. Contact person for further discussion
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Shaping the Future of Legal Aid and the Justice System in BC
Suggestion Form
EXAMPLE
Proposed legal aid initiative to support justice system efficiencies
1. Summary of idea
Provide a concrete description of your idea. Is this being done in other jurisdictions?
LSS currently provides a family law line service where private bar lawyers provide information and
advice on family law issues to clients over the telephone. This service currently runs on weekday
mornings. LSS could expand the family law line to a full day service.
2. Justice system efficiencies created
How would your idea make the justice system more efficient? What are the expected cost savings?
By providing advice to clients early on in their family disputes, justice system efficiencies would be
created through early dispute resolution, diversion of cases from court, and reduction of court time and
appearances required to resolve disputes. Expected cost savings could be calculated using LSS data on
the number of clients served through the service, along with data from LSS and the Ministry on case
costs.
3. Benefits/outcomes for legal aid clients
How would this improve access to justice?
Early resolution of disputes benefits clients and telephone services are accessible to clients, especially
those in remote areas.
4. How the initiative could be implemented
What are the costs (estimate if possible) and timeline? Is it scalable?
Since most of the infrastructure is already in place, the expansion could be implemented within two
months at a cost of approximately $150,000 and could serve an additional 250 clients per month. The
family law line is very scalable: it can be expanded as budget allows because it is a contracted service
requiring little additional infrastructure. [Numbers are for illustration only.]
5. Contact person for further discussion
Name, phone, email.
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