NCJ Number
51897
Date Published
1976
Length
139 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORY, STRUCTURE, AND OPERATION OF GOVERNMENT-FUNDED LEGAL SERVICES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, ARE ANALYZED.
Abstract
THE BRITISH COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT HAS PLACED ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES WITH AN INDEPENDENT BODY CALLED THE LEGAL SERVICES COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION FUNDS, PARTIALLY OR TOTALLY, LOCAL GROUPS AND SOCIETIES THAT OPERATE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY LAW OFFICES (CLO'S), AS WELL AS THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY, WHICH OPERATES LEGAL AID OFFICES (LAO'S). DATA GATHERED ON THE CLO'S AND LAO'S IN QUESTIONNAIRES AND INTERVIEWS WERE USED TO DETERMINE THE FOLLOWING: THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CLO'S AND LAO'S; THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE AGENCIES ARE ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES; ANY DIFFERENCES IN PURPOSE BETWEEN THE TWO TYPES OF AGENCIES; AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CLIENTS BEING SERVED BY THE AGENCIES. THE HISTORY OF GOVERNMENT-FUNDED LEGAL SERVICES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA IS TRACED. FOR EACH TYPE OF AGENCY, INFORMATION IS PRESENTED ON MANAGEMENT, STAFFING, RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND SERVICE DELIVERY. THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS ARE REVEALED: (1) WHETHER A PERSON WITH A SOCIOLEGAL NEED REACHES AN APPROPRIATE AGENCY IS LARGELY A MATTER OF CHANCE; (2) DECISIONS REGARDING ELIGIBILITY AND THE NATURE OF SERVICES TO BE DELIVERED TEND TO BE ARBITRARY; (3) IN BOTH CLO'S AND LAO'S, STAFF MEMBERS VARY CONSIDERABLY IN ATTITUDE AND IN LEVEL OF COMPETENCE; AND (4) THERE IS CONSIDERABLE OFFICE-TO-OFFICE VARIATION IN THE TYPE OF SERVICE AVAILABLE TO CLIENTS, PARTICULARLY WITH LAO'S. ISSUES IMPLIED BY THESE PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED. A COPY OF THE STUDY INSTRUMENT IS INCLUDED. (LKM)