The Association of Legal Aid Lawyers (ALL) is seeking expressions of interest from senior criminal defence counsel who may be willing to act as senior counsel on complex files and/or provide mentorship and support to junior counsel.
Legal Aid BC has a new policy requiring counsel to be of a certain level of call to take on more serious files without mentorship or senior counsel involvement, and ALL is working to identify experienced counsel who may be available to assist where needed.
As part of the defence bar’s shared commitment to ensuring high-quality representation for legally aided clients, it is important that serious and complex matters are handled with the requisite experience, judgment, and support. It is equally important that junior counsel have access to meaningful mentorship and guidance as they develop the skills and confidence necessary to take on increasingly complex cases.
To assist in this effort, ALL is compiling a list of senior counsel who may be willing, where appropriate, to:
- act as senior or co-counsel on files requiring additional experience, support, or oversight; and/or
- serve as a mentor to junior counsel, including by providing strategic guidance, file consultation, or other professional support on an hourly basis.
Inclusion on this list does not create any obligation to accept a particular file or mentoring role. Rather, it will allow ALL to identify experienced counsel who may be open to being contacted when the need arises, in support of maintaining high standards of advocacy and fostering a strong, sustainable, and well-mentored defence bar.
If you are interested in being included on this list, please email Chantal Paquette at chantal@cfplaw.ca, indicating:
- whether you are willing to act as senior counsel, a mentor, or both; and
- any general parameters you wish to note, such as types of files, regions, or limits on availability.
We appreciate the professionalism and collegiality of the senior criminal defence bar and thank you for considering this request.
