Staff
Legal Aid services in Rainy River District are being amalgamated into a larger regional district, with the main hub to be based in Thunder Bay.
“In keeping with our mandate to provide high-quality and cost-efficient Legal Aid services, [Legal Aid Ontario] is making greater use of technology, streamlining administration, and increasing front-line services to make legal aid help and information more easily available for clients in this community,” Jennifer Carten, district area director in Thunder Bay, said via e-mail this morning.
“We recognize the local Legal Aid office plays an important role in delivering services, and we are committed to maintaining a legal aid presence in Fort Frances.” Carten, however, did not say how the changes would affect the local office, which is located with the Northwest Community Legal Clinic above the Northern Lights Credit Union, including job losses and hours of service.
Carten noted clients who need to speak to someone in person still will be able to do so at the Fort Frances Courthouse, where Legal Aid Ontario will be maintaining in-person access on court days.
Clients will continue to have access to duty counsel provided by LAO, and it will “continue the close liaison with the Northwest Community Legal Clinic which will support seamless client services for residents of Fort Frances.”
Carten also noted LAO is investing more in providing legal services through calling its toll-free number at 1-800-668-8258 and pressing ‘0.’
This change means clients can access more services than previously available at a Legal Aid office including connecting clients to Legal Aid representatives throughout the province, applying for Legal Aid, and receiving summary advice.
