Our latest news

Legal Aid Fax, July 2010
In this issue: Tariff simplification; Emergency Family Services (EFS); Family Duty Counsel (FDC) — Service enhancements; Lead family duty counsel contracts; Practice resources for lawyers; Family Law in BC website updates

New Quick Reference Chart
A new Quick Reference chart has been added to the Criminal Tariff chapter of LSS Tariffs.

Legal Aid Fax, July 2010 — Special Edition
In this issue: 62% of lawyers satisfied with LSS services and supports; Key survey results

Legal Aid Fax, June 2010 — Special Edition
In this issue: LSS tariff — Format "under construction"; Criminal tariff; Family tariff; Referrals with a Date of Assignment after June 29, 2010; Criminal and Family referrals with a Date of Assignment prior to June 29, 2010; E-billing; We continue to encourage you to use e-billing; We are here to help you!; HST update

Notice to Counsel #74, June 2010
In this notice: New LSS tariffs — transition to the new structure and related tariff announcements.

Family Advice Lawyer Referral Form, updated June 2010.
The referral form for family advice lawyers has been updated.

Message to the Tariff Bar, June 2010
LSS will implement simplified tariffs for all new criminal and family referrals on June 29, 2010.

Legal Aid Fax, May 2010
In this issue: Implementation of the simplified tariffs coming in June; Tiered rates reinstatement payments; Message from Audit & Investigation — settlement judgement policy; Gladue fundamentals workshop; Stats from tariff accounts; Mentoring program; Continuing Legal Education of BC

Legal Aid Fax, April 2010
In this issue: Tariff simplification; Tariff updates; Harmonized Sales Tax (HST); Check out the Family Law in BC website! Have you checked out LSS on Twitter yet?

Family Duty Counsel Manual, updated April 2010
The Family Duty Counsel Manual (Practices and Procedures: Family Duty Counsel and Advice Lawyer Services) has been updated.

Legal Aid Fax, March 2010
In this issue: Tariff simplification; Notice to Counsel #73 — Tiered rates reinstated for criminal duty counsel; Tariff lawyer survey responses are in; LSS website — Lawyers section; Lawyer e-services — "What's new?" page; Reminder: Disbursements and transcript requests

Notice to Counsel #73, March 2010
In this notice: Tiered rates for criminal duty counsel reinstated.

Legal Aid Fax, February 2010
In this issue: Local agents appointed; Tariff simplification; Extended Family Services reinstated; Please keep your billings up to date; Category I and DRS billing end date

More locations for legal aid
Mar. 3, 2010: The Legal Services Society has new local agents in seven communities, including two communities that were not previously served by an LSS location.

Request for Feedback on New Tariff, February 2010
A discussion paper with the proposed model for the new criminal tariff has been posted on the website. LSS invites your feedback.

Notice to Counsel #72, February 2010
In this notice: Extended Family Services and CFCSA Tariff items reinstated

Legal Aid Fax, January 2010
Update — Tariff simplification; Restoration of Family Services;
Update — Local agent opportunities; Full service during the Olympics!; CLE bursary opportunities; Lawyer satisfaction survey — Reminder; Case Management Update.

Message to the Tariff Bar, December 2009
LSS is funding new programs and restoring services.

Local agent opportunities, December 18, 2009
Guidelines for Submitting an Expression of Interest have been updated: deadline for submitting questions extended to December 31 and for posting responses to questions to January 5; change to e-mail address and contact name for submitting completed EOI.

Legal Aid Fax, November 2009
In this issue: Tariff simplification; NTC #71 — SCAP threshold increased from 10 to 20 half days for all criminal cases; December/January cheque run schedule; Tariff Services Department

Message to the Tariff Bar, November 2009
LSS will provide information in December for those interested in becoming a local agent in Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George, Surrey, or Victoria.

Family Duty Counsel Manual, updated November 2009
The Family Duty Counsel Manual (Practices and Procedures: Family Duty Counsel and Advice Lawyer Services) has been revised and updated.

Message to the Tariff Bar, November 2009
LSS announces changes to operations in 2010.

Legal Aid Fax, October 2009
In this issue: December/January cheque run schedule; Notice to Counsel #70 — When clients receive a settlement or judgment; Improved e-billing for disbursements; Billing tips.

Guide to Legal Aid Tariffs, updated October 2009
The Introduction and General Terms and Conditions of the Guide to Legal Aid Tariffs have been revised. For details, please see Notice to Counsel #70 regarding the new Settlements and Judgments Policy.

Notice to Counsel #69, July 2009
In this notice: Family Tariff (Extended Services) items suspended

Legal Aid Fax, July 2009
In this issue: Termination of consensual dispute resolution and collateral issues items (NTC #68); Extended Family Services items suspended; Tariffs — revised; Interpretation services; Family maintenance enforcement committal proceedings; Bursaries; Tips from the Tariff Helpdesk.

Guide to Legal Aid Tariffs, updated July 15, 2009
The Guide to Legal Aid Tariffs has been revised. For details on the specific changes, please see the Message to the Tariff Bar.

Notice to Counsel #68, July 2009
In this notice: Tariff items ending October 1, 2009: Consensual dispute resolution and collateral issues

Notice to Counsel #67, June 2009
In this notice: Increased rates for psychologists and interpreters

Legal Aid Fax, June 2009
In this issue: Message from Mark Benton, Executive Director: Tariff service challenges at LSS; Improvements to support lawyers; Background: Notice to Counsel #67 — Increased rates for psychologists and interpreters; Reminder: Other upcoming changes

Legal Aid Fax, April 2009
In this issue: Trial Lawyers Association's Family Law Litigation Group listserv; Disbursement authorization tips; Lawyer e-services — access for assistants; Direct deposit — have you signed up?

Trial Lawyers Association's Litigation Group List Servers
LSS will pay the enrollment fee for the Trial Lawyers Association of BC’s family law and criminal defence litigation group list servers for lawyers who agree to accept 12 or more legal aid referrals within 12 months.

Notice to Counsel #66, April 2009
In this notice: Preparation items for articling students ending.

Legal Aid Fax, March 2009
In this issue: Upcoming changes; Lawyer e-services website; BCMA, meals, and meterage changes; LawLINE update.

Legal Aid Fax, March 2009 — Special Edition
In this issue: Duty counsel update — most services to remain unchanged; New two-month billing deadline for duty counsel services; Family duty counsel; Family duty counsel minimal referral hours changed; Criminal duty counsel.

Legal Aid Fax, February 2009
In this issue: Billing for travel disbursements on multiple cases; Messages from Audit and Investigation; Lawyer e-services update; New conflict rules.

Notice to Counsel #65, February 2009
In this notice: Two-month billing requirement for duty counsel and circuit counsel referrals.

Notice to Counsel #64, January 2009
In this notice: LSS confirms that the administration fee is eliminated for Immigration Referrals.

Legal Aid Fax, January 2009
In this issue: Immigration changes; Message from Audit and Investigation; Notice of bursary opportunities; CLE Child Protection Conference — March 26 and 27, 2009.

Notice to Counsel #63, January 2009
In this notice: LSS announces changes to criminal law services.

Notice to Counsel #62, January 2009
In this notice: LSS announces changes to family and CFCSA services.

Message to the Tariff Bar, January 2009
LSS announces tariff and operational changes.

Notice to Counsel #61, January 2009
In this notice: LSS announces changes to immigration services.