September 21, 2006 Source: :
http://communications.uwo.ca/media_newsroom/story.html?listing_id=21892 Legal Aid in Crisis London, ON. - Attorney-General Michael Bryant has called for a review of Ontario's legal aid system in an attempt to secure a more stable funding arrangement. Jason Voss is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario, and Review Counsel for Community Legal Services. He comments: "The system is currently in crisis. Legal Aid Ontario requires an immediate increase in funding and regular increases to the hourly rates paid to the lawyers who work to protect our rights and freedoms. Lawyers who accept legal aid certificates in the area of criminal law are paid hourly rates of between $70 and $90 per hour, depending on the lawyer's number of years of experience. These hourly rates are far less than lawyers charge and receive in private law practices. A lawyer representing someone accused of murder can be paid less per hour than the technician who repairs your car. To ignore fair increases in funding to Legal Aid Ontario, and in turn to the hourly rates of legal aid certificates, will result in fewer lawyers doing legal aid work. This will result in an increase in the number of accused persons who appear before the courts without any representation. This will result in miscarriages of justice and will grind the criminal justice system to a halt." He can be reached at 519-661-2111 Ext. 88404 or cell 519-200-4982. Media Contact: Susanna Eayrs, Communications Officer, Western Law, 519-661-2126.
Commentary reflects the perspective and scholarly interest of Western faculty members and is not an articulation of official university policy on issues being addressed.
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