From Court
Free Duty Counsel Lawyer
Legal Aid Manitoba (LAM) has lawyers on duty at many criminal and youth courts, and at some child protection courts across the province. These lawyers are called Duty Counsel. They help when a person first appears in court but does not have a lawyer.
Duty counsel is a free service for all Manitobans, including Manitobans who do not qualify financially for legal aid.
How to Get Help
If you are appearing in a court, simply ask if there is a Duty Counsel lawyer present. Most Duty Counsel lawyers arrive at the courtroom at least a half hour before court begins to talk to anyone who wants their help.
The Duty Counsel lawyer will spend as much time as needed to get the facts, discuss your case with you and the Crown Attorney or Child and Family Services lawyer, and then offer you advice.
Child Protection
If you are a parent who arrives at a child protection court without a lawyer, a Duty Counsel lawyer can do a number of things for you:
- Tell you what will likely happen in court that day
- Provide legal advice
- Represent you in court that day
- Arrange follow-up assistance
Almost all cases are resolved before going to trial. The result is a more timely service for parents and one that is more cost effective for the justice system.
Criminal
If you are an adult or youth who arrives in court without a lawyer, a Duty Counsel lawyer can do a number of things for you:
- Tell you what will likely happen in court that day
- Explain your charge to you
- Explain any penalties or fines that could be given to you if you’re convicted
- Listen to your story and provide you with advice
- Look at the police report and tell you what it says
- Speak to the Crown Attorney to see if there’s anything you can do about the charge without formal assistance from a lawyer
- Speak to the judge for you, to help the judge decide what kind of penalty or fine you should get if you plead guilty
- Help you ask for bail
- Postpone (or remand) your case to give you time to get a lawyer
If your case goes to trial, you will need to apply for a lawyer appointed by LAM.
Locations
Duty Counsel is available in the following Provincial Court locations:
| Law Courts Building - Winnipeg | God's Lake Narrows | Pukatawagan |
| Manitoba Youth Centre - Winnipeg | God's River | Roblin |
| Altona | Grand Rapids | Rossburn |
| Ashern | Gypsumville / St. Martin | Russell |
| Berens River | Lac Brochet | St. Boniface |
| Bloodvein | Leaf Rapids | St. Theresa Pt. |
| Boissevain | Little Grand Rapids | Sandy Bay |
| Brandon | Lundar | Selkirk |
| Brochet | Lynn Lake | Shamattawa |
| Camperville | Minnedosa | Sioux Valley |
| Churchill | Moose Lake | Snow Lake |
| Cranberry Portage | Morden | South Indian Lake |
| Cross Lake | Nelson House | Split Lake |
| Dauphin | Norway House | Steinbach |
| Easterville | Oxford House | Swan River |
| Emerson | Pauingassi | The Pas |
| Fisher Branch | Peguis | Thompson |
| Flin Flon | Pine Falls / Powerview | Virden |
| Garden Hill / Island Lake | Poplar River | Waywayseecappo |
| Gillam | Portage la Prairie |
