Table 16
Approved legal aid applications for summary services

An approved application for summary service refers to the provision of legal advice, information, or any other types of minimal legal service to an individual upon written request during a formal interview. Only written requests are included.

The population estimates used to calculate per capita figures are provided by Statistics Canada, Census and Demographic Statistics, Demography Division. Populations as of July 1st: final intercensal up to 2006, final postcensal for 2007 and 2008, updated postcensal for 2009 and 2010 and preliminary postcensal for 2011.

Figures for 2011/2012 exclude summary legal advice dispensed by a lawyer via Legal Aid Ontario's Call Service Centre.

In 2009/2010, the decline in the number of approved legal aid applications for summary services in Manitoba was due to removing advice as service in the Winnipeg offices.

Figures for 2011/2012 include only summary legal advice dispensed by a lawyer. Figures prior to 2011/2012 may include administrative advice dispensed by staff of the Saskatchewan Legal Aid Commission.

Organizational structure and delivery of services changed in 2010/2011. Regional front line offices were transformed into Legal Service Centers providing information, brief services, expanded duty counsel and decisions for full certificate coverage. The decrease, between 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, in the number of applications approved for summary service is primarily due to services related to early resolution for lower-level criminal offences. These are considered to be full-service applications beginning in 2011/2012.

No distinction is made between summary and full service applications in Northwest Territories. All applications are counted as full service applications.