GOAL 2. Meet legal needs
Dealing with your legal problem can be confusing, stressful, and expensive. When you need help, you need it in a language you understand, in a place you can access and in services you can afford.
Canada’s justice sector organizations are working to deliver legal help to more people in more ways. We are expanding the options for resolving your problems, using technology to get you help wherever you are, and supporting legal aid and pro bono services for the most underserved people.
2023 Progress
In 2023, legal clinics across the country continued to provide support in the areas of housing, employment law, family law, immigration and refugee law, criminal law, and small claims issues. Innovative initiatives included the creation of a mental health legal systems navigator position, medicolegal partnerships housed in hospitals, and ID clinics to assist transgender individuals with updating their identification documents.
2.1 Focus on legal needs for everyone
Focus on addressing service gaps for basic, essential legal services including family law, wills, employment, housing and consumer issues
2.2 Encourage innovation
Develop and expand alternative ways to get legal help including different kinds of professionals, partnerships or ways of doing business
2.3 Expand scope of legal aid
Make legal aid available to more people and for a wider range of legal problems
2.4 Focus on access to justice
Emphasize the responsibility of lawyers and paralegals to fill access to justice gaps