Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is continuing to raise the fees that it pays roster members to do legal work.
On October 16, 2023, LAO implemented the first set of amendments to the Legal Aid Rules.
To implement the amendments for April, LAO will be updating the billing portal. Legal Aid Online will be unavailable on Sunday, March 31 from 6 a.m. to Tuesday, April 2, at 6:30 a.m.
On March 4, 2024, LAO will:
- Increase the number of hours allocated under the hourly tariff and increase the block fee rates for certain additional criminal proceedings;
- Create new areas of coverage under the tariff;
- Expand eligibility for criminal cases costing between $8,000 and $20,000 (mid-case management).
On April 1, 2024, LAO will:
- Implement the second of three five per cent increases to the hourly rates and block fees paid to roster members. The first increase was implemented on Oct. 16, 2023, and the third will be implemented on April 1, 2025.
On July 29, 2024, LAO will:
- Introduce new hourly and block fee rates dealing with global resolutions, Impact of Race and Cultural Assessment reports, fitness hearings and the use of interpreters.
It is recommend that OBA members review Tarriff reform 2024: Summary of changes, phase 2, no 1 and to visit the LASA Rules and Policies section to view the amended rules that comes in effect on March 4, 2024 and in July 2024.