After careful analysis and much consultation, the Legal Services Society implemented simplified tariffs for all new criminal and family referrals on June 29, 2010.
The simplified tariffs are designed to save both lawyers and LSS staff valuable administrative time. The focus has been on the consolidation of tariff items into a shorter and more flexible structure that will make billing easier. At the same time, the changes do not affect the overall amount of compensation that LSS pays, or client services, coverage, or eligibility.
The following are the key features of the new LSS tariffs:
Criminal tariff
- 25 tariff items in total;
- categories have changed to summary, indictable and major;
- summary includes hybrids where Crown proceeds summarily and maximum sentence is 6 months;
- indictable includes hybrid summary matters where maximum sentence is greater than 6 months, except for breach of probation. Includes forcible confinement or abduction cases where the Crown proceeds summarily;
- major cases include non-SCAP cases for the following offences: murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm, kidnapping, and dangerous and long-term offender hearings. Includes forcible confinement or abduction cases where the Crown proceeds by indictment;
- youth matters now dealt with under the simplified tariff rather than as separate items;
- includes payment for each information resolved without trial;
- maintains a payment for each bail hearing;
- maintains a first day of hearing rate with a subsequent half day rate to reflect front end loading necessary for each trial;
- maintains travel fees and in-custody visits;
- maintains a separate item payable per half day for sentencing;
- maintains many existing items (i.e., SCAP); and
- a service stop date of two years from the date of referral.
For a brief summary of the old and new criminal tariff items, click here.
For more information, please see the new Criminal Tariff section of LSS Tariffs.
Family tariff
- 9 tariff items in total;
- consolidation of multiple tariff items into an increased allocation of general preparation hours;
- additional preparation hours for mediation and collaborative processes;
- maintains preparation hours for Supreme Court cases;
- extended services reintroduced under a simplified model which provides a standard allocation of general preparation hours; preparation for Supreme Court hours, and actual attendance time;
- maintains travel fees;
- a new closing fee which provides compensation for administrative tasks involved in closing the case including providing a final results form to LSS; and
- a service stop date of two years from the date of referral.
For more information, please see the new Family Tariff section of LSS Tariffs.