Contract stop date reminder

Person signing a contract on paper.

Please check your contract stop dates as several contracts will expire on March 31, 2022, as a result of Notice to Counsel #115 and #116.

Please complete services and bill Legal Aid BC before the bill by date. If matters on a contract are continuing and unlikely to be resolved by the stop date, you may apply for a further extension via an authorization request submitted through the Lawyer Portal.

When assessing stop date extension requests, LABC may approve an extension of up to three months where the client continues to be financially eligible and:

  • the primary issues or contracted charges will likely resolve within that timeline;
  • a substantive court hearing is scheduled within 30 days of contract stop-date; OR
  • there are ongoing delays outside of counsel’s control.

If the contract is not eligible for an extension as per the above guidelines, LABC encourages clients to reapply for a new legal aid contract if they have ongoing or unresolved coverable issues.