Table 21: Average Priority Assigned to Legal Aid Needs by Focus Group Participants
| Sections describing issue in report |
Need/Issue |
Average on 7 pt scale: 1 = not important 7 = extremely important |
Number of Respondents |
Range of Rating |
| 6 |
1 Address backlog of family cases. |
6.5 |
10 |
2–7 |
| 3 |
2 Increase time that Courtworkers and/or lawyers have with clients on circuit. |
6.2 |
10 |
4–7 |
| 4 |
3 Increase frequency of Courtworker training. |
6.1 |
10 |
5–7 |
| 4 |
4 Emphasize mentoring in Courtworker training. |
6.1 |
10 |
4–7 |
| 4 |
5 Develop a code of conduct for Courtworkers. |
6.0 |
6 |
4–7 |
| 4 |
6 Develop consensus around appropriate roles for Courtworkers. |
5.9 |
10 |
4–7 |
| 6 |
7 Establish storefront location to enhance visibility and increase comfort level of Aboriginal clients. |
5.8 |
8 |
4–7 |
| 2 |
8 Enhance relationships with government departments and community agencies that are involved in the justice system. |
5.8 |
8 |
4–7 |
| 2 |
9 Embrace distance communications technology. |
5.8 |
6 |
5–7 |
| 9 |
10 Increase family law PLEI. |
5.6 |
9 |
4–7 |
| 2 |
11 Need for more than 10 hours preparation and review time for appeals in legal aid cases. |
5.4 |
8 |
3–7 |
| 2, 6 |
12 Strengthen private bar participation in civil (family) legal aid. |
5.3 |
10 |
1–7 |
| 2 |
13 Increase Aboriginal presence in administrative and legal aid delivery systems. |
5.1 |
9 |
3–7 |
| 6 |
14 Increase legal aid tariff for civil cases. |
5.1 |
9 |
1–7 |
| 4 |
15 Certify Courtworkers for different levels of activity. |
5.1 |
10 |
1–7 |
| 6 |
16 Increase legal aid community outreach in civil/family matters. |
5.1 |
9 |
4–7 |
| 7 |
17 Explore means other than telephone to assist clients who have been detained. |
5.1 |
7 |
1–7 |
| Focus Group |
18 Provide cross-cultural training for legal aid delivery staff. |
5.0 |
8 |
3–7 |
| Focus Group |
19 Provide consistent translation and interpretation opportunities. |
5.0 |
8 |
4–7 |
| 9 |
20 Increase PLEI outreach activities. |
4.9 |
9 |
2–7 |
| 10 |
21 Develop procedures that more fully take into account the needs of FAS/FAE clients. |
4.8 |
9 |
2–7 |
| 9 |
22 Increase PLEI about basic justice system and court procedures. |
4.7 |
9 |
4.7 |
| 7 |
23 Improve telephone availability of lawyers for persons who have been arrested and detained, especially at night. |
4.7 |
9 |
1–7 |
| 2, 11 |
24 Need for increased funds for expert witnesses' review time in legal aid cases. |
4.2 |
9 |
1–7 |
| 2 |
25 Strengthen private bar participation in criminal legal aid. |
4.1 |
9 |
1–7 |
| 6 |
26 Simplify billing procedures in family cases. |
4.0 |
7 |
1–7 |
| 7 |
27 Improve Courtworker training for show cause hearings. |
4.0 |
10 |
1–7 |
| Focus Group |
28 Increase requirements for recipient contributions. |
4.0 |
7 |
1–6 |
| Focus Group |
29 Extend coverage for civil (non-family) legal aid. |
3.9 |
8 |
1–6 |
| 2 |
30 Increase legal aid tariff for criminal cases. |
3.9 |
9 |
1–6 |
| 3 |
31 Improve relationships between bench and Courtworkers. |
3.8 |
8 |
2–6 |
| 9 |
32 Increase PLEI on legal aid coverage and application procedures. |
3.8 |
9 |
2–7 |
| 9 |
33 Increase PLEI related to family violence/spousal assault. |
3.7 |
9 |
3–7 |
| 5 |
34 Increase lawyer involvement in JP courts, over and above show cause hearings. |
3.3 |
9 |
1–5 |
| 2 |
35 Raise financial eligibility cut-off points for receiving legal aid. |
2.8 |
8 |
1–5 |
